Hunting Rare Grails

5 Rare Collectibles to Hunt for at Rare Swap Meet Ontario

The thrill of the hunt is back. Sure, you can scroll through eBay at 2 AM, but nothing beats the feeling of spotting a "grail" item in a showcase or digging it out of a bargain bin in person.

As we gear up for the next Rare Swap Meet at the Ontario Center Mall, our vendors are curating their best stock. Here are the top items to watch for this month.

1. "Gold Star" Cards If you grew up in the early 2000s, you know these are heavy hitters. We are seeing a massive surge in local collectors looking for Gold Star cards (from the EX series) and Neo Destiny Shining cards.

• Why buy in person? Photos online can hide scratches. Here, you can inspect the foil surface under the light before you drop cash.

2. Boxed N64 Consoles Retro gaming is exploding in North Central Ohio. Finding a "Funtastic" color (like Jungle Green or Fire Orange) in its original box is a serious flex for any game room.

• Vendor Tip: Ask vendors to let you test the joystick tightness right at the table.

3. Clean GameCube Classics Titles like Super Smash Bros. Melee and Luigi’s Mansion are in high demand. At Rare Swap Meet, our vendors typically resurface or verify their discs, so you don't have to worry about the dreaded "disc read error."

4. Sealed Booster Boxes Whether it's the latest One Piece set or a vintage Magic: The Gathering release, sealed product is always a hot commodity. We have vendors who specialize in bringing boxes that you can't find at big-box retail stores.

Start Your Hunt The next Rare Swap Meet is taking place at the Ontario Center Mall.

• Next Event: Feb 21st | 11 AM - 6 PM

• Admission: Free

Don't wait for shipping. Come negotiate, trade, and take your grails home the same day.