Any GOOD plastic hobby shops in the Bay area (i.e. San Francisco, or livermore?)
Not just the generic Hobbytowns.
Guess I wouldve thought they’re might have been more available here, considering the vast size, and population.
Buying online jut gets to be too one dimensional for me.
Miss the old days, where you could go and see the cool stuff locally.
Doc
Ace Hardware on University Avenue in Berkeley.
Fresno is a bit of a let down for hobbyshops isn’t it. Pretty sad for a city of nearly 1/2 million.
Berkeley Ace Hardware is great, a must visit shop in the basement of the hardware store. One aisle you are looking at armor kits, the next aisle is PVC pipe [:P] . Lots of variety too, not just the usual Revell, Tamiya, Hasegawa etc, quite a few old kits, and a nice selection of limited run stuff, even some resin, and vacform. It’s a pretty good hardware store too and there is a tasty crepes place a few doors down (Crepes A go-go) if you are hungry and want something different for lunch.
Hobbys Unlimited, on Manor Blvd, in San Leandro. Another shop that has been around for years, with a nice selection of stuff. The owner is friendly and pretty up to speed on kits. He worked in the shop as a kid, and bought the place when the old owner sold it 30+ years ago.
D&J Hobbys in the San Jose / Campbell area used to be really good, but its been years since I’ve been there. I’ve heard in recent years they have turned into more of a crafts and R/C store.
Not exactly the bay area but Riverside Hobbies in Sacramento is a good shop if you find yourself up that way. Decent prices and selection. The owner buys a lot of old kits from estate sales or people clearing out their stash, so you can often find long out of production kits at reasonable prices. There are also a couple of model railroad and R/C shops in Sac, nothing special about their model selection, but pretty good for supplies.
Ace and Hobbys Unlimited also have good model railroad sections if you are into that kind of thing.
There was a decent shop in Fremont (Scenario) and Dublin (Wolds), but I’m pretty sure both closed 5 or 6 years ago.
Yeah, Fresno is more than a bit of a let down, considering they “used” to have more.
Ernie at Hobbytown, has got into displaying more of the estate sale acquisitions, and some of his own personal stock.
But still not enough.
D&J I checked out, and yes, it has become a glorified crafts store, and gamers spot.
Riverside in Sacramento is a alot better, but still not the old school that I recall from the old days.
The owner there said that the only other plastic shop she knew of was in San Jose.
Maybe that was D&J?
Thanks for the replies
I agree with Ace Hardware in Berzerkeley being #1 in my book, having lived there fo a number of years and frequenting it quite often, shoot i still have a couple of kits purchased there 25 yr’s ago, Top notch hobby store.[Y][Y]
I would include:
Franciscan Hobbies on Ocean Avenue in San Francisco (Selection not the best, but will also order for you)
Talbot Hobbies on 5th Avenue, San Mateo (model section keeps on shrinking)
J & M Hobbies 1660 Laurel St, San Carlos, CA 94070-5217 (bypassed by alot, but a great little shop with a good selection of plastic.
Mike T.
I will 2nd Hobbies Unlimited, Wolds Hobbies in dublin used to be good, but alas, they closed