Sports/comics shop has new owners

After 21 years in Annandale, Ron Savino has sold Ron’s
Collector World, the comic book/sports memorabilia store in the Annandale
Shopping Center on Columbia Pike.

But don’t worry; the store isn’t closing. It’s been
purchased by three guys who have been longtime collectors and have plans to bring
in more vintage comics, sets of sports cards, and autographed items—including a
lot of gems from their personal collections, such as original Iron Man comics ($500
to $800) and vintage comics from the 1940s.

The new owners, Damon Hudson, Stephen Weber, and Doug Steele, are
tentatively planning a reopening celebration for the new shop, renamed
Collector’s World, sometime in June. Another partner in the store is David Miller of Annandale, who has known Weber since the seventh grade.

Ron Savino, his wife Diane, and brother Vinnie Savino, the
longtime manager of the shop, have tentative plans to retire to Florida, Vinnie
says.

Vinnie Savino pointed out some of the current treasures in
the shop: a unique double baseball card featuring Washington Nationals star Bryce Harper and
Mickey Mantle autographed by both of them ($3,500), a double card autographed
by Harper and Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III ($2,500), and a card of
Nationals pitcher Stephen Strasburg with a piece of his jersey ($700).

Hudson said he was driving down Columbia Pike when he saw
the shop, stopped in, and learned it was for sale. “It was a twist of fate. Thirty
days later we bought it,” said Weber. As serious collectors, Hudson and Weber
are thrilled to have their own store, but are keeping their day jobs as federal
contractors.

Hudson, who specializes in sports memorabilia, pointed out some of
his favorite items, like an autographed RGIII jersey in a frame ($700), the
perfect item for a “man cave.” There are also autographed footballs and
basketballs, jerseys, and action figures. For kids, there are Pokemon and Yu Gi-Oh card sets. The new Game of Thrones
collectible cards are there, too.

Weber, the comics specialist, says they hope to host special
events with fans invited to dress up like comic book characters, Friday “buying
days” where fans can bring in items they want to sell, and trivia challenges. Members
of the military will get a 15 percent discount.

Collector’s World, 7030 Columbia Pike, Annandale, is open 10
a.m.-8 p.m. Monday through Friday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, and noon-5 p.m.
Sunday.