I'm not really from the area but had my sealed collection at my parents house to keep me from just ripping everything. I will say these guys have not been corrupted by greed like the LGSs out in the inland empire where everything is sold at 10-25% above market and bought at 60%. The owner who goes by "Chef" offered me 80% on my sealed collection which is very fair and even went as far as pricing out an up to date list on each item I brought in. Everyone I saw walk in greeted Chef by name and seemed genuinely happy to see the guy. It was a very pleasant and welcoming environment. read more

A Pokemon-only shop that sells everything from games, toys, and cards! They have a wide variety of cards that aren't horribly priced considering the current card situation, and the plushes they sell are often rare or exclusive to Japan! The people in the store are friendly and definitely know what they're talking about. They're absolutely Pokemon fans, too! My favorite aspect of the store is the huge wall-to-wall custom mural in the back with the play tables! It's a work in progress at the moment, but it'll be fun watching the progress as time goes on! read more

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I've gone to Trainer Center twice and both times were very pleasant. We commute about 30 minutes but it's always worth it! Seen three different gentlemen and all were very attentive and kind. I like to shop for cards in the display and can take awhile to ponder, but the gentleman who helped me today was very patient and kind. There's not many LCSs that have N & Zoroark but I was so so happy I was able to pick up a grail of mine today and was happy to support a business like this! Thank you, I will continue to shop here! 10/10 read more

Trainer Center - N's Plan PSA10 - Hobby Shops Near Me - Huntington Beach, California

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Trainer center attempted to steal my cards for submission. After getting off the phone with CGC I was informed by them that they do not grade whole starter decks for vintage Yu-Gi-Oh. I was asked to pay upfront for a submission that doesn't exist. Do not come here Pokémon is overpriced. It's the main shop in the area but go somewhere else. read more

Trainer Center - Hobby Shops Near Me - Huntington Beach, California

Why go anywhere else? When these guys not only have a great selection but an awesome crew to go with it. Pricing on product is extremely competitive as well. read more

UNETHICAL BUSINESS PRACTICES - AVOID AT ALL COSTS! I'll start by saying I had no intention of posting this - but after seeing you guys post a blatant lie on your Instagram addressing the situation, now I'm going to respond. I have time today. For starters - I had a decent first interaction with the guy (who I assume is the actual manager) at the Front Row Card Show in Pasadena earlier this year, so thought I'd actually check out their retail store for the first time. Picked out 3 loose cards and wanted an Alakazam V box. I wanted the box in the actual display case, the manager instead hands me a different box from a cabinet/shelf below where they hold excess inventory. The following unfolds: Sunday, 3/29 - ~3:30PM - make the purchase in cash, $52 for 1 box and 3 loose cards Sunday, 3/29 - ~5:20PM - I finally have a chance to open the box. I open it with my wife and we notice the flap is pretty tough to open, only to see a nice heaping line of hot glue was used to seal this flap down. First red flag. I then separate the inner plastic to pull out the individual packs and the QR code card appears to be loose and not behind the actual promo card inside like usual. Second red flag. Then I examine the individual packs inside much closer. One pack (Sun & Moon Base) has two literal punctures/tears at the top and bottom crimps, which was easy to spot. Third red flag. Two other packs (both were Sun & Moon: Vivid Voltage) have visible searing of material (evidence of a reseal) at the at the top and bottom crimps. It's not as easy to spot from far, but looking close you can see a slight color change in the material and some tears as well. Fourth red flag. Then I flipped to the back of these 3 packs and notice the silver foiling on the back center seam is patchy and not full and clean. Fifth red flag. The last pack (Sword & Shield: Rebel Clash) was arguably the only one not tampered with, I assume cause of its low value and lack of good chase cards, which is why I was able to use it to compare the patchy vs. full silver foiling. I then go with my gut and do not open these packs, immediately leaving a comment on the business' last post and DM'ing them detailed photos and the whole scenario with my issue. No response. No reading/opening of my message in the DM. Fine, I'll deal with it in person next time they're open. Monday, 3/30 - The store is closed on Mondays. So I have a few close collector friends look at the box in person, plus all my evidence to confirm my issue and they agree. This box has definitely been resealed and the packs inside are tampered with. Tuesday, 3/31 - ~12PM - Go to the store right at opening, speak to the smaller sales associate working there after he finishes with another customer already inside. I present everything again -- the Alakazam V box and 3 loose cards, the DM I sent to their store and all the time stamped info I noted earlier. He agrees to refund my money, after simultaneously having the manager (I assume the same guy from the card show + who helped us in person on Sunday) on speaker phone telling him to go through with the refund, to pull the other box down and investigate the original box I saw in the display case. Cool. I'm happy. I got my money back, problem solved. No harm, no foul, these things happen. No need to leave a bad review and escalate the situation. Life goes on. Wednesday, 4/1 - ~6:50PM - My wife shows me a video they post addressing the situation and clearly lying about the result and how everything went down. So I go check the original post where I urged the business to open my DM of all the proof. Deleted. Then I go and check the original DM I sent. It still says "Sent Sunday," which means they never even opened my message. If this box was "brand new," why did the 75% of packs inside look so flawed, rough and sloppy? If this box was "brand new," why was the QR code card out of place? I don't think quality control means packs can be torn, ripped and resealed inside of a "brand new" box. Your lack of due diligence to purchase something from a third party to resell shouldn't be blamed on the "quality control" of the Pokemon Company. Next time take accountability before passing blame and attempting to throw me under the bus. I'm leaving all screenshots and the detailed photos I took here to prove what I saw, you can be the judge. Will never be coming back to this store ever again, good luck. read more

