I want my own pleasant visit to my LHS

I know what you mean. I was in OKC a few months ago on business, and as I always like to visit LHS anywhere I go I went on the same quest as you. The only one I could find was in Norman off main street and they did not have that much stuff. Go figure I would have guessed a city the size of OKC would have at least one LHS.

Well, we have to remember that local hobby shops, by definition, aren't cookie-cutter chain stores (unless, of course, your local hobby shop happens to be HobbyTown--sorry, just kidding).  That is to say, by definition, a local hobby shop represents a unqiue store, which sells hobby supplies, but each one will have a unique mix of offerings.  In making that definition, I'm thinking back to the 70s, when I was a kid, then teenager, years before the Internet, and the only chain hobby stores that I knew of were places like Allied Hobby in SE PA, and over in Jersey, too, I think.  And of course, there was mail-order.

So, it all depends on the shop.  You can only find out by doing what you're doing, that is, looking 'em up and visiting 'em.  I might call ahead, to find out, and save a trip, in case they don't carry what you're looking for.  On the other hand, it's fun to browse.

Heck, one of our classic LHS's here in the Lehigh Valley, Trains & Lanes, has a slot car track and an indoor batting cage, as well as all kinds of kits, model RR, and RC stuff.  I think they have a small go-cart track outside, too, but I never paid much attention outside, I'll have to doublecheck that.

Best regards,

Brad

Area hobby shops for me...lets see

Oshkosh (30 min), a HobbyTown where we have our IPMS Chapter meetings...plastics is probably one of the smallest categories in the store

Green Bay (45 minutes) A nice mom & pop type store, but since I rarely have reason to go to Green Bay I don't get their often. There is also a HobbyTown there as well or was...never been to it.

Milwaukee (1hour 40 minutes) Several great fully stocked hobby shops. When I do go it is usually for other business purposes or club meetings (IPMS RI Bong). If I am down in the area on business I have a schedule to keep...in a hurry and usually a side trip to a shop isn't likely.

If its during our trek to club meetings, well then again it falls under the amount of time we have...if everyone going can get off work early enough so we can make the trip and still have time to hit a couple of the shops before our meeting we do so. We also have to find time to stop to eat supper which takes time too.

Some of the boys at the RIB go to dinner after the meeting, which is fine unless you have a hour and a half or more drive home...meeting ends at 9pm, you go to dinner which usually breaks up at 10:30 or 11pm followed by the long drive home. Now some that ride along with me have a 45 minute to an hours drive to get back to their homes from my place!!! Which makes for a even  l o n g e r  day.

Madison Same distance as it is to Milwaukee, two maybe three good shops to visit there. The only time I visit those shops is if I am there for a contest.

Chicago. Too far, widespread and too congested. If you don't know your way around or have an I-Pass highway tolls increase the travel expenses. Fewer shops than there once was.

Here is the economics of it...to drive round trip just for gas in my car ranges from $4.20 to $25.00 to visit a hobby retailer in my region. Spending $25 in gas to pick up a few bottles of paint and maybe a kit...just doesn't make economic sense. I do have a Hobby Lobby just minutes from my house, which does have a good selection of Testor's and Model Master paints. Depending on how many I purchase (I use the coupons when I can) it is still cheaper than driving to the closest LHS (which gives our club members a modest discount). I do try to purchase as much of the paints I consume from our host LHS, but when the racks are bare and selection limited on must go...Internet.

the Baron

...Heck, one of our classic LHS's here in the Lehigh Valley, Trains & Lanes, has a slot car track and an indoor batting cage, as well as all kinds of kits, model RR, and RC stuff.  I think they have a small go-cart track outside, too, but I never paid much attention outside, I'll have to doublecheck that....

Wait - kits AND batting cages? Sounds like my kinda place!

Oh, and I'm kinda spoiled! I am able to buy 90% of my stuff locally.

