So, it had been a couple of years since I’ve done anything model related, so I decided since I’m getting back into it again, I’d visit my local hobby shop. WOW. They had completely remodeled the place, doubled the number of plastic model kits, added a separate section for resin/PE and moved all the paint, paint supplies and tools to a larger area right at the front of the store.
Best part? They are now a US retailer for Vallejo Acrylics. Which means no more Internet ordering from the UK (nothing personal guys) or overseas! Living in Minnesota, it’s not exactly a large metro area like an Dallas or Los Angeles, so I was really happy. Like happy to the tune of close to $70 worth of paint and supplies to replace old paint I had to toss when inventorying over the past couple of days.
Suffice it to say, I’ll be keeping them in business with my tools and paints purchases. The kits are a bit pricey, but I understand (as a sales rep myself) the business of operating margins, etc. Every once in a while they have some good 25% sales for the kits, so I’ll watch for those as well.
The place is called Hub Hobby, located in Richfield, MN. They also have another location in Little Canada, but I’ve never been to that one. Like I said they have a lot of everything, from R/C and beading to models, etc.
If you’re close to St Paul though, I’d suggest hitting “The Dungeon” or Scale Model Supplies as it’s officially known as… it’s on Lexington and I-94 between St Paul and Minneapolis. They are basically the brick and mortar eBay (without the bidding of course) of the Twin Cities. I’ve found kits I built in high school there 20 years later, still in the shrink wrap. Lots of resin stuff there too. Was too lazy to fight traffic to visit today, will probably swing by tomorrow as I have some business in St Paul early in the morning.
Oh man! If you’re in that area as I am once every year or two, you’ve GOT to go to Hub Hobby! One of my dad’s friends told him about it. My dad doesn’t build models but he used to when he was a kid. As a result, he has a great appreciation for it. My dad, in turn, told me about it and I was able to go there for the first time a couple of years ago.
The last time I was in the store, my wife, two young daughters and even my mother-in-law came in with me! I thought they’d all be exhausted from their shop-fest at the Mall of America but I was sure wrong! I bought some kits but they spent far more than I did! There were dolls and dinosaur models that my family flocked to while I was in the model airplane section. I just thought it was funny that I’m the one who wanted to go there but they walked out of the place with far more stuff than I did! LOL!