HobbyTown USA, is there a store near you?

There's one in Camp Hill,Pa. 33 miles away. after that there are 5 in Maryland, Delaware and New Jersey. All of those are at least 1-1/2 to 3 hours away. Never been to any of them. There used to be one in an industrial park in Elverson, Pa. but he was only open for 2 years. He admitted that they picked a bad location. The guys in our club went there a couple of times. Great store but even the GPS had a heck of a time finding it. We bought a lot of stuff on sale when he was closing.

Jim  

There is one about 45-50 miles away in Louisville, but I have never made the trip up there. One of my club members owns a shop and there is a small hobby shop in my town as well as a Hobby Lobby. I have shopped at one before when I was stationed in Massachusetts. They tend to carry main line stuff at MSRPs.

Several Hobby Towns that I used to shop at around the country when I was in their towns have closed in recent years. I think they're also struggling. It should be a reminder to us all that if we don't spend some of our money in our local hobby shops, we'll all soon be paying $3.50 for a bottle of paint, paying $2.00 for shipping, and waiting several days before it arrives. Barrett

Forgot to mention the one on the Southside of Indy. It's in a bigger place and they do a great business but mostly with slot car, war gaming and dungeons and dragons and host these types of events. Have good selection of models as well.

The one down in Castleton close to the mail isn't as good as it use to be, they had to downsize twice in the last decade. The last time after toysrus closed the landlord wouldn't renew their lease or two other business around them. Toysrus is now a Tesla car place and the other there shops are a flooring store. They got rid of a lot of their models, last time I was there they didn't have a single Tamiya kit, only about a dozen dragon and about a dozen trumpeter. Lots of car and gundam still and paint was still the same. They use to have probably close to a thousand kits at any one time, now I doubt it breaks 200

I think the success or failure of a store is largely the fault of the local franchise owner.

The one in Arlington, TX moved from a small shop to a bigger shop, back down to a small shop, to a larger shop, to a big shop.  Each was in the vicinity of a regional shopping mall (i.e. rent := big bux).  Each time they moved - where are they now?  They have now closed.  They kept bringing in more R/C (which in and of itself may be a good thing, but is also big bux -- need to move inventory).   They also had all the other gack which accompanies a Hobbytown, puzzles, doll houses, railroad (Lionel), etc.   Thay had a good selection of plastic,  but like most of their other stock -- was priced dearly.  They didn't move inventory.   I just went in for paint.  Their stock went from just OK to bad to worse.   The franchisee also owned a store in Ft Worth, across from JRB Carswell.   It was smaller and seemed to be doing better, but it too has closed.   I have heard that the Ft Worth store income was supporting the Arlington store.

Conversely there is a franchisee that owns several stores in Dallas & the suburbs.  The store's arn't as large and are in strip malls generally away from regional shopping malls.  They have much of the standard Hobbytown gack,  but less of it.  Fewer models but better paint selection.  They seem to turn their inventory better.   The layout of the smaller stores may also be better for loss prevention.

The success of a particular store is due to the business acumen of the franchise owner and his ability/willingness to push back against the corporate inventory plan to support his community's needs.

I have one a town over from me. It is not the best place sometimes. My hobbytown near me is mainly rc cars, planes, and boats. Does not have a huge selection of paints (which 90% are enamel anyway). They follow me around the store also but the one employee i do not mind since he is an avid builder and more so wants to see/hear about what WIP you have. They mainly follow around since the younger kids around my area think its cool to steal from the store constantly so i do understand their suspicions of everyone. I did just find out that Mega Hobby is in my state just a hour or so drive away so plan to check them out also this weekend.

I have one here in Mason, Ohio, that I usually buy most of my paint and supplies as needed. I don't usually purchase model kits, and that's mainly due to my wife being with me, not allowing me too! LOL! They do have a very nice selection of kits, but, I think most of their sales are on the RC side.

They also have a very nice selection of scientific/educational kits. This is where my youngest daughter is drawn too. And they have a bunch of games available that you can't find at Target or Walmart. 

I'll also add, that I have never had anyone follow me around the store. I have had a few workers that will politely ask me If a need help. And one time I did, I forgot my reading glasses! lol! 

Greg, how close are you to Indy? I know it's about a hour and a half drive from my house to Indy. And i'm about 10 minutes from this Hobby Town.