I am literally across the road from my LHS. It's a small spot with a decent selection of kits. I only use Tamiya acrylics and Humbrol for enamels now, the stuff he stocks works just fine for me. (And if I run out, a fresh bottle is 90 seconds away!) There is also gear for trains & RC. Beyond that there is a Michael's craft store 20 minutes away - that I have to drive past to get to work.

No batting cage though...

Heck, one of our classic LHS's here in the Lehigh Valley, Trains & Lanes, has a slot car track and an indoor batting cage, as well as all kinds of kits, model RR, and RC stuff.  I think they have a small go-cart track outside, too, but I never paid much attention outside, I'll have to doublecheck that.

Hey my friend in Allentown took me there,that is a nice shop,lots of stuff.     

I'm lucky to have a small mom+pop shop about 10 min away,Maplewood Hobby.I try to buy all my supplies there along with a few kits and magazines.Sorry to say though,my big ticket stuff comes thru mail order,he just can't compete with the online prices.

We have a semi small shop here in Ellsworth Maine... it has more yarn and knitting, oil paints, beads, trains, candle supplies, rockets,, etc,, Decent amount of plastic, nice supply of paint and extras.. his $$ on plastic is LIST price.. usualy higher than any thing online.. BUT.. he has no competition, other than online.. and most of his business per the owner, is plastic..! so.. go figure..

Their nice friendly people.. quiet store..  I like going.. I usally ask for Gift Certs for birthdays and Xmas from them,, then go in for plastic.. I get all my supplies there..

Good people.. nice place.. been buying since I was .....umm.. I can remember... lol

Ok, you guys are doing what we call down in these parts "adding salt to the wound"....

LOL...    homer  --> (8(|)    

The only thing in Rhinelander that could be called a LHS was Ben Franklins crafts that also had a small sellection of plastic models and model RR stuff.  When our local Wal Mart expanded they also got a large craft sellection area and it wasn't long after that the Ben Franklins went out of business.  Fast forward a few years and Wal Mart no longer has crafts or sells plastic models so we have no local source.

Have to drive 60 miles to Wausau and there are 2 LHSs that carry plastic models although one of them is primarilly model RR supplies.  Now buy most of my stuff on line.  Have to say that when I get to Green Bay I make it a point to stop at N.E.W. Hobbies (the "mom and pop place that Hawkeye might have been alluding to).  They have a fantastic sellection at good prices and sometimes while digging through the shelves I'll find one of the oldies from the 70's that were never marked up!

Sadly N.E.W is mostly just a "mom" enterprise as the "pop" is in dire health.  Hope they find someone else to run it.

                                                                                           Pat. 

shoot&scoot

The only thing in Rhinelander that could be called a LHS was Ben Franklins crafts that also had a small sellection of plastic models and model RR stuff.  When our local Wal Mart expanded they also got a large craft sellection area and it wasn't long after that the Ben Franklins went out of business.  Fast forward a few years and Wal Mart no longer has crafts or sells plastic models so we have no local source.

Have to drive 60 miles to Wausau and there are 2 LHSs that carry plastic models although one of them is primarilly model RR supplies.  Now buy most of my stuff on line.  Have to say that when I get to Green Bay I make it a point to stop at N.E.W. Hobbies (the "mom and pop place that Hawkeye might have been alluding to).  They have a fantastic sellection at good prices and sometimes while digging through the shelves I'll find one of the oldies from the 70's that were never marked up!

Sadly N.E.W is mostly just a "mom" enterprise as the "pop" is in dire health.  Hope they find someone else to run it.

                                                                                           Pat. 

The very shop. Given no one has stepped up to purchase it yet, I can't anyone doing so. There is or was a lot inventory that would be considered dead. Stuff that if they had a solid internet presence they could probably sell because the stuff is hard to find.

There is also a hobby shop in St Louis who also could benefit from a good internet presence, it would subsidize their income as it increases their geographic footprint.

