The PUG

This place is kind of hard to find if you aren't looking for it, as we passed right by it and had to turn around to get to it. However, it was so worth turning around and looking for it!! This place is clean, organized, and just a great set up inside! They had a wonderful selection of Pokemon and One Piece cards, and their prices were the best out of all of the shops we saw in the Pigeon Forge area! Not only was the selection and pricing great, the customer service was superb!! We have a very hyperactive child who is hyped about Pokemon, and the gentleman that helped us had nothing but patience and kindness for him. He was also super patient when we kept asking him about different items and their pricing! Honestly because of the customer service, we will be visiting this store every single time we come to this area from now on. It's honestly amazing and one of our most memorable stops we had while vacationing in the area! My son was so thrilled with his new Mega Zygard EX, I think if he hadn't gotten a build a bear Eevee this would've been his number one souvenir from our trip. Thank you so much and we can't wait to come back!!!

The PUG was recommend to us to visit before leaving the area as we were looking for a few more cards to complete a Pokémon set we're working on. They did have 2 cards we needed (2 more were listed on the computer but were actually out of stock). We also got a few more packs to rip as well as some One Piece cards. The employees were super helpful. I would recommend popping in if you're in the area and like card shopping.

The staff here was super nice and welcoming, but the store's selection is incredibly sparse. It is strictly a card shop, and the only inventory we saw was a heavy focus on single cards for sale, a few Pokémon cards, and a very limited selection of new Magic cards. Unless you are hunting for a very specific single, there isn't much to browse here. Great customer service, but the inventory leaves a lot to be desired.

I've spent a few days thinking about this review because I truly don't enjoy leaving anything less than a positive review, especially for a shop that has given me some great memories. The PUG became one of the few places I genuinely looked forward to visiting. I don't get out around the general public very often, so finding a card shop where I felt comfortable spending time was something special. For a while, I loved stopping in almost every day, buying a pack or two, opening them in the store, and sharing in the excitement of the hobby with others. There are several things I want to thank the shop for. I pulled my favorite card from this store, a memory I'll always have. I also met staff members who were patient, welcoming, and willing to spend time talking with me about the hobby. As someone still learning parts of Magic and other card games, those conversations meant a lot and helped make me feel included. The positive atmosphere and excitement surrounding the hobby were a big part of why I kept coming back. The drive is about 30 minutes for me, but when I was enjoying myself, that drive never felt long. I'd often stay for 30 minutes or more because opening packs, talking cards, and being around others who enjoyed the hobby made the trip worthwhile. Unfortunately, my recent visits haven't felt quite the same. The atmosphere that originally drew me in seems to have changed, and my last few visits felt much shorter and less engaging. On my most recent trip, I went in expecting to buy several packs as I normally would, but ended up purchasing just one pack and leaving after only a few minutes. It wasn't because of any one person or any negative interaction. The experience simply didn't have the same energy and excitement that I had come to enjoy. I understand that every day is different, every customer is different, and every staff member has their own personality and responsibilities. This review is not meant to criticize anyone personally. Rather, it's my honest experience as someone who came to value the welcoming environment and sense of community that I originally found here. For now, I've decided to take a break from visiting. That genuinely makes me sad because I really did enjoy supporting this shop and looked forward to my visits. The PUG gave me some wonderful memories, introduced me to new parts of the hobby, and will always be the place where I pulled my favorite card. My hope is that one day I'll stop back in and find that same excitement and welcoming atmosphere that made me become a regular customer. Until then, I want to sincerely thank everyone at the shop for the good experiences, the conversations, the patience, and the memories. I wish the store nothing but success and hope to visit again in the future.

The Pug is an awesome little card shop with a fantastic selection - lots of Pokémon, Digimon and Magic cards, plus a little One Piece as well. My friend is a huge Pokémon geek and he was overwhelmed (in the best way) by how much there was to browse through. The guy at the front was super friendly, easy to chat with and clearly knows his stuff. You can tell he runs the shop with real passion and integrity. If you’re into trading cards -> this is the place to be.