I braved the snowstorm today in Lansing, MI to check out my local hobby shop. As I was paying for my stuff I was making small talk with the guys there. They told me that they are going to close up around the end of February.
I am seriously bummed about this. They've been here in Lansing for almost 30 years. The next closest hobby shop is about 1 1/2 hours from here. But, between declining interest and online sales they just can't compete in a town this size any more. Jack "the 109 nut"
Hi Jack, I'm sorry to hear about the local shop going under. I know there is Deans Hobby Stop in Flushing and J-Bar in Tecumseh, I'm not sure how close those are. J-Bar has everything, I think they're kinda expensive. Dean's is awesome and specializes in older second hand kits, I drive up from central Ohio a few times a year.
Which store? Riders, or Hobby Hub? Thanks.
We had two stores here that carried models and supplies of a sort... one is a craft/hobby shop that carries models as a sideline. They try hard and I know the owners, who want me to teach some figure paining classes... maybe I can get them to also let me have a modeling club meet there!
One small shop closed and I am going to try to buy the last models they had and sell some on Ebay and keep the rest. He also had Warhammer, which I would like consign from him and sell online.
I am going to Anchorage tomorrow and should have time to visit their one surviving shop... nice to visit...
Lance
Not to be fatalistic, but the same scenerio of small shops closing is happening everywhere. I have one good hobby shop within 20 miles driving distance, and it's hanging on by a thread. Fortunately (or maybe unfortunately), it's much more convenient to do our shopping online and have the goodies delivered to our front doors.
Lee
Trouble is, it's really hard to grok a kit over the internet - on-line shopping just ain't the same as a hobby shop experience...
RobG
I know that our local Hobbytown USA shop was going gangbusters with the sale of model kits before during and after the holidays. So they must be doing something right.
It's not the franchise, its's the A-Hole that manages our Hobbytown in Columbus, OH. I won't go back! I've been to others that were fine.
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