First, I want to say thank you.
Over the past few days, several customers and friends have messaged me asking if we would start a GoFundMe. I thought about it for a long time.
The truth is, I have taken loans, borrowed from friends, and kept pushing Project KE forward through rising costs, tariffs, floods, damages, and every challenge that came our way.
Project KE was never just a store to me.
It felt like my child.
I opened this store when my son was one year old. I used to imagine that maybe one day, this place could become something I could pass down to him. I wanted to be that “cool dad” who built something special.
So I worked harder.
I worked late nights, early mornings, and many days where I barely knew if it was day or night anymore.
But sometimes, no matter how hard you work, life keeps pushing back.
The flood damages were not covered by insurance. The tariff refunds are still uncertain. The losses kept growing. And at some point, I realized I could not keep borrowing money and working 18-hour days just to keep this version of the dream alive.
I am also a husband and a father.
My wife and my child need me too.
So I made one of the hardest decisions of my life.
I chose to let Project KE go.
But I also want to explain why we did not open a GoFundMe.
I know everyone works hard for their money. Every time you bought a pack of Pokémon cards, a figure, a plush, a drink, or played our machines — that was already support. Real support.
I could not bring myself to ask for free money when so many people are also struggling.
The best way to support us now is simple:
Come visit our next chapter.
Our new store will be called:
✨ Project TCG ✨
📍 41-11 Haight St
Flushing, NY 11355
Project KE taught me so much.
It gave us joy, pain, lessons, memories, long lines in Flushing, official collaborations, events, tournaments, birthday parties, and most importantly — friendships.
I met so many people because of this store. I was always an introverted person, but Project KE forced me to meet new people every day. And somehow, that became one of the things I loved most.
I really, really loved this store.
But the new chapter will be different.
With Project TCG, I’ll be working with new partners and focusing fully on trading card games. Pokémon, One Piece, Gundam, Union Arena, tournaments, releases, and the TCG community.
No more juggling figure distributors, plush distributors, blind box distributors, Ichiban Kuji distributors, claw machine events, drink promos, figure sales, and everything all at once.
This time, the workload will be lighter.
This time, we can focus.
This time, we keep going.
So please don’t feel too sad for us.
Project KE was not a failure.
It was the most successful and meaningful store I have ever built.
It gave me more memories, friendships, lessons, and love than I ever expected.
Maybe this was one of the hardest chapters of my life.
Maybe this was the final obstacle before something better.
Goodbye, Project KE.
Thank you for everything.
Welcome, Project TCG.
We hope to see you at the new store.
💙 From Fans to Friends — always.
