The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
FAMILY FUN
Rozaypoke offers Pokemon cards, events, community
From the banners lining the store’s windows to the trading cards and championship memorabilia displayed inside, the decorations at the Rozaypoke store in Painesville Township point to its owners’ interest in the Pokemon trading card game.
Brian and Marina Ross opened their store in spring 2023, after moving into the 1334 Mentor Ave. building the previous January. Besides selling cards, collectibles and toys, Brian said that Rozaypoke also hosts events for both children and adults.
“It’s a full Pokemon experience,” he added.
Brian said that the couple’s path to a Pokemon-themed store started when they were looking for a non-electronic game to give their son as a Christmas gift. He did not want to play Pokemon at first, so the parents decided to learn the game.
“We sat down at the table and played for like 12 hours straight and smack-talked each other,” he said.
He added that the next day, they “just kind of bought everything.”
The Rosses said that they eventually began selling Pokemon cards from their house around 2021. They would open packs on an online livestream before shipping them to the buyer.
“He started diving and watching other people open packs, so then he was like, ‘This is something that we can do,’” Marina said. “So then we started doing it just as a hobby, and then it just kind of blew up from there.”
They eventually needed pallets and large bins at their house to store the merchandise.
“I think that once we got to the point where the commercial Dumpster and the pallet were starting to happen at the house, we kind of were like, ‘OK,’” Brian said.
“We got lucky on finding a good space that isn’t too expensive,” he added.
The store sells cards, accessories and other Pokemon-themed wares at what Brian called “very reasonable” prices. He added
that the store draws people from across the country.
The Rosses have also built in-person and virtual connections through Rozaypoke. Brian said the store offers a Friday evening adult league, as well as monthly and quarterly tournaments.
The store had its first trade night on Jan. 26, according to its Facebook page. The event was expected to include Top Table Gaming from Avon Lake, The Geek Peek from Cleveland and private collectors from other states.
Rozaypoke also hosts private birthday parties in its event room. Brian said that the room’s amenities include a skee-ball machine and a television with a Nintendo Switch gaming console. The store partners with local businesses to offer pizzas and custom Pokemon-themed cakes.
“We take care of entertainment, we take care of the food, take care of the goody bags,” he said. “Anything you need, we do it all for you.”
Brian said that they intend to offer a week-long camp this summer to teach children how to play the Pokemon trading card game.
“Playing the game as a hobby for kids is a great option,” he said. “It teaches you a lot of things that you wouldn’t think about. Sportsmanship. How to be OK with losing when you lose.”
“It teaches how to interact,” Brian added. “These days, with so much emphasis on online and social media and everything like that, this is something people can come in together and do, play against each other, sit across the table.”
Brian said that the store has also raised support for Toys for Tots and for families affected by the wildfires in Hawaii last year.
Rozaypoke is closed on Sundays and Mondays. It is open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Fridays and from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on other days.
Brian encouraged people with questions to call the store at 440-754-8279. The store’s website can be found at rozaypoke.com, and it also operates a Discord group and pages on TikTok, Instagram and Facebook.