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Love this place! We go almost every week and the staff is always very kind and helpful! The owner (I believe Chef) is so knowledgeable and you can tell he deeply loves this hobby. Great prices! Great selection! We allllllways get multiple hits when we buy from here vs other stores in the area. This shop is our go-to! read more

Trainer Center - Hobby Shops Near Me - Huntington Beach, California

Super helpful staff. Good natured, and patient which really helps when you know nothing about the subject, but your young sons have sent you on a mission to get Pokémon cards! Highly recommended. read more

Trainer Center - Trainer Center store - Hobby Shops Near Me - Huntington Beach, California

This stores inventory is decent. The lack of employee hygiene and un empathetic nature is what earned this a 1 star. I came into this shop with intent to trade for a card I had been looking for. The employee paused from eating his messy chips to take a look at my cards without washing his hands, they were dirty and had chip residue on them. After doing that he had the audacity to say my cards weren't in good condition. The same employee also tried to scam me by pricing a card $20 above market value which is absurd. Overall very unhappy with my experience and will not be coming back. For everyone out there looking to sell your business will be better elsewhere. read more

Selection OK. But if you want to sell your items, they will lowball you FYI. The way they go about valuing your items will favor them 1000%. Better to sell your Pokémon items somewhere else. read more

Larry and Chef were great, very helpful and friendly went above and beyond. Great selection of bulk and singles

I won a raffle at the Central Park Halloween Event this year and had to go to them to pick up the prize. I took my son with me as he's the one who's into Pokémon and boy was he excited. The store has a very welcoming vibe, they have a very friendly shop dog (or at least there was a super friendly dog at the shop when we went). I was impressed with the amount of Pokémon items they fit into the store and how nice the guy at the front was. There were a few kids there looking at Pokémon cards with their mom. All and it all it was a very family friendly place. My son picked out some Pokémon card packs that he wanted in addition to one that we won. I felt the price was fair for what we got, they even have microblox Pokémon build kits which were really cool. If you're in the area and looking for Pokémon items this is the place to stop by. I would mention that parking in front is a bit tough but there is a pile parking behind the building. read more

Chef is the best. Walked in to ask if he could authenticate a card and he offered to clean and steam it for me there on the spot. They've got a whole lot of inventory and events read more

To start, this was the best first impression a business has ever left on me and I work in sales. I truly believe they created a core memory for my 5 year old and I will never forget it myself. Literally everyone from other customers, employees, the one painting the mural, pure, authentic embrace. I came in trying to teach my son the value of earning what you get and each person reinforced that in step. So rare. Selection left my son awe struck, Prices made big box absolutely laughable. Especially his age, you can see the community in true enthusiasts who donate or leave cards for kids like my son who don't fully grasp it. That .50cent card of a character he knows is a prized possession. This place has my business and will be my go to recommendation to any of our sons friends parents because of today. Crushed it guys! To the owner...a massive shout out for the environment you created. Looking forward to my son meeting a goal and returning for his reward. Also, when my family asks about Xmas for that son, your store gift card is the only answer I'm giving read more

