Matt Hanlon and Matt Long co-own the Collector's Den, which features an eclectic array of sports mementos of teams and individual players from the past and present eras. While many of these items can be sold to the public at their Broad Ripple location, several are offered for bidding at local auctions throughout the year.

Their merchandise includes celebrities and musicians, ranging from Beatles and Rolling Stones to Bob Marley and Taylor Swift. Some of the athletes include baseball greats Roberto Clemente, Pete Rose and Ozzie Smith to legendary coaches Bob Knight and Lou Holtz. There are also iconic moments in American history, like the raising of the U.S. flag in Iwo Jima that is among many framed items in the shop.

Collector's Den has a history of its own as well. "The store has existed since 1995. Its inventory has always been in a state of flux, like when teams win their respective championships. We moved from the Circle Center Mall before it closed. We found a real estate agent to help us find a commercial building in Broad Ripple and we decided that this location where we opened in November (at 6214 Carrollton Avenue) was it," explained Hanlon.

They creates the packaging of their items. "We have worked with a framer for decades. We do some of our own signature events, which include a recent image Purdue Boilermaker guard Brandon Smith's autographed jersey. We don't buy items from the general public. Instead, we have about a dozen vendors we work with. This is reputational business," he stressed. If a piece of sports memorabilia were fake, it could permanently bench a retailer.

Their clientele can be as diverse as their merchandise offered for that event. "We cater the inventory to whatever the event is throughout the year to help these charities raise money. If an item doesn't sell, we take it back or free. We work with over 1,200 auctions annually and at about 150 to 200 fall events as thousands of people contact us for their fundraising needs. Golf outings and charity galas are significant occasions for us during the summer," Hanlon mentioned.

He reflected on some of the fruits of their labor. "Perhaps the most rewarding thing is meeting the people. Certainly, when the shop was downtown, you never knew who would walk in. It was a different audience there, especially with the NCAA Final Four and Super Bowl crowds. A long time ago, whoever was playing with the Pacers, some of the opponent's team, depending on their travel time between cities, would visit the store. Often, it would be the nine guys on the bench. The starters (or marquee players) weren't always seen on the street."

Collector's Den is open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. seven days a week. Inquiries can be answered by calling or texting (317) 636-8229. More information can be found on their website: www.thecollectorsden.com. Hanlon noted that "Sports memorabilia is our bread and butter," but for customers, finding that unique collectible can be the icing on the cake at their new Broad Ripple address.