The recent release of highly collectible Pokémon cards at Mississauga Costco locations has led to long lines, scuffles, and calls to police.

At the Heartland Centre location last month, crowds began to form hours before the doors opened. When they did, a large rush ensued with pushing and shoving to reach the cards, which were available only in limited quantities.

“Pokémon! Pokémon!” a member of the crowd could be heard chanting as the throng surged forward.

So, what’s the big deal?

Pokémon (short for “pocket monsters”) originated in Japan as a role-playing game and has since evolved into a massive media franchise consisting of video games, animated series, films, trading cards, and other merchandise.

While the franchise has always been popular, the cards, which debuted in 1996, have become a phenomenon. Originally driven by nostalgia, the market is now centred on money… big money.

“Rare cards—especially graded ones—can sell for thousands, sometimes even more,” said Philip Ng, a longtime collector who has joined many of the Costco lineups recently.

This search for “hits” has turned the hobby into a type of lottery. Rare cards are randomly inserted into packs contained within the boxes people are lining up for. This transforms the collector into a speculator, hoping to pull something valuable the moment the packs are ripped open.

Retailers like Costco have a limited number of boxes available upon release. Because demand greatly exceeds supply, prices often skyrocket on secondary markets.

“It really works people up when the cards are released,” continued Ng, who acknowledges he has hit the jackpot a few times by finding valuable cards. “At first, it was just the die-hard fans, but now it attracts anyone looking to make a quick profit.”

Indeed, waiting in line for a few hours appears worth the effort for those who believe a single rare card can net them $10,000 or more on the resale market.

Another Pokémon-related incident took place on April 11 at the Costco on Laird Drive in Mississauga. A large crowd gathered before opening, and police were already on-site in anticipation of trouble, which did eventually arrive.

Frenzied customers loaded shopping carts with boxes of cards. In one instance, as a customer left the store, coffee was thrown into his cart, which was then struck by a car. The impact sent boxes flying, and onlookers scurried to grab the cards scattered across the parking lot.

To date, there has been no indication of criminal charges or significant injuries at any of these events. More cards are expected to be released in the months ahead.

A Costco in Mississauga, Canada is going viral for the crowd it drew for attendees trying to get their hands on the latest Pokemon cards.

Would you hack out this line for Pokemon cards?#pokemon #pokémoncards #costco #collectorsclub #viral pic.twitter.com/4vexspLl8M

— Collectors Club (@CollectorsClubX) March 12, 2026


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