Joeviz,

I think that would have been my post you are referring to.  Yeah, this place was REALLY heavy into R/C but the local model car club and the military club went to the owners about a year ago (I think, I was busy with a new daughter) and asked that if he stocked more plastic and aftermarket items, he would see a big jump in profits.

I think it worked.  Never expected in a MILLION years I would have access to Vallejo paint lines less than 5 minutes away from me.

Again, sorry for the salt.  If you can stand the snow (as it's falling now), this isn't too bad to be, I suppose.

I am still looking for a Dragon Kugelblitz(got a source now).

So I visited 2 shops(fair distance away) that used to be heavy into kits, hold published competitions, etc. 

Now the area I live used to have about 8 LHS within a 15 min walk radius, some shops were truly major to visit one shop every attendant was a published modeler and they carried and stocked everything under the sun. Current shop count that stocks kits = 2 and that is major electronics shop. and an old-fashioned toy-shop that has some kits but NO supplies.

So I visit the 1st one Kiya Hobby they moved location some time back. Kit section again been reduced, now mostly Military and some Planes, no more Scifi, Gunpla, etc. Still got the Builds and Dorama displayed but the display is getting bigger than the kit selection.

Next off to Sunny( a kit importer) They also moved location and shop is now split into 2 parts. They still have floor to ceiling kits and shelf are packed so that you need to remove kits to see what is behind. Good news is it looks like the son is running the shop now with the mother.

Lots of goodies there but not what I wanted. 

R/C is not big here so shops reduce models and add more toys, etc.

People can talk smack all they want about us out here in Cali, but I gotta admit, in my area we are spoiled. We have three excellent shops within a 20-30 minute driving radius from my home. Plus a couple other worthy mentions. Yes we have lots of problems, but we still have my favored escape here too!

...sometimes while digging through the shelves I'll find one of the oldies from the 70's that were never marked up!

Made a few good buys that way.. There's a guy that runs one about 15 mniutes from here, deals mostly in RR stuff, but has a couple aisles of kits too... Last time I was there, I scored two AMT 1/48th Tigercats (Both were Dash 2/2Ns) at 9.00 each.. The price-tags were so faded that they were almst unreadable... 

Back in the 90s, I had a guy that owned the LHS and let him store his "vendor-trailer" at my place, since he didn't have room for it, and he cut me a 50% off (sometimes, more) deal for everything I bought from him for two years as payment for storing his trailer in my yard.   Walked outta there once with a Promodeler B-17, three rattle-cans of Model Master paint, and about 8 or 10 bottles of Model Master enamel for 20 bucks...  Got a lot of Tamiya armor for around 6-8 bucks too..

Hans von Hammer

...sometimes while digging through the shelves I'll find one of the oldies from the 70's that were never marked up!

Made a few good buys that way.. There's a guy that runs one about 15 mniutes from here, deals mostly in RR stuff, but has a couple aisles of kits too... Last time I was there, I scored two AMT 1/48th Tigercats (Both were Dash 2/2Ns) at 9.00 each.. The price-tags were so faded that they were almst unreadable... 

Back in the 90s, I had a guy that owned the LHS and let him store his "vendor-trailer" at my place, since he didn't have room for it, and he cut me a 50% off (sometimes, more) deal for everything I bought from him for two years as payment for storing his trailer in my yard.   Walked outta there once with a Promodeler B-17, three rattle-cans of Model Master paint, and about 8 or 10 bottles of Model Master enamel for 20 bucks...  Got a lot of Tamiya armor for around 6-8 bucks too..

Nahhhh just kiddin

Hmmm , my locals?

20minutes away Hobbyshop (branch store) small range of plastic, nice range of paints ALL expensive eg 12-15 AUD for tamiya tape, 4.50 AUD Gunze acrylic, 25AUD for Tamiya putty, I never buy there unless I have to. Mostley Sell RC do stock some toys and puzzles etc.

