Vessel Barn, in Lexington’s Oak Tree Plaza, is undergoing renovations this month for its transition to Papa Joey’s Collectibles.
Papa Joey’s Collectibles will sell trading card games, such as Pokemon, One Piece and Magic: The Gathering, host tabletop games, such as Warhammer, Gundam and Dungeons & Dragons, in addition to selling sports cards, memorabilia, figurines, Funko Pop!s and other figures.
“The good thing is, for starting Papa Joey’s Collectibles here in Georgia, the same face that you saw when you came to Vessel Barn will be the same face you'll see with Papa Joey's Collectibles,” said Dustin Wood, who owns Vessel Barn and will manage Papa Joey’s. “So Vessel Barn would just be more of a back end thing, and if you’re still looking for one of those candles, we’ll have one available for you.”
Vessel Barn, which opened in July, is operational online at vesselbarn.com. Wood and Joseph Williams, owner of Papa Joey’s Collectibles, met while serving in the U.S. Navy more than 20 years ago.
“Papa Joey's Collectibles would probably best be described as a community hub that offers a retail experience,” Williams said. “Essentially, we’re just trying to bridge the gap between people who want to play and enjoy their favorite (trading card games), and then offering them a safe place to do that.”
Williams opened the first Papa Joey’s Collectibles in December 2024 in National City, California, and followed with a second location in San Diego. Williams expects the one in Lexington to host a variety of events, including pre-release and early access events featuring promotional cards, giveaways and raffles.
“I think that we’re really excited about the opportunity, and I’m really confident in our ability to do something there, and with Dustin’s ability to connect with that community and to learn and to grow with that community and to be a presence there long term,” Williams said. “We’re really excited about what we think the future can be in that area for Papa Joey’s.”
Papa Joey’s Collectibles will host a soft opening on Feb. 2 and a grand opening on Feb. 20 or 21. Williams plans on having experts present as resources and for those needing guidance.
“I think moving Vessel Barn to online will help the goals that we have for Papa Joey's, because it would be less of a physical storefront for Vessel Barn to try to maintain, and I can put all my attention on Papa Joey’s,” Wood said. “As far as the goals for Papa Joey’s, we're hoping to bring a more community-based card shop to the Southeast or East Coast of the United States.”