I have been recently getting reacquainted with my LHS, with great success. I have been in twice in the last couple of months, after having not visited in a few years, and found what I needed both times, and then some....this latest visit being piano wire, which will do the trick for my metal axles. The last time I got great advice on prepping the resin body for a 68 Plymouth Sport Fury (fastback) that will be converted to the VIP version of this car. Good knowledge and helpful service has turned browsing into sales.
He can't really compete on plastic model prices (vs. Ebay) but he had an extremely good selection of kits. His prices were not out of line with shops in bigger centers, and he would get the impulse sale, I guess, from the person needing a particular kit right now. His accessory business is where he has been getting my dollars (piano wire, paint, bare metal foil, sheet plastic, putty, etc., all bought in the past few months) .
Bill