Plan Your Visit to NWI Cards

More Than a Card Shop

NWI Cards brings several parts of the hobby together in one place. Our Merrillville store carries trading card games, individual singles, sealed products, gaming accessories, Gundam model kits, Pokémon model kits, paints, hobby tools, collectibles, and other products for players and builders.

Our trading card selection includes Pokémon Trading Card Game, One Piece Card Game, Gundam Card Game, Union Arena, Weiss Schwarz, and Dragon Ball Super Card Game.

Inventory changes constantly as new releases arrive and customers buy, sell, and trade cards. The selection inside the store is often larger than what’s currently listed online.

If you’re making the drive for something specific, stop in and browse the latest inventory or contact us before your trip.

Play, Trade & Meet the Community

NWI Cards is built around the local hobby community. Our play space gives players a place to meet for weekly locals, tournaments, prereleases, trading, casual games, learn-to-play opportunities, and special organized-play events.

You don’t need to be an experienced tournament player to visit. New players, collectors, families, and people discovering a new hobby are always welcome. Bring a deck, trade binder, model project, or just come in to see what everyone is playing.

📅 Upcoming Events & Store Calendar

Stay up to date with tournaments, special events, and community nights.

Gundam, Gunpla & Model Kits

NWI Cards is also a destination for model builders. Our hobby selection includes Gundam model kits, Gunpla, Pokémon model kits, paints, panel-lining supplies, nippers, hobby tools, detailing products, and accessories for building and customizing models.

Whether you’re picking up your first model kit or looking for supplies for a more advanced build, you can browse trading cards and model kits during the same visit.

Driving to NWI Cards From Northwest Indiana

Our Merrillville location makes NWI Cards a convenient meeting point for hobbyists from throughout Lake and Porter counties.

Customers visit us from Merrillville, Crown Point, Schererville, Dyer, St. John, Highland, Griffith, Munster, Hammond, Hobart, Portage, Cedar Lake, Winfield, Lowell, Valparaiso, Chesterton, Gary, DeMotte, Michigan City, and surrounding Northwest Indiana communities.

If your local area doesn’t have the trading card game, model-kit selection, organized play, or hobby community you’re looking for, make NWI Cards part of your next trip to Merrillville.

Visiting NWI Cards From Chicagoland

NWI Cards also welcomes customers crossing into Northwest Indiana from Chicago and the south suburbs.

Players and collectors from communities such as Lansing, Homewood, South Holland, Tinley Park, Orland Park, Oak Lawn, Chicago Heights, and surrounding Chicagoland areas can combine a trip to NWI Cards with the shopping, dining, and attractions available throughout the Merrillville and US-30 corridor.

If you’re traveling in for a prerelease, tournament, trading-card release, or simply to explore a different hobby store, plan a little extra time and make a day of the trip.

Coming to NWI Cards for a Tournament?

Traveling for a Pokémon, One Piece, Gundam, Union Arena, Weiss Schwarz, or Dragon Ball event?

Tournament days can turn into several hours of playing, trading, shopping, and meeting other players, so Merrillville offers plenty of places to eat, grab coffee, shop, or spend time before and after your event.

Check the NWI Cards event schedule before your trip for start times, registration details, entry fees, and special-event information.

Shopping Near NWI Cards

If part of your group wants to shop while others attend an event, Merrillville has one of Northwest Indiana’s largest retail concentrations.

Southlake Mall is located near US-30 and I-65 and offers shopping, dining, and entertainment in one area. The surrounding retail corridor also includes major stores, specialty shops, warehouse shopping, and more.

This is especially useful for families or groups traveling together when not everyone is participating in the same tournament or hobby.

Things to Do Near NWI Cards

Make NWI Cards one stop in a larger Northwest Indiana day trip.

• Albanese Candy Factory Store — Popular stop for candy, gummies, chocolates, gifts, and treats along the US-30 corridor.
• Deep River Waterpark — Family-oriented attraction with summer water attractions and seasonal activities (seasonal).
• Southlake Mall — Shopping, dining, and movie options in the surrounding entertainment district.

Make a Day of Your Trip to Merrillville

A visit to NWI Cards doesn’t have to be a single stop. Start the day with coffee, come to NWI Cards to browse cards and model kits, play in a tournament or trade with other collectors, grab something to eat nearby, and finish the day with shopping or another Northwest Indiana attraction.

For collectors and hobbyists traveling from elsewhere in Indiana or the Chicago area, this gives you more reasons to make the drive even when NWI Cards is the main destination.

First Time Visiting a Local Game Store?

If you’ve never visited a trading card or hobby store before, don’t worry. You don’t need to participate in a tournament or already know how every game works. You’re welcome to browse products, look through singles, ask questions, watch games, learn about model kits, or find out which gaming community might be right for you.

Many regular players started by simply walking in and seeing what was happening. If you’re interested in learning a particular game, ask our staff about upcoming beginner-friendly play or community events.

Why Players & Collectors Make the Trip

NWI Cards combines trading cards, singles, organized play, model kits, hobby supplies, gaming accessories, buying and trading, and community space under one roof.

Our goal is to give Northwest Indiana a hobby store worth visiting even if you don’t live directly around the corner.

Come for a new release. Come for a tournament. Come to sell a collection. Come to find your next Gunpla build. Come to trade cards with other collectors. Or simply come spend some time around people who enjoy the same hobbies you do.