Tom Brady’s sports card company says its aggressive national expansion is being built on more than the retired quarterback’s name recognition.
Every CardVault by Tom Brady location is profitable to date, company cofounder Chris Costa told Front Office Sports’ Alex Schiffer. A company spokesperson also said CardVault experienced 400% revenue growth from 2025 to 2026 as it continued opening stores across the country.
The retailer is not planning to slow down. CardVault’s 17th store was scheduled to open in Palo Alto, California, with six additional locations planned by 2027. Costa said the company is aiming for 40 stores by 2028 and eventually wants to reach 100.
For collectors, that push represents an attempt to create something the traditionally fragmented hobby has rarely had: a recognizable national sports card retail chain.
Tom Brady’s CardVault Targets Stadiums and Major Malls
CardVault’s strategy differs from that of the neighborhood card shops that have long served as the backbone of the collecting hobby.
The company is targeting locations with substantial foot traffic, including stadiums, ballparks and destination shopping centers such as the American Dream mall in New Jersey. Its first retail location opened at Gillette Stadium in 2021, before Brady became involved with the company.
Costa described the opportunity as creating an elevated, streamlined and technology-focused version of the traditional hobby shop.
That model could make sports cards more accessible to casual buyers who may be unlikely to seek out an independent store. A location inside a stadium or major mall can attract existing collectors while also introducing the hobby to fans who entered the building for a game, shopping or another event.
CardVault also sells Pokémon and other trading card products in addition to sports cards and memorabilia. The stores offer grading submissions, giving customers another reason to visit beyond purchasing sealed boxes or individual cards.
That broader mix is important to the company’s expansion. Costa told Front Office Sports that Pokémon products are among CardVault’s leading sellers.
Brady’s CardVault Role Extends Beyond His Name
Brady cofounded the current version of CardVault in 2024 and owns half of the company, according to Front Office Sports.
Although Brady said Costa and his team oversee the retail operation, his involvement reportedly goes beyond acting as a spokesperson. Costa said he and Brady communicate daily and that the former New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback has been more involved than he initially expected.
Brady also used his connections to help CardVault improve its allocation of Pokémon cards, according to Costa. Access to popular products can be a crucial part of attracting customers, particularly when demand exceeds the amount of inventory available to retailers.
Brady regularly attends store openings and major collecting events. He has also brought along the card binder he assembled as a child, which remains filled with cards of former New York Yankees star Don Mattingly.
“My signature is on it and I’m behind it,” Brady told Front Office Sports about putting his name on the business.
The personal connection gives CardVault a stronger story than a typical celebrity licensing arrangement. Brady told the outlet that he began collecting at seven or eight years old in San Mateo, California, and credited the hobby with helping him develop his math skills.
CardVault Expansion Could Change the Hobby-Shop Experience
CardVault’s long-term significance will depend on whether it can maintain its reported profitability while moving well beyond its original markets.
Opening 100 locations would give the company a national footprint that few independent sports card businesses could match. It would also test whether collectors want a consistent, branded retail experience or continue to favor locally owned shops built around personal relationships and specialized inventory.
CardVault appears to be betting that both types of stores can have a place in a growing collectibles market.
Brady framed the company’s purpose around serving collectors rather than simply capitalizing on the value of cards.
“People save up a lot of money to come in here like I did when I was a kid,” Brady told Front Office Sports. “And this is the one thing they really look forward to.”
For now, the strongest evidence behind CardVault’s ambitions is the claim that its stores are already making money. The next test will be whether that success can continue as Brady and his partners attempt to turn a collection of card shops into a nationwide retail brand.
Tom Brady’s Sports Card Venture Makes Bold Claim Amid Rapid Expansion