I don't think it has to be so.  A lot depends on us.  After trying SO hard to support the "classic" little LHS in our town, and after being SO disappointed in the quality and prices and lack of interest they showed in me, I broke down and started patronizing the new Hobbytown USA that recently opened up.  These are locally owned francises, and the owner of this one was obviously a mostly-R/C guy who decided to take the plunge into his own business.  I found him willing (unlike the "genuine" LHS proprietor) to track down paint, AB parts, and model kits I wanted, and be open to my suggestions about what to carry in the store for plastic modelers.  During the process, I gave him as much information and education as I could about plastic modeling, and when he started carrying a few more things he found that there were more plastic modeler types in the area that wanted the same thing I did.  What I found is, the quality of the LHS (no matter its format) is the person running it.  The Hobbytown guy really didn't have a clue about MY hobby, but he was willing to learn and now it's a larger part of his business.  Spending our dollars is not the only kind of support we customers can give our LHS.

TomB   

When I lived in CT a few years ago, I have seen hobby shops take a turn towards being more of an arts & crafts shop. Same with the LHS up here in NH, although there are some modeling, R/C, trains, etc... Most of the hobby/modeling supplies are very limited, old and expensive.

Why are brick-n-mortar hobby shops becoming a thing of the past? Online shops you say!

I am well into the process of opening my own up. Let me tell you something that you might not know. A lot of those online shops with really cheap prices and every kit in stock - ARE WHOLESALERS! Or affiliated with the wholesaler/distributor.

In order for me to receive certain percentage discounts, I have to order a certain dollar amount per order (it's different for each distributor). Some distributors put minimum quantity limits on certain items, example: 12 each of one color/brand of paint. So I would have to order 12 bottles of Testors #1103, even if I only needed 2 or 3. Same with tools, brushes, etc... Now here's the kicker - when all said and done, the discount that I pay for the item is pretty dang close to what I could get it for at Wal*Mart.

Scenario:
So let's see, I stocked my shelves with thousands of dollars worth of merchandise and it's not moving very quickly. Customers come in and browse, leave because they can find it $3.00 cheaper online or they are looking for something else and don't want to wait for the shop owner to order it. (remember, not much discount if no big orders are placed) So the shop owner looks into setting up shop online... AHHH can't compete with the prices. Cost money for a merchant account, gateway (for credit card processing), SSL certificate, monthly charge and per transaction charge, online server hosting fee, not to mention setting up the online catalog and shopping cart. There goes that $2.00 profit per car model kit and then some.

Oh heck, I want to trade in my hobby shop and become a distributor.
What do you mean I need a big warehouse with a loading dock?
Revell requires a minimum $3,000.00 order purchase and I have to buy kits in lots of 12.
Other manufacturers are similar and reps come out to inspect the warehouse.

What have I gotten myself into?

At least I don't have to pay rent on the store front. I guess the upside is that I can get my modeling kits and supplies a little bit cheaper than I used too and my stash is growing. But for some strange reason my wife thinks I should sell some of this stuff sooner or later.

I had a shop open about 2 months ago that's within a few miles of the house. It's about 1/3 models and model related stuff with the rest dedicated to R/C and trains. They're still new and their stock keeps growing so I have hope that they'll be a place to go. They sure do beat their competitor about 1 mle away. They have about 20 models in stock which are mostly older Revell car kits.

With the prices that can be had from the online suppliers it's got to be awfully had for a Mom and Pop modeling shop to survive. For instance, I just bought a Tamiya F-16 from Lucky Models that was about 1/2 less than the US online shops, let alone the LHS'.

Thx much for all the great info.

Guido

Hey espins, I am really glad High Sierra is still open.  Live in Reno for 5 years in the nineties and used to go in there all the time (lived only a couple of blocks away on Kietzke).

As for shops in Milwaukee, Big Bear is awesome...call ahead for hours.  Just 45 minutes away are Madison Hobby Stop and Last Square.  The latter has a decent selection of kits, airplanes in 48th scale and 1/35th armour; it also stocks etched and resin, a great selection of MIG weathering powders, Vallejo paints...also the miniatures selection is truly awesome.

Just about an hour south is Venture in Wheeling Il.  The kit selection there truly takes your breath away!

I know that one closed down last week here in Houston and another one is closing within the month.  Rent is what drove them out from my understanding......$$$$$  who ever heard of a hobby shop that was there for the $$$$  Ya go for the ambiance....the smell of glue..... ok...paint if your one of those types....old burnt coffee in the coffee pot behind the counter....and best of all....to hear all the good ole stories!  And if your lucky bust out the ole cash *cough*, more than likely plastic and go home with the kit and gently explain to the other half that you just couldnt live without it, like the last pair of shoes she bought.

Rob

Makes sense, just fond memories!

Locally we have 2 HL's that run the typical sales and thier product line is getting better all the time (*we have a lot of input to both managers) and a "ORIGINAL" Hobbytowne (not H-USA franchise) that does a ton of RC, has lots of at-and-above retail plastic,  but does not do an ything towards moving that plastic, nor take special orders for products that I commonly use. 

bummer!

David

hey Rob

any chance of Hobby House still in existance in Hopkinsville? (Hoptown) I used to hang out there on Saturdays when I was stationed at Ft. Campbell down the road.  Nice place, nice full rack of Roco products some ofwhich I still have.  Coming from a very small town with no local services or shops of any kind,  as an Army E-1 I thought it was the greatest place around!

 David

I've been lucky, my last two duty stations have had a great hobby shop within a reasonable drive (30-40 miles). When I was stationed near Boston, there was a terrific shop in Marlboro, Mass., still one of the best stores I have shopped at (Spare Time Shop). There was also a good shop in Nashua, NH that was about 25 miles away.

Here in KY, there is a great store in Louisville called Scale Reproductions. It's about 40 miles away from Ft. Knox and real close to where our IPMS/AMPS meetings are held. There is a decent, but not great LHS in Elizabethtown, KY.

Because of where I live, it's mail-order or eBay....that's it, unless I feel like driving to the Vancouver area, but in the time it takes to drive there & back, I could probably finish what I went there for in the first place.

Thanks you for the info about the Milwaukee and surrounding area. I was just shocked about the low or no amount of Models in the shops I have checked out.  Yes I have checked out Greenfield News and Hobby, but like most I want a couple of choices.

Guido 

A little further south in Kenosha you can finde Don's Hobbies:

2219 63rd St.
Kenosha WI 53140

262/657-5490 

M-F 10 to 6
tue open at noon.
Sat 10-5

Worth the trip. I live an hour away from the place. 

Yeah, in the Milwaukee area I would recommend Model Empire and Happy Hobby (both in West Allis). Happy Hobby's prices are pretty high on some items, but they do have kits I've never been able to find online.

Andy