Rebuilding After the Fire: Family Card Shop Finds New Life in Former Mechanicville Jewelry Store

For decades, Micklas Mfg. Jewelers was located off Central Ave in Mechanicville. Recently, the family decided to retire and close the store. Unlike other stores that remain empty in the city, another business will be moving into this space, and it's another family-owned business.

Bill’s Card Shaq is starting over. After a fire destroyed their Waterford shop in December 2024, the Hodges family is reopening in Mechanicville and hoping to rebuild what they lost.

The shop had been part of the community for decades. William Hodges IV grew up in it. He told News 10 ABC,  “I’m 27, so basically my whole life has been the card shop.”

The fire not only wiped out their entire inventory but also claimed a life and injured several others. “There was a little girl in a coma,” William recalled. “You can always replace things. You can’t replace people.”

The family salvaged just one item, a statue that meant a lot to William’s father, Bill Hodges III. It’s now part of their new space, a small reminder of the shop they left behind.

Rebuilding hasn’t been easy. They had to start from scratch, ordering new cards, games, and collectibles. But for William and his dad, the shop is more than a business. It’s a place where people connect over sports, memories, and shared passions.

“You can come in and talk about the Knicks, the Mets, the Yankees. It doesn’t matter who you root for, you’re still part of something,” William said.

Bill’s Card Shaq will be open Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays from 10-5, Tuesdays and Saturdays from 10-3, and Wednesdays from 10-6. It’s not the same place, but it’s the same spirit and a new beginning. It's a perfect fit, too, considering they can use the jewelry display cases to show off their collectibles.