HobbyTown USA, is there a store near you?

General Discussion General Modeling Discussion
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We have a small but decent Hobby Town here in Longmont, CO. with a good selection of supplies, and a lot of common kits. They will always order special things like GOOD new kits with only a week’s lead time. Very handy.

They have a lot or RC and toy trash which I am not interested in.

When the boss or one of the old timers is on duty, you can “talk shop” which is very much appreciated. However, at other times, they only have “DUH…” clerks on duty who are not at all helpful. I usually know what I am looking for, so I am glad to have this place nearby, with all of its shortcomings. I support them whenever I can.

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I surely do appreciate all of your great feedback on my question. Thanks!!!

Mostly I am relieved that ‘my’ two pet stores were not indicative of trouble for all HobbyTowns. They are nice stores and I wish all of the store owners well.

Bruce, Indy is a pretty good haul, 2:15+ to Carmel/the north side for me. But I do pass through a couple times per year so if the store you have in mind is anywhere near US31, the east 465 loop, or 65 south of 465, it could be a stop.

Fesan, I’d never been followed around a store before, so now I know how it feels. Not so good, does it? More importantly, I’m glad to hear you have a decent store nearby, and don’t let the distrust get to you. Atta boy. [Y]

Ed, I agree, a lot does depend on the individual owner. I’ve been through some tough times in business, and I know that the worst of times do not bring out the best in me. I have empathy for the folks. The store in Kalamazoo was a husband/wife effort. I remember having a wonderful chat with the wife once years back. I wonder if it was the husband who was chasing me around that day years later? [:O]

Clint, thanks. I wonder if that Indy south side store is the one Bruce is thinking about?

Barrett, I agree. It’s good to support local shops if we can.

Rob, thanks for chiming in.

Jim, good to hear you have a decent selection of stores up in your NE neck of the woods. Too bad one of them might not be closer.

Tojo, that sounds like a nice kit selection. Sounds like you have one of the good ones nearby.

Tickmagnet, I think every hobbiest should visit a HobbyTown at least once, I’m glad you have one to visit when you are in the vicinity.

Joe, it is starting to surprise me where the HTUSA’s are …and aren’t. Corpus Christi is a decent-sized place, I would have suspected you would have one closer.

Sheep, sadly, your story is all too common. At least a lot of us were around to have enjoyed the LHS heyday, even if it makes us melancholy.

Bob, I’m sorry Kazzoo closed too, but I’m glad if I saved you a trip. I probably saved myself one, as sooner or later I’d have headed up there this spring/summer.

I am familiar with the Granger HobbyTown USA as well. I was going to mention it but my post had already gotten too long. It is a nice little store but it didn’t pique my interest becuase as you said, it is mostly RC. That said, I should probably stop by again and support them if I can.

I looked up Maple City and the one I found in is Goshen, easily confused with Granger, and a good 45 minutes if not more from here.

Speaking of Granger, if you get down this way and have any interest in model trains, check out Jerry’s Trains. It is an awesome new train hobby shop which unfortunately for me, I can easily walk to. [:|]

Tankboy, sounds like lucky you. I need to get off my lazy duff and visit my daughter in Denver this summer, I might just have her take me on a little hobby side trip or two then. [;)]

MJames, sorry you have a bad situation out your way.

learmech, you might be the first report I’ve heard of a HTUSA being your go to LHS. That’s cool!

DMX, lucky you to have a good mom and pop store near by. Savor each moment.

Hamster, I didn’t know you had a HTUSA so close. That is COOL. Also, the store near me Bob was talking about also has an indoor RC building. Small world.

Thanks again for chining in, everyone. Like I said, I’m relieved to hear of so many thriving HobbyTowns and LHS’s in general. [Y]

23

My HT is in Plano, TX and about 20 minutes from my house. They have an incredible selection of Gunze, Vallejo, Model Master, and Tamiya paints and a great selection of kits. They also host our bimonthly Model Club. And if I need something specific, they can order it.

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Greg,

The Hobby Town I’m talking about is in North East Cincinnati where I live. If you lived close to Indy, I knew it would not be too long a drive to Cincy.

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I have one 6 miles from my house. Decent selection of paints but models are few and far between. Little mom and pop a little farther away has a great selection kits. But sometimes pricey.

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If you get back to Sacramento, checkout Viking hobby shop in Carmichael. They have a great selection in a teeny space! Lots of fun. In Denver, we have the two Colpar’s Hobby Towns, which are still regarded as Colpar East and West, and have kept their identity and well-earned rep as among the best in the country. But we also have Thompson’s hobbies in Lakewood, and Caboose hobbies, which specializes in trains. In addition, we have a number of Hobby Lobby stores throughout the area. I’d say the Denver-area is target-rich in model stores.

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That’s the one I was referring to. If I go up there, I stop by Brian’s.

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My bad on that location, Goshen is what I have written down. I’ll blame that on my meds lol. Thanks for the tip on Jerry’s Trains. I’ll have to check it out the next time I’m down that way.

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Chad, sounds like you have another pretty good one. Interesting your HT carries Gunze paints. I don’t ever remember seeing those anywhere. Thanks for chiming in.

Bruce, I got your comment all backwards. Unfortunately, Cincinnati would be quite a haul (I’m way up north near South Bend, IN). Thanks for the thought, though…

Johnny, now there’s a dedicated modeler. In Naples territory for less than 1/2 year and all ready have the local shops sorted out. Good for you! Glad you found some action down Naples way. You just made me think to check for a HT in the Tampa Bay area. No idea why I never thought to check before. Found one 40 mins away from my Florida hangout, and as you should have learned by now, 40 mins away in Western/Southwestern FL is about average, isn’t that right? Thanks for giving me that idea.