By far one of the best shops. I have now been here twice and have had a really awesome experience both times. Not only do they have an amazing selection of single cards, they also a really good selection of trainer boxes and some very cool rare packs/sets (thank you for the nostalgia). All of the staff is SO KNOWLEDGEABLE and so friendly. I think he was the owner (I should have asked for his name) went so far as to look for a single card through all of their collection for almost 30 minutes just to help me out (thank you SO MUCH again!) Prices are super fair as well! I will absolutely be back again! read more

Chef and his staff always takes care of me! Cool selection and hands down just the chillest guy! read more

Trainer Center - Nostalgia at its finest - Hobby Shops Near Me - Huntington Beach, California

Got a chance to visit this location cause I heard good things, but it's getting a 1 star and here's why. Pros: The associate behind the counter was very helpful, direct and understanding. If the experience only had him, it would be 5 stars. Cons: The Owner (the one with the braids, called chef?) 1st issue: Brought my family in and the associate at the front desk helped us out. When we were browsing, the owner started berating the associate. They were talking down to them like a child and frankly it was very off putting and unprofessional. We were actually interested in buying some ETBs there, but we weren't sure we wanted to support this location with how the owner was behaving. 2nd issue: The owner absolutely profiles people and this solidified us leaving without buying anything. When we walked in and started browsing, the owner did not once welcome us in. The associate at the front desk was the only one who assisted us. The owner literally looked past us and did not once acknowledge our family. However, when we saw other people coming in, of a specific race, the owner was very friendly and outgoing. In fact, the owner even gave some free cards to specific types of people and they didn't even buy anything. I observed this for a bit, and noticed it happened numerous times, and it was really disappointing. Sadly, It's well known that Huntington Beach has a reputation of racism, but it has no place in business and especially in a card game community. Bonus: The owner has been accused of scalping and there are photos of them actively buying out the vending machines. Seeing their actions and behavior in the store solidifies what type of owner they are unfortunately. Some advice to the Owner/ Trainer Center (Huntington Beach) First, a good owner and leader knows how to raise their employees work ethic, not put them down, especially when they are doing a good job. You should never give criticism to employees in front of customers, especially if it's not constructive or helpful in anyway. Take it to the back if it warrants a louder conversation. Second, when customers enter the store, they are potential customers and willing to spend and/or browse your merchandise. Even if they don't spend dime, make the effort to engage with them, regardless of race or gender, leave your biases and preferences at home. Although not a great experience, there are still great stores we visited in Huntington Beach. One store in particular was Adventure's Guild and I will be writing a 5 start review for them. read more

I believe first impressions matter, wasn't really helped or greeted, when we tried talking to I assume the owner, he wouldn't give us much feedback or conversation on questions we had. Just shut us down. Overall Pokémon stuff was cool, vibe from the worker wasn't it, we just felt dismissed every time we'd try to talk, and we were so nice. I wanted to buy some stuff that caught my eye. But wasn't worth the sale if I didn't feel welcomed. read more

Friendly staff, impeccable service, huge variety of cards to choose from at a solid price. You can see clearly why they are among the best shops arounds, 10/10 can't wait to come back read more

Watch out for this place. Brought my littles here and the co-owner Nick tried so hard to get them to trade cards with him. He gave them a line and reassured them that if they traded and were unhappy the next day they could come and trade back. Basically took advantage of my older kid and got away with a valuable card. Went back the next day and he said he sold the card already. Grown men taking advantage of little kids. The owners of this place should be ashamed of themselves. read more

Just wanted to say first off I was recommended to this place by a buddy, needed some packs so I came by and checked it out. I was looking to buy some packs to go home and rip with the little ones, so I ended up spending about $250 on a variety of different packs. At first the owner just said to let him know which packs that I was interested in and he'll pack it up for me and everything. Seems like a very nice guy at first but when I got home and was ready to rip the packs with the little cousins, the packs I bought was RESEALED!! You can see a bit of runoff of glue they used to put it back together. No wonder he wanted me to just pick the packs and he'll bag it up. He was friendly at first so I didn't think anything of it. Of course I tried bringing it back to the store and confronting him about it. He then goes on saying "Do you really think I would do some shit like that, why would I do it to you when I could easily sell it to younger kids" meaning some of the younger audience might not have come back and confronted him about it. So be wary of this place! Come by if you'd like to support a store that reseals packs! read more

