For every aspiring entrepreneur and hobbyist, it’s a bold step to take one’s hobby and make it their life’s work.
After working in retail for a number of years, John Lengle finally decided it was time for him to take that step for himself and his family. Back in November 2024, he opened the door to 619 Collectables in Pottsville.
“I was in leadership and management in retail since I’ve been able to work,” Lengle says. “My whole goal was to always something up of our own, to do our own thing. I just kept putting it on the back burner.”
619 Collectables is chock full of collectible items from numerous fantasy-based and other pop culture brands like Pokemon, Funko, Magic: The Gathering, and McFarlane. Though its name suggests it may be somewhere else, the shop is located at 318 W. Market St., Suite 2. The 619 in the name is actually a tribute to Lengle’s grandmother, as it held special meaning to her.
Earlier this week, Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce helped celebrate the Grand Opening of 619 Collectables with a midday ribbon cutting ceremony.
It was a chance to check out the shop and see its recent expansion. The store recently opened up space at the rear of the business to create a play area for enthusiasts of the company’s specialties.
Lengle said there are plans to have Wizards of the Coast nights. That’s a popular role-playing game. Magic: The Gathering and Pokemon nights are also in the works, he said.
He and his family seem very at home and happy working at something that’s theirs and something that matches their passion. Lengle owns the shop with his fiance Itchayra Lliteras. They have three boys: Desmond, Jaymon, and Roman. Lengle also has a daughter, Skylar Roth.
Prior to opening the shop in Pottsville, Lengle says he was coming to a point in his working career where he knew it was time for a change. That’s when he decided to make that bold step of working for himself and his family instead of someone else.
“We just went for it,” he says.
Lengle offers advice to any other entrepreneurs out there who may be in a similar position, thinking of turning their hobby into their life’s work.
“I created a lot of excuses. Don’t make excuses for yourself,” he advises. “My nerves always got in the way of actually just going for it and doing it.”
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