We are pretty spoiled in the Minneapolis area we have 2 Hub Hobby Stores and Scale Model Supplies. I visit them whenever possible and avoid shopping online to help them stay strong. I could not imagine living anywhere without a brick and mortar shop but that is sadly increasingly common.
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I have a good brick and mortar close by named Great Lakes Hobby and Train. Good selection of kits. Paints and tools. I try to stop in and give them some business when I can.
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@LonCray shop called Tech Toys is in North Jersey too; PACKED old school shop from wall to wall with kits. They even had a full rack of Model Master paints!
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Good googly moogly! Thatās literally on the way from Kenvil Hobbies in Kenvil to Zeppelin Hobbies in Wayne! Thank you so much, Iām now up to six hobby shop stops on my MosquitoCon trip.
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Iāve done that exact Zepplin to Tech Toys to Kenvil trip last year. Of those shops, Tech Toys has BY FAR the most kits. Enjoy!
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Thank you! Itās my favorite trip; I get Modellbahn Ott in PA and AAA Hobbies in Magnolia (for the last time) plus my aunt and uncle live in the old family homestead in Kinnelon so thereās no hotel.
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AAA is my āsemi-localā and iām super bummed theyāre going away.
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Check out this thread that I started a while back when we started down this rabbit hole several months ago. Lots of good info on brick and mortar stores in there.
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In the Sacramento area we are down to three that I am aware of. Railroad hobbies in Roseville, which focuses on trains, but has a good selection of styrene, wood, and metal for scratchbuilding/kitbashing, and Woodland Scenics for dioramas. The other two are RC focused - Fast Track in Rocklin, which does have some plastic available, and RC Country Hobbies in Rancho Cordova, which has a selection of plastic and paint. RC does buy and resell plastic, which is nice. I have found some surprisingly nice kits at Fast Track and good value on pre-owned at RC Country, although neither has a huge selection.
I buy local when I can - nothing like a little instant gratification whether it be strip styrene, paint, or a new kit.
I miss San Antonio Hobbies, which used to be in the South Bay. Still have a couple of boxes in the stash with their price tag.
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Oh my god that brings back feelings of trepidation and fearā¦my ex put the fear of GOD into me with a similar phraseā¦āI saved $300 today, everything was 10% off !ā.
My purchasing weakness is āFree shippingā
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BOGO is pretty compelling too 
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The one in Awasso,Ok. I started this thread on , i save 30%. Wife said the discount was a little over $300.
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I have bought many reference books from Kings hobbiesā¦internet though
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My go to is Brookhurst Hobbies which is a staple for us SoCal modelers! I gotta keep enjoying it while Iām still in school!
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