Another old So. Cal. LHS closing down

That's too bad. Years ago I was doing biz trips out to LB and always made it a point to stop in there.

Geez I remember the Military Shop from back when it was in the Lakewood Shopping Center. It was a staple visit but when they moved to LB it was just too far away for me as I moved about the same time. He managed too outlive alot of other shops I can recall.

That is a real shame...I will be out that way this month so I may have to stop by. I tried going there a couple of times and it was always closed.

Historical Models in Torrance closed in the late 90s. Gary's was the last shop in that part of the county for the past decade or so. About 4-5 years ago he had a bad spinal injury playing raquetball and had to cut his hours to being open on weekends only. There are still a couple shops in Orange County- Brookhurst in Garden Grove and Military Hobbies in Orange, but they dont quite have the same air inside.

Oh wow, I dug Historical Models. The last time I was there was the mid 90s. The OC shops are way to o far away from me. The best shop I know of now is Pegasus Hobbies in Montclair. Thats a fair drive but I find myself over that far more often than OC . Another place that I can only assume is also long gone was Hobby City in Stanton, and at one time there was a great shop in Bellflower but I can't remember its name, been away too long.

I didn't realize it was still open. I'd been by there a few times over the last two months and it was closed each time I went by, so I figured it was already out of business. I'd been going to Military Hobbies in Orange. 

Never lived close to LBC so I never got a chance to make it to this shop.  But I'll be sad if Pegasus in Montclair ever closes.  I've been going there so long I remember when they used to be in the old building next door (and their current one was a 24 hour fitness).

Hobby City is still around, but I am surprised that they still are. Very expensive to shop there. A good selection there with lots of old hard to find stuff, but priced accordingly high. I have never been to Pegasus, but I never get up that way in my travels. I did go to an old shop by the same name in Whittier many years back, but they closed up in the 90s. And there is one small decent shop in La Mirada, R Hobbies, that I hit every now and then when work puts me in that area.

The one in Bellflower was Earls Hobbie shop they had a small store on Bellflower Blvd. Then they moved to a larger store near Flower and Bellflower Blvd. Then they moved again to a store close to the railroad tracks still on Bellflower Blvd in Bellflower.

 I have never heard of it or been there. Is it still there? What is the closest major cross street?

No it's been gone for at least 6 to 7 years maybe more. Went there when I was 12 or 13 years old.

The nearest cross street would be Alondra, Earls was right next to the railroad tracks. There was a furniture store across the street on the west side and on the same side a lumber yard called Hammans. The buildings Earls was in is no longer there I think it is now a park.

Two other good Hobby Stores in the Los Angeles area are House of Hobbies in Burbank and Brookhurst Hobbies in Garden Grove.

Where Did That Go LHS Haiku:
    Those plastic models
    in the hobby stores that I pass,
    did not pay yesterday.

I have been going to Brookhurst Hobbies for almost as long as I was going to the Military Shop. And then there is Military Hobbies in Orange. Burbank is on the opposite side of LA for me, so I dont think I will be heading up that way anytime soon with gas well over $4 per gallon...

Next weekend is the end... Although yesterday I was able to pick up a highly discounted 1/200 Kagero since everything is being cleared out at substantial markdowns. Lots of old stock kits from his storage areas that I have not seen on shelves for 30 years

Truly a sad day. I travel to So Cal frequently, and any time there over a weekend, Sunday always goes like this: 

Breakfast at Red Hill Cafe

Planes of Fame

The Military Shop

My Sundays won't be the same anymore. Gary almost always had something I needed or didn't know existed till I got there. I'm really sad about this.

What's worse in my case is that I'll be out for a two week trip; but I'm a week late. Not arriving till April 2. 

Sad, sad day for the hobby. 

I got in there today and picked up three models. I wish I had gone last weekend. Sad to see the shop is closing.

Sad indeed. It can't hurt (ouch yes it does) but I often tell the owners of shops closing that I'd like to have a look at their lists.

He's emptying out the stock he had, so every weekend is a visit to see what I can find that I do not already have. It is convenient that his shop is halfway along my route to work... But yes, it is a sad day for the hobby here. yesterday was a sort of going away party there with food, drinks, and hardly any room to move in the shop.... familair faces from AMPS and IPMS. If there are local pillars to the modle community, this is certainly one.

stikpusher

He's emptying out the stock he had, so every weekend is a visit to see what I can find that I do not already have. It is convenient that his shop is halfway along my route to work... But yes, it is a sad day for the hobby here. yesterday was a sort of going away party there with food, drinks, and hardly any room to move in the shop.... familair faces from AMPS and IPMS. If there are local pillars to the modle community, this is certainly one.

What time were you in there? I was there about 12:45-1:15. That explained the crowd and all the food. I'm going next Saturday for a last shop.

Saturday I was in around from 1145 until 1300 or so. Had to get out and home before the wife to get the new purchase concealed in the stash before she got home from her work... I picked up the 1/200 Kagero after some guy made a monster purchase of a couple cartons worth of kits (and he grabbed the Peerless US Command Car I had my eye one and went in intending to grab...) Sunday was a quick hit and run on my way in to work for some decals I forgot that I really needed for my F-106 I bought secondhand that had none... I will be going in both days next weekend before work just to see what last tidbits are out.

LOL on hiding the stash purchase from the wife. I didn't do that and caught some flack from the wife when I got home.

...and then it was gone. On teh bright side, it looks like Gary will still be an active part of the local scale modeling community, and I was able to getsome great additions for my stash at close out prices...

on the down side, a shop where I have happily spent my hard earned money at (including my first $2 bill as a kid ) for almost 40 years is gone. All good things must come to an end, I just wish this was not the time.

Farewell Gary and The Military Shop

I wish him well. Too bad a shop I just started going to is closing. I stopped by Saturday and pick up a 1/144 C-17.