Inferno’s House of Cards has been open in Rio Rancho for several months but Friday, the collectable shop celebrated its grand opening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Co-owners Christopher Schmitz and Kalani Low were joined by several of their staff, community leaders and family and friends for the ceremony.

Schmitz, who also owns CJ’s Cards shop on the second floor of Cottonwood Mall, started the new shop in Rio Rancho late last year and opened in February. After lengthy delays and effort of moving in the massive inventory of cards, games and memorabilia, Inferno’s officially celebrated its opening Friday. The shop is in the Hilltop Plaza, between Big Lots and Defined Fitness, east of Weck’s.

Inferno’s House Of Cards offers a huge selection of new and vintage packs of sports cards and collectibles. Starting with traditional sports like baseball, football and basketball cards, and moving into other categories like hockey, soccer, wrestling and NASCAR. It also has rare, hard-to-find cards like rookies, autographs, patches, relics and serial-numbered cards.

They also have a large selection of vintage and new Pokemon Packs, Singles, Elite Trainer Boxes (ETB) and Booster Boxes.

“We have baseball, basketball, football, hockey, UFC wrestling, or almost any sport you can imagine,” Schmitz said. ” Whatever you’re looking for, we carry it. We also carry some fan merchandise, whatever people are looking for. It’s an ever-evolving market as sports continue to evolve people’s tastes and teams change.”

Mayor Gregg Hull, County Commissioner Jay Block and Rio Rancho Regional Chamber of Commerce CEO Jerry Schalow were on hand to help Schmitz and Low celebrate.

“As a former small business owner, I know what a commitment it is, and and what a step and a leap of faith it is to go out in your own business, get a great space like this, start serving the public and really add value to the community in which you’ve opened the business,” Hull said. “And it’s only appropriate that the community recognizes the value that you’ve added to the community by coming out and saying thank you for your investment, not only in our community, but in the city of Rio Rancho and Sandoval County. We’re so grateful, I just get excited when I see a small business open up in Rio Rancho because that just shows that we have a vibrant economy. We have a supportive public, and we’ve got people willing to make a commitment.”

“You have opened the business in the 10th-best city in the Southwest United States and rated the best city in New Mexico. And we’re very, very proud of that. And I would also say from the county’s perspective, partnering with the city, you’re in the fastest-growing county in the state of New Mexico, and it’s a safe county,” Block said. “It’s got great streets, good infrastructure, great jobs, great schools and great small business partners. I wish you, on behalf of Sandoval County, much success, and we’re just so excited to have you here, and I want to say thank you so much from the bottom of my heart.”

Schmitz opened the shop in Cottonwood in 2020. After dealing with the pandemic, he decided he needed more space. Inferno’s is massive with display after display of memorabilia and collectables. There’s also space for customers to come in and play games and compete in tournaments. Inferno’s has plans for several events.

One of those events began with the ribbon cutting, which kicked off grand opening weekend at Inferno’s. The shop will offer free food, prizes, shirts, stickers, box breaks, flash sales and a Magic: The Gathering tournament starting at noon on Saturday and Sunday.

“We look forward to your success. What we really love at the chamber is businesses that are unique. And you guys definitely have that,” Schalow said. “We don’t have another business such as yours in the community. This is one that fills that niche. And when you have a niche business like you guys have, this is the expansion that grows the opportunity. Once folks find you — and they’re going to find you after today —ou guys have an unbelievable opportunity.”

The new Inferno’s House of Cards is open noon to 6 p.m.  Monday through Thursday and noon to 8 p.m. Friday through Sunday.

For more information, call Schmitz at 505-892-3727 or visit albuquerquecollectibles.com.