Phil's Hobbies, Dallas??

Hawk,
Dibbles is a great experiance. It is not a very big place. It is one of those deep but not very wide places that was once common on every business street in town. It has been there in the same spot since Kyle Rote Sr. was in High School next door, the late forties. It is almost next door to Jefferson High School.
He has a lot more modeling stuff than you think when you walk in the door. You will also find something you haven't seen in a while service. If Jeff is there tell him Steve from Georgetown sent you. He usually has a lot of older kits on sale.
I have not even mentioned all of the books and referance material they carry. They also tend to sell older used books. The last time I was in there I found some rare books on the war in North Africa. Also if you are in the area make sure you have time to eat at Tip Top on Fredericksburg road. It is about two miles up from Donaldson. If you go down this way from 410 to Donaldson you will pass it on the left after Jefferson State Bank. The chicken fried steak and onion rings are phenomenal. They put the gravy on the bottom so you can admire the perfection. Tip Top has been there since the thirties.
Can you tell S.A. is my home town. Be happy to tell you anything you need to know.

QUOTE: Originally posted by blabride Kings Hobby in Austin, Island Hobby in Houston and Dibbles in San Antonio.

I'll have to give Dibbles a shot. I've been looking for a good shop in my area and Dibbles is about 12 miles from my home. I went to Hobbytown USA today in San Antonio and was very impressed by their selection. The shelves were packed full of aircraft to choose from.

Is Dibbles a good place to get supplies, paints and kits?

QUOTE: Originally posted by MusicCity ...........IT isn't just hobby stores, it's everything. The small operations just cannot financially compete with the chains any longer. With distributors giving discounts based on quantity, places like Walmart or Hobby Lobby or Lowes or Home Depot are systematically stomping out the small operations.................

It isn't just small operations either.

They are eliminating the "retailer" in the equation. In everyone's quest for the low price they are forgetting about the middle man who gives them service and a place to go see the item.

Look at power tools. You can't find a retailer anymore. It's only a Home Cheapo type stores, or mail order. BUT - they don't carry the whole line - it's only what is in the store. So if you want something specific you are in trouble.

I agree with you. In our greed for the low price we are losing a whole level of service in retailing. (sorry - okay I'm done)

my condolences to poor Phil

Amen, MusicCity........
i guess it's the cost and price of Capitalism's "progress".......
no more green grocer.....
no more neighborhood butcher....

ya ever see the "Sci-Fi" flick with Bruce Dern......"Silent Running" ?????????

QUOTE: Why don't we understand community anymore. Those few extra dollars you spend at your local hobby shop do actually benefit you by improving the town or city that you have choosen to call home. It is places like Phil's that contribute to the cultural ambiance of a place and thus make it attractive to live. Other places I can think of Bobbye Hall's was like this. These places are difficult if impossible to replace.

IT isn't just hobby stores, it's everything. The small operations just cannot financially compete with the chains any longer. With distributors giving discounts based on quantity, places like Walmart or Hobby Lobby or Lowes or Home Depot are systematically stomping out the small operations. The large operations can afford to sell items at about the same price as a small one can buy them.

Then you have the online sellers. They don't even have a storefront in many cases, just a cheap warehouse.

QUOTE: Originally posted by blabride This is bad. Thanks for the news. I need to keep putting money in my three favorites that are left. Kings Hobby in Austin, Island Hobby in Houston and Dibbles in San Antonio. This trend is something I spend a lot of time discussing in my Sociology class. That is the death of the independent shop. Whether it is a restaurant, cafe etc. We seem to be coming a society driven purely by narcissism. We are also slowly losing our humanity as well. Unlike model railroading I don't see that much of a markup in most scale modeling supplies. I would much rather have a place to go and shoot the bull and compare skills and techniques. Why don't we understand community anymore. Those few extra dollars you spend at your local hobby shop do actually benefit you by improving the town or city that you have choosen to call home. It is places like Phil's that contribute to the cultural ambiance of a place and thus make it attractive to live. Other places I can think of Bobbye Hall's was like this. These places are difficult if impossible to replace. Thanks Again

it's never a pleasure to give bad news.........especially about a freind.
Phil saw a trend and though i bet he didn't want to admit it........he saw it coming. claiming it's a sign of the times...........sad to see the community loose our focus.........even something as simple as a LHS.
good luck to ya.

This is bad. Thanks for the news. I need to keep putting money in my three favorites that are left. Kings Hobby in Austin, Island Hobby in Houston and Dibbles in San Antonio. This trend is something I spend a lot of time discussing in my Sociology class. That is the death of the independent shop. Whether it is a restaurant, cafe etc.
We seem to be coming a society driven purely by narcissism. We are also slowly losing our humanity as well. Unlike model railroading I don't see that much of a markup in most scale modeling supplies. I would much rather have a place to go and shoot the bull and compare skills and techniques.
Why don't we understand community anymore. Those few extra dollars you spend at your local hobby shop do actually benefit you by improving the town or city that you have choosen to call home. It is places like Phil's that contribute to the cultural ambiance of a place and thus make it attractive to live. Other places I can think of Bobbye Hall's was like this. These places are difficult if impossible to replace.
Thanks Again

QUOTE: Originally posted by blabride Anyone from the Dallas area know what happened to this wonderful place? I live down in Georgetown and I get to Dallas about twice a year. I always try to make it by here. This time as I made my pilgrimage to Valwood Prkwy and Josey Lane, Boom!, the sad sight of an empty deserted place. AAARRRRGGHH. Please say it ain't so? Did they move? Taking a break? This place was worth the two hour and fifteen minute drive alone. Thanks

it is the saddest news........like the loss of a commrade.........
It is all too true blabride........the shop is closed & out of business.......less than 3 years after expanding the place to 5,000 sq.ft.............he's selling all the inventory on E-bay under philhobb.........attributing the closure to (unfortuneately) on-line shopping, 911& the economy...........i believe he shut the door sometime in mid 2003.

Mike B. left before the end to assume ownership of the Bobe family store in Pensacola.........is now married and doing quite well......
http://www.bobeshobbyhouse.com/

Terry's sorting through his thoughts and notes and thinking about writing a book about his career in the hobby and his exploits as Phil's right hand......

In all my travellings or hobby shopping.....there was nor will there be an equal to Phil's.