For those folks here who live in the LA area, The Military Shop in Lakewood/Long Beach has been one of the old school standards for the area for at least the past four decades, if not longer. Unfortunately, according to the owner Gary, business can no longer support him running the shop. So another great one is leaving us. He is planning on closing up business by the end of this month, so if you are in the area, he is selling off the inventory at close out prices. It is a true shame to see a shop of this caliber close, where he knew you on a first name basis, knew your hobby tastes, and where one could sit and chat with fellow modelers as at any club meeting or the local watering hole. Sad indeed.
That’s too bad. Years ago I was doing biz trips out to LB and always made it a point to stop in there.
Geez I remember the Military Shop from back when it was in the Lakewood Shopping Center. It was a staple visit but when they moved to LB it was just too far away for me as I moved about the same time. He managed too outlive alot of other shops I can recall.
That is a real shame…I will be out that way this month so I may have to stop by. I tried going there a couple of times and it was always closed.
Historical Models in Torrance closed in the late 90s. Gary’s was the last shop in that part of the county for the past decade or so. About 4-5 years ago he had a bad spinal injury playing raquetball and had to cut his hours to being open on weekends only. There are still a couple shops in Orange County- Brookhurst in Garden Grove and Military Hobbies in Orange, but they dont quite have the same air inside.
Oh wow, I dug Historical Models. The last time I was there was the mid 90s. The OC shops are way to o far away from me. The best shop I know of now is Pegasus Hobbies in Montclair. Thats a fair drive but I find myself over that far more often than OC . Another place that I can only assume is also long gone was Hobby City in Stanton, and at one time there was a great shop in Bellflower but I can’t remember its name, been away too long.
I didn’t realize it was still open. I’d been by there a few times over the last two months and it was closed each time I went by, so I figured it was already out of business. I’d been going to Military Hobbies in Orange.
Never lived close to LBC so I never got a chance to make it to this shop. But I’ll be sad if Pegasus in Montclair ever closes. I’ve been going there so long I remember when they used to be in the old building next door (and their current one was a 24 hour fitness).
Hobby City is still around, but I am surprised that they still are. Very expensive to shop there. A good selection there with lots of old hard to find stuff, but priced accordingly high. I have never been to Pegasus, but I never get up that way in my travels. I did go to an old shop by the same name in Whittier many years back, but they closed up in the 90s. And there is one small decent shop in La Mirada, R Hobbies, that I hit every now and then when work puts me in that area.
The one in Bellflower was Earls Hobbie shop they had a small store on Bellflower Blvd. Then they moved to a larger store near Flower and Bellflower Blvd. Then they moved again to a store close to the railroad tracks still on Bellflower Blvd in Bellflower.
I have never heard of it or been there. [:O]Is it still there? What is the closest major cross street?
No it’s been gone for at least 6 to 7 years maybe more. Went there when I was 12 or 13 years old.
The nearest cross street would be Alondra, Earls was right next to the railroad tracks. There was a furniture store across the street on the west side and on the same side a lumber yard called Hammans. The buildings Earls was in is no longer there I think it is now a park.
Two other good Hobby Stores in the Los Angeles area are House of Hobbies in Burbank and Brookhurst Hobbies in Garden Grove.
Where Did That Go LHS Haiku:
Those plastic models
in the hobby stores that I pass,
did not pay yesterday.
I have been going to Brookhurst Hobbies for almost as long as I was going to the Military Shop. And then there is Military Hobbies in Orange. Burbank is on the opposite side of LA for me, so I dont think I will be heading up that way anytime soon with gas well over $4 per gallon…
Next weekend is the end…[:'(] Although yesterday I was able to pick up a highly discounted 1/200 Kagero since everything is being cleared out at substantial markdowns. Lots of old stock kits from his storage areas that I have not seen on shelves for 30 years [:O]
Truly a sad day. I travel to So Cal frequently, and any time there over a weekend, Sunday always goes like this:
Breakfast at Red Hill Cafe
Planes of Fame
The Military Shop
My Sundays won’t be the same anymore. Gary almost always had something I needed or didn’t know existed till I got there. I’m really sad about this.
What’s worse in my case is that I’ll be out for a two week trip; but I’m a week late. Not arriving till April 2.
Sad, sad day for the hobby.
I got in there today and picked up three models. I wish I had gone last weekend. Sad to see the shop is closing.
Sad indeed. It can’t hurt (ouch yes it does) but I often tell the owners of shops closing that I’d like to have a look at their lists.