21-04-2025
Loves Park Pokémon enthusiasts celebrate Easter Sunday with the trading card game
LOVES PARK, Ill. (WTVO) — Easter Sunday saw comic enthusiasts at Top Cut Comics in Loves Park.
'Learn to Play Pokémon' formed at the comic store back in 2017. The program happens every Sunday and store owners help teach the trading card game to guests.
'We still wanted to offer it today just on the off chance that maybe some people didn't have activities going on with families,' Senior Sales Associate Kaleb Del Rio said. 'They could still feel a part of a family here with us.'
Del Rio said the program has formed a small community in the town.
'We are all about community here,' Del Rio said. 'We are about bringing everyone in the area together. We figure if we give a nice, safe place that anyone feels safe and welcome to come hang out and have fun, then people are going to be doing this type of stuff versus other activities in the city.'
Suzanne Schoff is a program member and said the game is something the whole family can do.
'15 years ago, I sat down, and I learned how to play the game,' Suzanne Schoff said. 'I basically did that because while my son was playing. I did not want to be the helicopter parent.'
Schoff would end up becoming a judge for official Pokémon Trading Card Game tournaments as well, traveling the United States to judge different tournaments and expos.
Schoff said the best part of the game is making new memories and continuing to grow the community.
'My favorite part is just meeting new people,' Schoff said. 'Parents bring their children and learn how to play with our learning employee leaders.'
Del Rio said the experience is timeless.
'Growing up and knowing how excited it made me and getting to see that level of excitement on the faces of the kids that come in here makes it worth it,' Del Rio said. '[To] provide that level of joy that I got as a kid, it just feels amazing.'
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