Henry Pham of Health Points TCG started off as a passionate Yu-Gi-Oh! player, but his love for the game quickly evolved into something much bigger –– and his store is now one of this year’s TCGplayer Hobby Shop of the Year finalists.
Henry made a name for himself in the community early on by creating a massive buy, sell, trade Facebook group called YGO Black Market, which now has over 26,000 members. In 2016, he started selling online through TCGplayer, drawn by its simplicity and efficiency.
Opening a Local Game Store From the Ground Up
What started as a side hustle soon became a full-time dream. While balancing between school and managing online sales, he chose to pursue his passion full-time. He left school and committed to building a business rooted in his love for TCGs.
That dream started in his home, where he ran the entire operation with a team of four people. From inventory to shipping, they had a conveyor-belt style system that powered a large volume of orders coming in through TCGplayer. As his online reputation continued to grow, customers and friends kept asking the same question: when are you opening a store?
In 2023, he opened Health Points TCG in Fresno, California.
A Store By Players, For Players
The heart of Health Points TCG is its community-first approach. Over 80% of the store is dedicated to play space, and tournaments are held nearly every day. Henry’s staff includes 12 employees, all active members of the Fresno trading card game community, making the LGS welcome to both experienced players and new players.
A large focus of Henry’s is creating a fun and welcoming space for anyone interested in TCGs –– whether someone is playing their first game or getting ready for a high-stakes tournament, Health Points TCG makes sure they feel at home in the store.
Finalist for Hobby Shop of the Year
Health Points TCG has been named a finalist for Hobby Shop of the Year, an award presented by TCGplayer to recognize local game stores that go above and beyond in supporting their customers and the gaming industry as a whole. This award is a result of the massive TCG community Henry has built and fostered; he received an overwhelming number of votes from players, customers, and fellow sellers, which is a testament to the positive impact he has on the industry.
Even beyond his local game store, Henry believes in strengthening the broader LGS ecosystem.
Words of Wisdom
For someone looking to start their own LGS, Henry offers a piece of practical advice: Have a lot of product on hand before opening a store. As someone who scaled from a home operation to a successful storefront, he knows what it takes to make that step and ensure you’re meeting demand.
But for Henry, the most meaningful part of it all is the games and the people –– from getting to see new players learn a TCG for the first time to seeing the store packed for a tournament.