Howdy 214 !
listen , I've read this whole thread and have seen all the reasons for a shops demise .Now here's one that Blew me away . I used to live in a town that blew away in 1982 outside of BENTON , AR. .The hobby shop of choice was about a mile and a half from what was then L.R.A.F.B. In Jacksonville ,Arkansas. 47 miles away.
Jack Elliot and two partners started a shop not much bigger than Hill Country Hobbies in San Antonio is now . Well over a period of a few years Jack was the sole owner. Talk about service ! Nothing short of great .Jack's the one who sold my first wife the old Badger airbrush I still use .
Jack got an idea one day and suggested we regulars form a model club .Because we mostly modeled cars , Central Arkansas Modelers Society ( C.A.M.S.) was born .Right in Jacks shop! Now as business got better and we got plane and ship nuts as well as armor guys , Jack tripled the size of the shop and it went gangbusters . We had shows and contests and seminars on building and even a newsletter with kit reviews done by the members ( with Jack supplying the kits and print space ) The club went I.P.M.S. with Jack as a proud sponsor.
When I left Arkansas to follow my wife who learned to be a doctor in Georgia, and we went to California , I missed Jack and his banter as well as that fine lady he was married to. Fast forward quite some years .My first wife went home with the angels and the second wanted to see the shop I talked so much about .
We hit the road in a fifth wheel set up with a workshop and even room for my golf clubs ! When we got to Jacksonville I almost didn't find the shop .It was in a building Jack had wanted from the very beginning but couldn't get ." Cool ," I thought .
When I walked in you could've knocked me over with a feather .Stock haphazardly stacked everywhere and no divisions between any of the categories .It looked like a big garage stashed full of junk with models in it . Jack was no where around .Instead a brash " well , if you want it fine, but otherwise don't bother me" type running the place . No Jack , Number one .A total let down , number two and the newest kit I had seen in HobbyTown two years before as number three . I was so embarrassed I didn't speak to my missus all the way back to the R.V. Park in Hot Springs .
The Fact , somewhere along the way Jack either lost interest or couldn't find good and dependable help that could hold up his standards .I imagine it's gone now .It's been eight years .I don't think it could've lasted much longer that way . Now ,you see that is a problem too .Someone gets into the business and it's so demanding they feel it's taken over their life and want out or just lose interest .