Ken, I’ve added that info to my travel notes for both places. I checked and Carmichael is only minutes from my sister’s place in Sacremento. Plus you have given me incentive to get to Denver. Sounds like a great place to be a hobbiest for sure. Thank you!

Bob, if you’re not a Hoosier, I’ll bet Granger and Goshen sound about alike. No worries. [;)] A little more info on Jerry’s, it is owned by Jerry Macri who has what has been reported as the largest HO home layout in the US in his home basement. You can do some Googling and find out more about it if you want. They have funny hours (and they change seasonally), check with them or with me before you head down this way.

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Greg. Gotta have my LHS for supplies. Also found another one in Ft Myers that’s really a railroad shop but he has quite a selection of kits and a great paint selection

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Sheeeeyit! No friggin’ way there’s anything here like that. I mean there are a few modelers here but most of the folks that I’ve seen buy kits at HL are parents that have never built a model or those that have built a few that are buying their kids a kit but that’s not the kind of audience that’ll entertain visiting a full blown hobby shop. There was one a while back called Leisure Time Hobbies and it was a great store but it flopped within a year of me moving here back in 99. Total bummer to see that one go after 22 years of business.

32

Hi;

Well,I guess that you could say local.My Hobby Town is in San Antonio 45 miles away . We do have a H.L here in New Braunfels ,Not Bad,Typical H.L. T.B.

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I can up you one what happened to me a couple years ago. The last remaining LHS was ran by an old man whom wasn’t too bad. Until that is his paranoid daughter started working there. Long story short, one cold winter day during my lunch hour, I was leaving. I had my hands in my pockets as I walked out the door. Told the old man Have a nice day on the way out. Then this daughter o& his said “Excuse me but can you empty your pockets?”

She actually thought I was stealing. I felt insulted as I took my hands out of my pockets. She sheepishly apologized but I cut her off and told her that she just lost a loyal customer and I vowed never to return again. I predicted by years end it will close for good since they hardly gotten any business. I felt sorry for her father but she was being paranoid everytime I go to shop there. Sure enough, he ended up closing for good this past January.

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Thanks for sharing your HobbyTown and LHS situation, TB. [Y]

Sheep, as lousy as my memory is, I remember your story from a couple years back. That was a sad thing to read then, and it is now. One of those in a lifetime would be enough.

BTW, On re-reading my OP, it sort of sounds like my point was to gripe about being followed around the store. I really didn’t mean it that way. I got to typing and got carried away, led myself off-topic as I do sometimes, and I apologize for that.

The intention of my post was to get a feel for how Hobbytowns are doing in general, and thanks to all of the helpful replies, now I know. It’s localized, dependent upon ownership and other factors, but in general, Ok. And I’m happy for that.

35

I was just relating to your post since I had a similar situation. I can honestly say for my hobby town though it would not survive if it was not for their indoor rc car track and slot car track they have also. They usually have my car fix for models but lack in plane and armor which is a bummer for me been enjoying my plane that i got and armor been really interesting me a lot.

36

I agree completely.

We had a HobbyTown here, that was in business for at least 20 years. Then the owner sold it and retired. The new owner couldn’t make a go of it, and within a year, he had to close up shop.

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We no longer have any of the “chain” stores in this area. Last one (Hobbytown, I believe)has been gone for…5-6 years now…maybe more??? The shop I used to frequent, for paints and basic supplies has been gone for some time as well.

We do have a thriving shop in Ypsilanti (MI). I know I’ve mentioned it before. “Model Cave”. Definitely worth a visit, if you’re in the area. By far, the best aircraft selection I have ever seen, and it dominates the store. He also has a good selection for ships. A bit weak on armor (bothers me not). I’d say a fare selection of Gundam and autos too.

38

I have one about 2 miles away, in Londonderry, NH. Typical of the breed, they have a sampling of plastic kits. Usually an old assortment of old releases, but with a several new releases scattered in. Once in a while, they surprise me with a new release no one else had yet. I got my Revell Yacht America there well before it showed at the two well stocked shops in the area. And sometimes they’ll have a recent Airfix release that is already sold out everywhere else.

I stopped in recently, and was surprised ( and a little disappointed) to see that they had bunch of the well worn Revell 1/48 aircraft- looked like a ” new“ shipment of the old standby Revell kits had finally come in from the new Revell Germany. (Not much else to pick from.)

While the plastic section is weak, they do have basic RC supplies that I need for my scratchbuilt RC Ships.

I‘ve been in the area NW of Boston for 25 years now, and fully realize how great I have it. There are two very well stocked shops in the area- one in Marlboro, MA; one in Tyngsboro MA. One is 25 min away, the other is 65 min away.

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Greg -

Probably the nearest LHS in my general area would be Syracuse, NY an hours drive from here. I have yet checked it out. There is one in Webster (Rochester area) called Performance Hobbies I went to a few years back that I was impressed with. Great stock and hobby supplies. Sadly, I haven’t gotten the chance to go back. Hopefully this year next time we have a family gathering.

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In the past few days I’ve seen this thread and figured there wouldn’t be a store close to me so I passed over it. I finally googled it and found there is one 8 minutes from work. [:D]

Thanks forum community!

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