The family of the late Carl Henderson, owner of Carl’s Cards and Collectibles in Havertown, isn’t letting his 31-year legacy vanish, writes Alex Coffey for The Philadelphia Inquirer.
Henderson died suddenly in his sleep on the morning of Jan. 31 at age 69.
At 11 AM, his daughter, Lauren Henderson-Pignetti, opened his sports card and collectibles shop on Eagle Road for business.
It seemed like the right thing to do.
Carl Henderson was well thought of in the sports community, and his passing generated thousands of messages from children, adults, and pro athletes.
There were 400 people at his memorial service, including former Phillies pitcher Dickie Noles, who read an Old Testament passage. Members of the Broad Street Bullies were in attendance.
Henderson-Pignetti is determined to keep her father’s business going. There will be no changes to the kid-friendly store, which was known for its autograph signings by local athletes.
“He didn’t care if you were buying something,” said Henderson-Pignetti. “It was almost like a version of a bar where you stop in and talk to a bartender.
“You can buy something, [but] you don’t have to. You can just stop in and talk. It wasn’t always about the dollar.”
Read more about the legacy of Carl Henderson in The Philadelphia Inquirer.
Editor’s Note: This post first appeared on DELCO Today in February 2026.
