I just wanted to share a great experience I had this weekend. I went to a little place called the Military Shop in Long Beach, CA. It’s at least an hour drive (with no traffic), so that is the main reason I haven’t been there yet. But am I glad that I did!
The fellow that was working knew most everyone by name, saying things like “I’ve been saving somthing for you…” and stuff like that. Talk about service! Well, it’s more like a friend, from what I can see. And, they had everything I could ever want - it’s not a big place, but everything that is there is exactly what modelers want.
What an awesome shop!!
Doc, you’ve hit on something I’ll never stop harping about. We have to get up off a few extra dollars to save our LHS’s before the last one closes its doors. When I moved to NYC from Houston, we still had a couple of shops like you describe, where regulars could hang out, newcomers were welcome, and we talked about models and learned from each other. But these shops have to pay rent and utilities and can’t buy wholesale in the vast quantities the mail order shops do, so LHS’s can’t get big discounts to undersell the competition like mail order does. I’m not saying we can all afford to shop exclusively at the hobby shop nearby, but we should spend at least a portion of our modeling budget there so they can stay afloat. Believe me, we’ll all be sorry when the last one locks its doors. As I’ve said in this space before, in all of New York City, there is nothing that could fit the description of a local hobby shop. There are shops, but they are few, and are owned and operated by men who couldn’t care less if you come back or not, and if you have a question, they look at you as if you were something smelly stuck to their shoe. Keep those old fashioned shops going, fellows.
Good to see a shop like that. So many are getting so impersonal. A hobby shop needs to be like a hair salon, where we all get together and talk, gossip, and spend lots of money with the guy behind the counter.
I couldn’t agree more. The mail order & internet shops are a way to save a few $, but there is nothing like a good old fashioned Hobby Shop. We still have a couple operating in this area & I give them all the support I can afford,
I just seen a brand new shop! The guy is really nice. Its kinda small, but it has almost everything. LOT of paints. Plus if you like Tamiya supplies your in then.
Man. I wish I had a good local hobby shop. The closest thing to one is a Hobby Lobby- pretty good on prices, but all of one asile (is that how you spell it? Probably not.) of kits AND paint AND glue. Not cool.
If that weren’t bad enough…
The NEXT closest Hobby Shop is about an hour away. Excellent selection. It’s like a warehouse in there! So, what’s wrong with that? A lot! Because (I guess) of little to no competition, the owner overcharges everything by AT LEAST $10!!! With no fixed source of income, this makes me REALLY angry! [:(!][:(!][:(!][:(!]
Ah, well. Thank God for mail order! [:D]
Being where I live there is a place called brookhurst Hobbies. Absolutley great place and over charged. They are never to busy to help you, and it is busy there all the time!! They have half a dozen people working there all shifts so you rarely have to wait to be helped. Very old-fashion feel to it…hand written recepts. I never seen a place with so much selection, and if they dont have it can be ordered at a slight mark up. They make money off ya…but you are very well taken care of.
I do a bit of online shopping but when I get paid that every other friday my first stop after the bank is the LSH… without miss.
-Jeff
There are two hobby shops near me.
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A 1 minute walk (literally)
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A 3 minute drive (literally) or a 30 minute walk.
I guess I’m spoilt!!!
[8D] [:D]
Local hobby shops are great but unfortunately extremely rare in the state of Vermont. The best one for selection, service, and a welcome atmosphere is EMPIRE HOBBIES in St. Albans. My favorite WOW kind of hobby shop is WAR and PIECES in West Hartford, Conneticut. If you see a product or kit reviewed or advertised in a model magazine they typically have on their shelves. THAT IS A WOW EXPERIENCE!
Great post subject,
I have the benefit of being here in the midwest where the little ‘mom and pop shop ’ stores still exists in places. I have the good fortune of having a great little shop about 3 miles away across town. It is privately owned and is’nt one of those big retail,impersonal chain stores either. And Benzdoc, the atmosphere is similar to yours, where the owner knows his clients by name, orders and holds kits and such for them too. I can always get a few tips or kit reviews if I ask him. Selection? Reference material? after market photo etch or resin sets? You’d better believe it fella’[;)] I’ve been hard pressed not to find that rare or out of production kit that absolutely no one else had. It is a great shop, and I always go to him first to support this gem of a store!
You guys with your friendly hobby shops without snotty, price gouging owners almost make me want to ship out of the Apple back to the hinterlands (that’s the local attitude here, not mine). We had a LHS, believe it or not, right near midtown Manhattan, and every modeler in NYC knew old Lou, the owner, but he just couldn’t keep it afloat. So we mourn the passing of ACE Hobbies, avoid the jerks, and mail order. Count your blessings, guys.
Tom