Today we’d like to introduce you to JR Marquez.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Eclectic Nerdz started with something simple: two brothers who just really loved nerdy stuff. Growing up, we spent countless nights debating our favorite heroes, arguing over who would win in a fictional showdown, and cracking packs of Yu-Gi-Oh! together.
What began in a small room with a camera and a passion for sharing card pulls slowly grew into something bigger. Over time, we reconnected with a childhood friend who believed in the vision just as much as we did. Yu-Gi-Oh turned into comics. Comics turned into deeper pop-culture conversations. And eventually, those late-night debates became a real dream: building a space where people who love this stuff could feel at home.
After starting at vendor shows, we became regulars at CCS before finally leaping to become vendors… something we’ve dreamed about for over 10 years…
We take pride in Eclectic Nerdz truly living up to its name. We carry a mix of different TCGs, comics, and pop culture franchises, not to mention we genuinely have something for everyone. More importantly, we take pride in making people feel like family.
And fair warning… if you stop by and start talking nerdy with us, you just might end up on our podcast “Nerdz At The Watchtower”!
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Eclectic Nerdz has been a journey in the making for nearly a decade. It started on YouTube, where we ripped packs, had fun, and shared our passion for the hobby. That eventually evolved into a podcast in early 2015 at a local comic shop where I was managing.
Unfortunately, differences in business practices with the owner ultimately led us to leave the shop. It was a difficult and heartbreaking experience. I felt that we owed our customers a place where they could safely play their favorite card games, discover new ones, and collect the books and products they loved. Unfortunately, we weren’t able to regroup at the time. We returned our focus to our careers, and for a while, the passion project we had created felt like it was slowly drifting away.
We would occasionally upload content, but something was missing. The spark and passion we had in the beginning just weren’t there anymore. Time passed, but I never completely let go of the dream. I kept talking with the team, asking if they would be interested in relaunching the project and wondering if we could bring Eclectic Nerdz back to life.
Eventually, I came across a few shows that felt like they were missing something special. With the encouragement of my partner and friends, I decided it was time to give it another shot. We leaped, and Eclectic Nerdz was back.
Like any business, we then had to figure out who our customers were and, more importantly, what would make us stand out. I’ve always been passionate about Yu-Gi-Oh!, and as we started attending conventions and shows, I noticed something: it was surprisingly difficult to find Yu-Gi-Oh! products at many of these events. Pokémon was everywhere, but Yu-Gi-Oh! was often overlooked.
That’s when it clicked for me: Why couldn’t we be the ones to fill that gap?
We decided to build Eclectic Nerdz around the things we genuinely love, specializing in Yu-Gi-Oh!, comic books, and collectibles. Since then, we’ve continued to grow and expand into other areas that excite us, including the Gundam TCG, Gunpla kits, and vintage manga.
What started as a YouTube channel and a passion project has grown into something much bigger than I originally imagined. For me, Eclectic Nerdz is about creating the kind of community and shopping experience I wanted to have myself—a place where collectors, players, readers, and fans can come together, discover something new, and feel like they belong.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
At Eclectic Nerdz, we’ve built a diverse inventory centered around nostalgia, fandom, and the things that brought many of us joy growing up. Our selection ranges from Yu-Gi-Oh! cards and Gundam TCG to Gunpla model kits, comic books, manga, and much more.
One thing that sets us apart is what we choose not to carry. We don’t currently carry Pokémon or One Piece TCG—not because we don’t love those franchises, but because they already have a tremendous presence in the market. We wanted to create space for other franchises and hobbies that don’t always receive the same attention or representation. For us, it’s about giving people an opportunity to discover something they may not find everywhere else.
We also take great pride in leading by example and giving back to the community that has supported us. We regularly host Yu-Gi-Oh! tournaments and community events where we collect donations for local schools and families. That has included school supplies, canned food, and Christmas toys. Seeing our community come together to support others has been one of the most rewarding parts of what we do.
Ultimately, the Eclectic Nerdz brand is about creating a legacy—one that inspires others to be the change they wish to see in the world. We want to show that a dream is never truly dead, no matter how long it takes to bring it back to life. We believe kindness can make a real difference, and that building a better community starts with each of us choosing to do something positive.
We just happen to do it while embracing our inner nerd.
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
Taking risks is one of the most exciting and nerve-racking feelings all at the same time. When we decided to go into business, we knew we were taking a major gamble. We were entering a market built around one of the most unpredictable and fluctuating areas of the hobby, competing in a space dominated by major franchises, and we were doing it with very little money. To get started, we even put our personal collections on the table and turned them into our initial inventory. We believed in the idea, but we had no guarantee it would work.
Early in our journey, we faced an unexpected challenge that made us question our entire approach: Could we actually be successful without relying on trading card games?
We had an opportunity to attend a show where vendors were not allowed to sell trading cards. We could sell collectibles, comics, toys, games, and other merchandise, but cards were completely off the table. Since we had built our business around trading card games and TCG products, we were understandably nervous. Would people still want what we had to offer?
Before the show, I talked with my team and told them, “Look, worst-case scenario, we break even, we network, and we see what moves.”
That mindset completely changed the way I looked at the experience. And, honestly, it paid off.
Not only did we have an amazing weekend, but we met so many incredible people and built relationships that opened doors we never expected. That experience ultimately led to us finding a home at CCS Houston. It reminded us that sometimes the opportunities we’re most nervous about can end up being the ones that move us forward the most.
One thing we’ve learned through all of this is that we are never truly prepared for everything life—or business—can throw at us. We can plan all day, create a backup plan for our backup plan, study trends in pop culture, and analyze the market from every possible angle, and we can still get hit with a curveball.
I believe the real strength of a business comes from being willing to take calculated risks, adapt when things don’t go according to plan, and stay true to who you are. We don’t spend our time worrying about the competition, and we don’t chase every trend or fad just because there’s a quick dollar to be made, and lastly, we do business with people we trust.
We sell what we genuinely love and what we know. At the same time, we’re not afraid to admit what we don’t know. We consider ourselves students of life and of the hobby. We’re constantly learning, adapting, and finding new ways to improve, while still being proud to do things our own way.
Taking that leap was scary, but looking back, I’m grateful we did it. We’re blessed to be able to say that what started as a risk is becoming something real—and that it’s working.
We invite you all to pay us a visit and hang out with us every weekend! Give us a follow on all social media @ Eclectic Nerdz.
9700 Bissonnet St #1500
Houston, TX 77036
Friday 3pm-10pm
Saturday 10am-6pm
Sunday 10am-5pm
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/EclecticNerdz
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eclecticnerdz/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/the.eclecticnerdz/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@EclecticNerdz
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@eclectic.nerdz
