A Hobby Homecoming for the No. 1 Pick
When No. 1 NBA draft pick Cooper Flagg returned to his hometown of Newport, Maine, he didn’t spend the whole trip soaking in the spotlight. Instead, he made the drive about an hour south to Republic Jewelry & Collectibles in Auburn — a shop known throughout the state as a hub for collectors, community, and the simple joy of ripping packs.
For shop owner Dan Cunliffe II, watching Flagg walk through the doors was surreal. “He is definitely the biggest celebrity to come shopping at our store,” Cunliffe said. “For years, we’ve followed his journey on local news, watching him skyrocket toward being the number-one pick. We always hear about local connections — one customer told me she’s good friends with his mom — so to actually see him in the shop was really exciting.”
Flagg didn’t just stop by to shake hands. True to his roots in The Hobby, he wanted to rip. At 6-foot-9, he turned heads instantly as he started browsing the basketball section, asking questions and checking out Topps products.
“It’s not every day you have a pro athlete, a [then] projected No. 1 pick, in the store,” Cunliffe said. “As a Hobby shop, all we could think about was how to make sure he enjoyed his time here.”
Checking Out the Competition
Flagg’s wound up with a box break of 2023-24 Topps Chrome® Basketball, right at the counter. Employees and customers alike watched as he cracked open packs and pulled cards of players he’ll soon be competing against on the hardwood.
“We were happy to have him break a box so we could see him enjoy the excitement,” Cunliffe said. “Hearing his comments about his fellow players was special. It gave everyone in the store a memory they’ll never forget.”
The moment seemed almost scripted. One employee was helping a customer, chatting about the shop’s recent Flagg Topps NOW® release, when suddenly the real Flagg walked in. “Everyone did a double take,” Cunliffe said. “They were thinking, ‘Is that really Cooper Flagg?’”
After breaking a box in-store, Flagg shopped around and picked up a handful of boxes to take home. His visit turned into a celebration not just of his basketball journey, but of the connections that make card shops like Republic the heart of The Hobby.
Creating Memories a Pack at a Time
For Cunliffe, the stop underscored the shop’s long-standing role in Maine’s collecting community. “We hope it reflects the fact we’ve been in business for over 41 years and offer an amazing selection and friendly staff,” he said. “This hobby is about memories and connections, and it was an honor to see someone like Cooper choose to create new ones here.”
Flagg’s trip back to Maine proved that no matter how far someone goes — including to the national spotlight or the No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft — the card shop still matters. It’s where journeys begin, where communities gather, and where ripping packs can bring out the same joy in a future pro that it does in any collector.
Everyone in Republic Jewelry & Collectibles that day walked away with a story they’ll tell for years: the day Cooper Flagg came in, grabbed some Topps boxes, and ripped packs like he always has — as a fan of the game and The Hobby that memorializes it.