30minutes, city centre

Generic Toystore, small but nice range (ie no kit duplicates)  Best Range of Tamiya paints and stuff, good prices

Specialised Hobbiest Store RC/Plastic/RR, moderate range of plastic, most kits tend to be 2-3 times higher than I can get from the net (inc post) Though nice gem recent was actually cheaper, pays to look. bad thing is current staff know stuff all about plastic kits.

60minutes

Mainstore from above branch hobby shop

LARGE warehouse with about 5 isles dedicated to plastic kits rest is RC, Dolls house stuff and crap loads of other non cheap nasty toys, prices are about 2/3rd of their branch store (go figure)

Thats everything for the grand city of hobart. I usually buy most of my kits online now and have taken to buying alot of extras as well eg $3AUD (inc post) for tamiya tape vs cheapest local $8AUD.

Andrew

The store I used to go to as a kid is still in business, as a matter of fact, and has managed to adjust to today's world.  They maintain a website and a presence on eBay, as well as running the original shop.  It's Penn Valley Hobby Center, in Lansdale, PA--some of you may remember it from previous threads.  For anyone out there in the Philly suburbs, it's worth a trip up.  Their website is http://www.pennvalleyhobbycenter.com/  and I think their eBay seller id is pvhobbies, though I'd have to doublecheck.  Classic old-time hobby shop, crammed with items covering a range of areas within the broader hobby.

joeviz

 

After reading a thread about someone's pleasant visit to their LHS, I figured why not; I want one too.

You see, aside from paints, I primarily buy my kits and tools online.  After reading said thread and a few others discussing LHS, I decided to jump in the car and visit EVERY single LHS in Oklahoma City. Damn it, I am supporting every single one of them!  

I got on Google to get all the addresses.  Wow, I only found one (not counting Hobby Lobby and such).  I get in the car and off I go looking for my own pleasant visit.

I get there and out front I see MIKE's MODELS in huge letters, this looks promising and exiting, I thought.  I get an uncontrollable sh*t-eatn' grin and I walk in... WTF???  

Nothing but R/C planes.  No paints, no kits, no tools.  ONLY R/C planes.  I approached someone walking around (not sure if they worked there or not) and jokingly asked... "Where are Mike's models?" His response was "we don't do models.  look around.  we only do R/C planes."

Now, for someone who's into R/C, Mike's seems like a great place to get one-on-one service, it really does.  I am glad they have a shop they can go to.  As for me, well, the next hobby shop (with actual kits and stuff) is 1.5 hours away.  I hear they might close.

 

I did something similar.  I'm really lucky with bricks and mortar shops.  There are two good ones within 10 minutes, and a 2 story hobby wharehouse 20 minutes away, but I've never taken the time to see what else exists in and around Montreal.  They were all either heavily or totally focused on trains or RC.

I've got two hobby shops within about a twenty-minute drive from my home in Phoenix: Hobby Depot in Tempe and Andy's Hobby Headquarters in Glendale, which is often convenient to stop at on my way to see my mother.

Jim Barton

I've got two hobby shops within about a twenty-minute drive from my home in Phoenix: Hobby Depot in Tempe and Andy's Hobby Headquarters in Glendale, which is often convenient to stop at on my way to see my mother.

Is there still that hobby shop in Paradise Valley Mall? I remember it being pretty great, but that was also 10-15 years ago...

I took another leap and visited another shop.  Even though the shop's name The Whistle Stop, implies model trains, Google said otherwise.  So onward I went.

Yup... all trains.

I could have called ahead but that takes away from the discovery.

That leaves one other shop on the opposite side of town.  Too far and too much traffic... Not gonna happen.

