From Pokémon trading cards and Japanese anime figures to tabletop gaming and blind boxes, one corner of the Adelaide CBD is becoming a destination for collectors.
Charles Street Plaza, just off Rundle Mall, is welcoming a wave of specialist retailers, with Toys Galaxy opening last month, Warhammer arriving soon, and Card X Collectables preparing to move into a much larger two-storey premises early next month.
The growth comes as collectables move beyond a niche hobby. According to global market research company Circana, Australian toy sales grew 13 per cent in the first half of 2026, with strategic trading card games recording the biggest gains across the market.
Toys Galaxy specialises in Japanese anime merchandise, including blind boxes, collectible figures, Ichiban Kuji and gashapon.
“For us, collecting is all about the excitement of finding something you really love, whether it’s a favourite character or a surprise you’ve been hoping to get,” the Toys Galaxy team said.
“Whether you’re a long-time collector, an anime fan, or just looking for a cute gift, we’d love for you to come in, have a look around, and hopefully find something that makes you smile!”
Pokémon merchandise is proving particularly popular, they added.
“Over the past couple of years, the renewed popularity of Pokémon trading cards has also brought a lot of attention to Pokémon merchandise in general.”
“Some people grew up watching anime or loving certain characters, and collecting gives them a way to reconnect with those memories.”
“Unboxing videos are everywhere, and when people see others opening products from their favourite IPs, it often makes them curious to discover those products for themselves.”
The plaza’s mix of collectables retailers, restaurants and dessert shops was a major drawcard when choosing the location of their store.
“We also really like the mix of businesses here. There are already collectible stores in the plaza, with more stores offering different types of collectibles expected to join in the future.”
One of those stores is Card X Collectables, who are preparing for their biggest expansion yet.
Founders Jake and Georgio opened the business almost two years ago, specialising in Pokémon, One Piece, Yu-Gi-Oh!, Magic and Riftbound trading cards.
But beyond retail, Card X has established a dedicated community through weekly play nights, prereleases, trade nights and tournaments.
“What we’re most proud of during this 2-year period is the incredible Card X Community that we’ve garnered!” the team said.
“There are so many people who consistently show up and support us and have allowed us to take this next step in our journey, and for them we are forever grateful.”
Their new two-storey location will feature a showroom displaying thousands of cards, dedicated booster-pack opening areas and kiosks allowing collectors to search for individual cards.
Upstairs, a larger gaming space will offer approximately four times the current capacity, accommodating tournaments, trading events and late-night play.
“Becoming a community hub has always been our #1 goal – and is the reason we’re moving to a bigger space to begin with,” the team said.
“More capacity for play nights, bigger prerelease events, special tournaments with big prizes on offer, massive trade days, possibly even birthday parties all coming in the future.”
Demand is already evident, with Card X recently experiencing its biggest queue yet during a major Pokémon release.
“We saw our biggest line up ever, down through the Charles Street Plaza, and rumour has it that the first person got there at 5:45am!”
And with Warhammer set to bring miniature collecting, painting and tabletop gaming to the plaza, the growing concentration of specialist stores is helping establish the precinct as a gathering place for enthusiasts.
Toys Galaxy also hopes to introduce anime-related events, connecting customers beyond the shopping experience.
“Ultimately, I’d love Toys Galaxy to be more than just a shop. I hope it can become a friendly little place where anime fans feel welcome, discover new things, make connections, and share the things they’re passionate about.”
With several businesses now sharing that community-first approach, Charles Street Plaza is positioning itself as a new home for Adelaide’s growing collectables scene.
Charles St Plaza
Where: Off of Charles Street, which is just off Rundle Mall and adjacent to David Jones and the Wilson Carpark.
When: Open Monday to Thursday and Sunday from 8am to 6pm, and Friday and Saturday from 8am to 10pm.
To find out more, click here.
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