Definently recommend this shop 100% if your looking to expand your Pokémon collection very nice selection on new and vintage cards. Shoutout to Chef & Larry on helping me find what I was looking for and everything , nicest guys you'll ever meet , will be coming back again when we're back in town thank you guys ! read more

Trainer Center - Hobby Shops Near Me - Huntington Beach, California

We visited this shop for the first time yesterday and we had a delightful experience. The shop itself was well organized and the vertical displays were much more visually appealing than the usual floor displays. The selection was excellent, spanning vintage and modern booster boxes, loose cards, slabs, etc. My daughter spotted a few cards that she wanted to trade for and the gentleman that was helping us (didn't get his name but had dreads) was extremely patient and respectful. I know sometimes it can be difficult to interact with kids but he made my daughter's experience fun and memorable. Seeing that as a father of 3 small kids, I was very appreciative. Also, instead of prioritizing personal profits and being strict on trade percentages and all that (which I understand and expect), he gave her very fair deals on the two cards she traded for. Such a breath of fresh air from all the vendors who are just out there for personal gain. You can tell they just enjoy the hobby and community and are genuinely good people. Will definitely be coming back here regularly! read more

Trainer Center - Hobby Shops Near Me - Huntington Beach, California

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Every time I've gone to Trainer Center, they have always been busy. I see that as a good thing though. People wouldn't come back to a shop if they weren't good at what they do! They are very helpful and knowledgeable! Their pricing is very competitive with other shops in the area and I will always walk out with something I want. Thank you guys for all the help! read more

The owner (Chef) is incredibly kind and helpful. The store offers an excellent selection, and the prices are very reasonable. I'll definitely be returning to buy more in the future! read more

Chef is a wealth of knowledge. He was also very polite. Kids asked a million questions and he remained patient the entire time. Loads of Pokémon of all generations. Definitely check this place out! read more

Trainer Center - Picked up something awesome tonight. - Hobby Shops Near Me - Huntington Beach, California

Update business hours .. Store hours don't match Yelp hours .. store closes at 5pm on Saturday , NOT 8pm

My husband and I travelled from Santa Clarita to make it down here because we had such a positive experience in the past. We were pretty bummed to find out they were closed and we were more than halfway there. Chef (the owner) called us back immediately and even though he was traveling abroad, was able to work with us to get someone to the store to look over our current collection. We were almost done with the hobby, but chef's kindness and willingness to help us through a very challenging time In our lives, reminds me just how genuine and beautiful the Pokemon community is. Thank you Trainer Center for caring enough about the community to open your doors even on a closed day. If you haven't been here, you need to come check them out. It's hard to find a card shop who value their customers and their community but Trainer Center does. Thank you, Chef. read more

They were so awesome and helpful when finding and selling cards. Im unsure of their names, but two guys really helped me and my boyfriend. One of the gentleman really went the extra mile in helping me find specific cards. I appreciate it, and will go again! read more

We met Chef at WonderCon right before he opened the Pokemon Trainer Center and he was amazing! My kiddo Cash hung out at his booth all day buying and opening packs. He ended up getting some great cards and Chef's excitement and knowledge for the kids visiting him made the experience so memorable. As soon as he opened up shop, we drove from the IE to visit the store and share our collection. He has always been welcoming and kind and his love of the Pokemon community, and the HB community in general, sets his business apart from others. When you walk into the Trainer Center it feels like you're walking into a collectors game room! He has a lounge area with sofa, TV and game consoles. He has boxes of cards to pick from to build your decks. He helps educate everyone and you can tell he's passionate about the game but also the players. Everytime my kiddo gets a card graded or wants to add to his collection, the Trainer Center is our first stop. Thank you so much for creating a welcoming place for Pokemon enthusiasts of all kinds! read more

Very friendly people and community here! I got a lot of the cards I wanted for a good price.

Came from Texas to see family and wanted to check this place out cause I saw it on tik tok. From the start the guy working there looked at us like he didn't want us inside. I got close to the case so I could see some of the cards inside and he snatched an ETB that was near. I asked if everything was ok cause I was confused as to why he thought I was gonna steal it. He said something about a customer and then said he didn't wanna talk about it. I was confused cause I was just trying to be nice because he looked like he was having a bad day. I ended up not getting anything cause I didn't like the way he was acting and he also had all of the items marked at least $10 above the current HIGH market read more

Great store for 'train-buffs' old or want-to-bes. It's got everything classic to current.