We have two brick and mortars that carry a variety of things, and there were two dedicated to rails, but I think at least one has gone south, and then there's a Hobby Lobby.  We also have a couple Ben Franklin Crafts, but I haven't been in one in awhile.  The two brick and mortars are ( little plug here) MVR Hobby and Major's Art and Hobby.  MVR is a small place and has always been predominantly diecast, but Mel keeps the car kits well stocked, a little less on the armor, sci-fi and oddball (good stock of Weird-Ohs) knows a great deal about kits in general and old cars in particular.  He's also a vintage car owner from waaaaaaaay back, so he knows what's what.  The only requirement for visiting Mel and Peg is you have to play with Mongo.  Mongo is their small ever-friendly pooch that hangs out at the store, and is named after Alex Karras' character in 'Blazing Saddles' .."Mongo only pawn in game of life...."  The other brick 'n' mortar, Major's Art and Hobby has been around in the same building since most of us were kids, and before Jane, the current proprietor and former owner's daughter, was born.  As with so many, the hobby section is unfortunately getting smaller every time I stop in, but Jane keeps the selection varied.  Downstairs in the basement is a consignment area for those trying to sell off the excess (is it possible to have too much?).  There is also a rather large train layout down there that some locals have built and operate.

Gotta pick up some paints and stuff tomorrow hoping for a pleasent pre-christmas visit (nice kit or discount) but not counting on it. LOL

Andrew

I'll vouch for Freedom Discount Books and Hobbies in Norman. The owner's name is Bill I think, and he's a pretty nice guy, one who will sit and chat with you for a while. He doesn't have a huge selection, but it's pretty good; mostly armor if I remember right. For family reasons he is closed on Saturdays, which I found strange, but if you know that ahead of time then it's not a big deal. He does sales on Ebay and has a back room full of that stuff.. if you ask him, he may let you back there to browse.

Around the corner from him, just about a mile or two away near I-35 is Hobbytown USA. Some of those franchises are hit and miss; a lot have an abundance of RC and other "hobby" stuff, but not much in the way of plastic. I was pleasantly surprised with Norman's Hobbytown.. the local model club (or one of them, anyway) meets there, so I guess as a result they stock a pretty good selection of plastic kits. They still have Hobbytown prices, which in my opinon are on the high side, but the selection may make up for that.

That's the only part of OKC I've explored so far. My brother lives in Moore, so I get a chance to get down there and scope it out on occasion. I know it's a long drive, but if you get a chance to come to Tulsa, there are 4 shops (5 if you like SciFi) that are worth visiting. Maybe when you come up on March 26 for the contest (shameless plug ) you could visit those and hit up the vendor tables.

Hope that helps.

@acmodeler01: I've been to Hobby Town in Norman.  The place is okay but not worth the drive from OKC, its a good stop if you are in the area though.

As for Tulsa, I don't get up there much.  But, we are planning on the attending the contest in March. My son (10yrs old) is working on his entry, it'll be his first.

If time allows we might take a stroll around town and visit the shops. Thanks for the info.

Cool! The plan right now is that I will be running the registration table... stop by and ask one of us about the local shops and we will help you with directions and stuff. Looking forward to seeing your son's entry, it's always nice to see more kids get interested in the hobby.

I just had a pleasant visit. Colpar hobbies here in Aurora/ Denver. Bought the new Dragon PzkfwIII ausf  E with the figures. Nice.   Been going there for over 30 years.  They pretty much have every Armor,plane, figure, airplane, sci-fi  kit you could want.  And if they don't they can order it.  Tons of books and magazines.  Many paint manufactures, tools etc.  Also some RR and a ton of RC.  A full service Hobby shop.  I love giving them my business, just to have them around.  Sure, I can get kits cheaper on line, but as long as I can afford the few extra bucks, I'll happily give it to the crew there.  I feel sorry for those who only have HobbyLobby and Michael's.  We have them here, and I very rarely buy from them.  Even the 40% coupon isn't enough, especially when I have the kits already.  Their selection is not getting better, it seems worse.  Pathetic really.  Unless you're into the real crafty stuff.  They are the place the Craft Queens of the cul-de-sac shop.

Doug