Locker Room Sports Brings NFL Stars, Signed Memorabilia to Main Street

Joe Covino of Port Reading has spent years working in freelance photography, most notably on the sidelines for the New York Jets and Dallas Cowboys. Now that Covino has a young daughter, he wanted to spend less time traveling and more time local doing something he’s always enjoyed: collecting.

“I’ve always wanted to open something like this,” Covino said. “The timing was just perfect.”

Covino said he has always been in business for himself and he wanted to open something he could go back to when he wasn’t taking pictures at games or signings. Also, he wanted something for his father to enjoy now that he is retired from the Woodbridge Police Department.

Over the years, Covino has found himself drawn to the memorabilia business. He would often be invited to attend sport conventions and take photographs of players signing the actual memorabilia as proof. Being hired to shoot photos and videos at these conventions became his off-season business, he said.

By working as an NFL photographer and sport convention photographer he’s built up relationships with athletes, which has made it possible for him to get players such as four time Pro-Bowl and Super Bowl Champion Everson Walls and Super Bowl Champion Hakeem Nicks to come to the store for signing events.

Walls agreed to do a free signing at Locker Room Sports at the Grand Opening on June 1, while Hakeem Nicks is slated for a signing on June 13. Covino said he is looking to have signings set up every two months.

“I’m a fan first,” he expressed. “If I hear a guy is a jerk, I won’t bring him in for a signing.”

He explained that he would rather bring in a player for a signing that would spend all day shaking hands with kids, even if that meant a smaller turnout.

The store itself features framed photographs signed by athletes, as well as signed jerseys, helmets, mini-helmets and memorabilia from other sports.

Covino is always interested in the best interest of the customer, he said. Although some of the younger players are hot right now, if he has a parent come in looking for a gift for their child, he will always inform them of the long term investment opportunities of say an older more established player.

The merchandise at Locker Room sports is also as certified as it can be, according to Covino , many of the items even have certification stickers or were witnessed signed by Covino himself.

“You never truly know what you’re getting when you buy online,” he explained. He added that he tends to steer away from online purchases, because if he is not a 100 percent sure something is authentic, he can’t guarantee that for the customer.

Covino’s memorabilia comes from conventions he attends, games or through relationships he has, so that it is guaranteed authentic.

When the business officially opens its doors on June 1, Covino said he is just hoping to develop a customer base, even if that means people coming in to just talk sports.

“I want to build cliental and become a trustworthy store here in Woodbridge,” Covino said. “I can’t wait until we are actually open.”

For more information on upcoming signings and memorabilia signed for Locker Room Sports visit the store’s Facebook page, here.
Locker Room Sports is located at 76 Main Street (former location of Standard Skate Shop).

Who would you want to meet at a signing on Main Street?