Met Chef & made a deal with a vintage lot I rediscovered in my shed. Cool guy and is pretty community driven / active, with different ways of giving back to the kids. Even networks with schools of special needs & families in financial hardships. Big props to everything he grinds for. I initially had a bigger number in mind, but didn't know the market much being out of Pokemon for ages. Chef educated and was transparent with everything within the whole process. Even gave me some game on things I didn't know about & shared some high tech hacks. I got a much lower buyout than I hoped for, but after seeing the facts I believed his offerings was fair and reasonable. At the end of it all, we made new friends & mutually supported each other somehow. 10/10 recommended and they have all things Pokemon read more

Trainer Center - Hobby Shops Near Me - Huntington Beach, California

This place is an absolute hidden gem. The owner is super chill and he makes everyone feel welcomed. On Fridays they have Pokémon tournament at 7 and we were late for it but he told us next time if we want to join they should call them if we are late and they would wait for us. They have a pretty good selection and a lot of people in the store on Fridays just do trades. But the owner also does 1-1 trades too from TCG. What is great is that he teaches kids how to not get scammed and know the value of their cards. He also teaches the parents to see if the kids are making good trades and not giving up a $100 card for a $50 which is really cool of him. The environment there is the ideal of what you want in the Pokémon community. read more

I've been adding to a collection of cards that I have to be shipped out to PSA for grading so I stopped by Trainer Center for the first time and the owner Chef is the man! He was super chill and had a large variety of singles from modern to vintage and a wide variety of sealed products at well. What I appreciate most is Chef's service in helping me find what I needed and he even threw in a free pack just cuz! Appreciate the hospitality and good vibes Chef - will def be back again read more

Trainer Center - Hobby Shops Near Me - Huntington Beach, California

The service is excellent! Always so helpful, patient & kind. Selection is always up to date on the latest sets. I definitely recommend this place. Quaint little family oriented shop. read more

Wonderful experience with the owners of this shop! They're extremely welcoming and kind with plenty of knowledge and amazing cards to go around. read more

I have been on the poke-hunt for the perfect combination of a store that I could feel comfortable taking my son to for years. My focal points were perhaps unreasonable in the modern age of trading card shops but never the less, I kept looking. It does not feel unreasonable when writing this but I was looking for a store that did not feel like they were trying to always rip me off, had a good knowledge of the products and yet have a kid-friendly scene of players. Like any TCG game even Pokemon has players that are overly aggressive, foul tempered, cussing all the time and just make the any game uncomfortable for others to be around. The know-it-alls, the mockers, the rich kid, the super collection, the always-in-a-rush, the phone-lovers, if you have been to a gaming shop I am sure you recognize some of these. I am happy to report that Trainer Center was the place we finally found and now love. Let's go over some of the stores amazing features. First and foremost the owner is Chef who sits behind the counter in a very cool hangout environment. Think man-cave but poke-centric with a nice hangout area with a full size TV and game consoles. On Friday nights, they have tournaments where they open up the shop in the back of the store for a full size six (I think) tables more space. For those who don't know, to have events you need a "trainer" or "professor" that is the judge of the event, the trainer center has one that happens to be a teacher at a local school. Polite, friendly and so kind I was absolutely shocked at how down to earth the entire tournament was run. Competitive but still very casual. This type of atmosphere brings along players that are also of the same mindset, On more than one occasion I have witnessed them helping my son improve while still playing in a match against them. Again, shocked and in disbelief that this kind of environment can still exist. Chef watches the front and is always there to help with his vast knowledge of the game and cards. Behind him is a storage space but if you look carefully, you will see King his tiny dog sitting in a dog bed just keeping Chef company during the day. People coming in and buying packs or trading product is a common occurrence in the shop. I certainly feel that with every discussion Chef is honest and not trying to be pushy with the constant pressure of making sales. At this point, you can surmise why I would give them a Five Star review. They surpass all of my perhaps unreasonable interests for my son in the best way possible. I have been on Yelp for more than a decade now and I don't give high ratings often, if you are looking for a cool Pokemon shop, this place is for you. read more

Located on the top floor, you can't miss it with the Pokemon banner. This Pokemon card shop is my go to location as it radiates good vibes and has amazing staff. I was able to pick up cards that were missing from my Japanese 151 collection at low prices compared to other locations. Chef setup his shop to bring the Pokemon community together and I'm all for it. If you love Pokemon and want to spread that joy you felt as a kid to others in the community, come on by to the Trainer Center. read more