Republic Jewelry & Collectibles will Host Event on Aug. 31
Over the last four decades, The Hobby has experienced its share of highs and lows.
Dan Cunliffe II has ridden the roller coaster through it all. The Republic Jewelry & Collectibles owner in Auburn, Maine, has made plenty of great memories as his hobby shop celebrates its 40-year anniversary on Aug. 31.
It’s almost hard for Cunliffe to fathom that the company he and his family started has been around this long.
“It goes by quick, honestly,” Cunliffe said. “It’s been a long, fun journey with a lot of challenges along the way. Obviously, through COVID and trying to keep things through that. Every day is something new. You never know what you’re going to see. Somebody brings in some old tobacco cards. What’s really cool in our business is either autographed memorabilia that people bring in or trading cards that they find, so you never know what you’re going to see.”
Along with the ever-changing Hobby swings from the card boom in the late 1980s/early ’90s to a lull at the beginning of the century to the pandemic creating the latest cardboard craze, Cunliffe has stayed even-keeled. He’s always welcomed whoever wants to be a card collector.
“We have a lot of people that used to collect when they were 7 years old, and now they’re bringing their kids in. It’s just cool,” Cunliffe said. “I’m seeing parents coming in with their kids, and they’ll be like, ‘I remember this. I remember that.’ They tell stories about how they used to come in when they were a kid. It’s nice to hear peoples’ stories that they’ve enjoyed coming here for 40 years.”
Starting Out Small
Republic Jewelry & Collectibles had a humble beginning. In 1984, Cunliffe and his parents, Dan Sr. and Dot, set up a small table in a corner inside the Lewiston Mall, which isn’t far from Auburn, Maine.
Cunliffe—who had just graduated from high school when the business started—handled the cards and collectibles side of the shop while his dad took care of the jewelry portion.
After three years without a storefront, Republic Jewelry & Collectibles moved to a strip mall in Auburn. Sharing a space with a bookstore, the hobby shop outgrew its building.
“That’s when things were getting crazy in the late ’80s, and things were exploding,” Cunliffe said. “We were moving tons of product. So, we ended up having to rent upstairs at the strip mall, like an extra storage unit, because we’d be getting in tons of wax.”
The Cunliffes opted to build their hobby shop in 1992 at 212 Center St. in Auburn, and the business has been in the same location since.
When Cunliffe’s parents retired about eight years ago, he took over ownership of the business. Dan Sr. and Dot still help out their son with the store.
It’s been quite the journey for Cunliffe working in The Hobby for such an extended period of time.
“It’s been exciting,” Cunliffe said. “We’ve met a lot of great people along the way. We have customers that come down from Nova Scotia; we’ve met people from all over the place. Meeting people has been the best part: hearing their stories about their favorite card or a certain player they met. It’s just been fun seeing the excitement of The Hobby and watching peoples’ eyes light up when they get a good hit and stuff like that. It’s a fun business to be in.”
Anniversary Plans Set
To celebrate the shop’s 40th anniversary, Cunliffe is holding an event on Aug. 31.
Along with plenty of giveaways, including a prize wheel and drawings, James Spence Authentication (JSA) will be on-site to provide autograph authentication.
“We’re going to make sure everybody gets a free pack of cards,” Cunliffe said. “We’re going to give away some autograph memorabilia. We’re breaking a case of Topps Finest Baseball in store from like noon to 2.”
The main event that day will be former Boston Bruin Shawn Thornton signing autographs for free from 10 a.m. to noon.
Most event activities will wrap up by 2 p.m., but the shop won’t close until 5 p.m. “We just want to have a fun event. Everyone’s going to end up with something, a free pack of cards and other things,” Cunliffe said. “We’ll give away some Bruins tickets. We’re trying to come up with as many exciting things to do that day.”
Republic Jewelry & Collectibles will also be taking part in Topps Hobby Rip Night on Sept. 14. Cunliffe has plenty of activities on the docket.
“We are having live breaks, pack wars, trading night, and giving away some cool, signed memorabilia and boxes of cards,” Cunliffe said.
