Recently ( April 30th, 2005) our LHS “The Hobby Shoppe” in Bath, Maine closed it’s doors [:(]forever[:(]. I know the owner personally, as I’ve been shopping there for the last 22 years(14 years for radio controlled cars/boats, and Model RR’s for the last 8 years).He is 68 years old and is ready to retire, so it is almost a blessing to him. Although he was certainly hoping SOMEONE would buy the business and continue serving our area…Unfortunately, that was NOT to be.
The owner has been watching his customer base slide downhill for the last 3 years. He also had MANY people come in to look at / put their hands on something they saw on an online auction, to turn around and leave, to buy the item online(I understand that one needs to make a buck stretch as far as it can, but isn’t it good for the local economy to buy locally?).
Anyway, I just wanted to express my sadness to see “The Hobby Shoppe” out of business[banghead]. I live only 8 miles from where the shop used to be, and now my NEAREST[:0] LHS is more than 45[:0] miles from my house. I guess I’ll have to resort to the internet myself, since shipping & handling is cheaper than $2.25(or MORE, this summer) per gallon at 26 MPG for a 100 Mile Round-trip, and who has time to spend a half of a day for a jaunt to the LHS??
Cook’s Trains in Shreveport, LA is in the process of closing. Mr. Cook recently passed away after a lengthy illness. I am forty years old and have been going there visiting and purchasing goods for over twenty-five years. In the past nine years, I have started taking my son there and this store had became a part if our family. I have yet to find a store that offers his friendship and kind smile as well as his knowledge of the hobbie anywhere in Louisiana. He always carried all brands, paints,and scratchbuilding materials that any modeler new or old would possibly ever need. He and his shop will truly be missed.
Lets be honest, the average age of the model RR fan is about 65, and as they die off, so will the businesses that supplied them. It’s sad that the majority of 30 and under people living in the US, have never been on a train, much less have one pass thru their neighborhood on a regular basis. In Europe you still see young rail fans, but not to the extent you did before the “jet age”. But here in the US, when ever I go to the local train meet, I’m about 30-40 years younger than the average guy there… and I’m 35!
Yes, it’s true, although I think there was a more data-substantiated statement a while back that the average MR’r was more like late 50’s. Still, there is hope. I’m seeing a number of dad-son combinations at my LHS. At 58 myself, I’m happy to see younger folks looking at the layouts with a glint in their eyes.
Yeah, the Internet has changed everything. In some ways, it’s harder for the LHS to make a living, but we need to accept the new realities. MR is a niche market. Internet sales can reach all of us, no matter how remote, and draw us together. In a way, it will make us stronger in the long run. Our hobby will survive, because we have a global market that’s big enough, even though few local markets are.
How many MR types do you know personally? How many user names do you recognize from this forum? See what I mean? You are sitting in front of a CRT or plasma display that IS your MR community. We aren’t as numerous as we used to be, but we still have a quorum, gang. There is a whole industry out there just for us.
So, support your LHS as much as you can. But, don’t suffer from “Web guilt” because you buy onliine sometimes. We all do. We’re not millionairres, either. An earlier LHS in my town disappeared, and when I asked the neighboring pizza shop guy what happened, his response was a matter-of-fact, “Oh, he died.” It was before I started building my layout, but I stlll liked to walk around his small shop now and then, telling myself, “someday…”
Right now, my LHS seems to be a busy place. I am seldom the only customer in the shop, which is a good sign. The proprietor is always busy with repairs, DCC installations or painting. He has an Internet presence himself, and seems to have adapted well to the brave new world of model railroading in the 21st century.
I agree with MisterBeasley. The internet is one of the things that’s killed the business of hobby shops, that and computer games which kids find a lot more interesting than hobbies such as model railroading I’m sad to say.
If a hobby shop wants to stay alive today, they also have to sale on-line as well, and sale as cheaply as possible as so to give the other guys competition…
I have to admit, I can sit right here with my bank card and order almost anything I want without having to leave the house, and I like that very much. Besides, most hobby shops have raised their prices to make up for their loses, so I come out better by buying off ebay or from on-line train shops.
It’s just a change of the times…
trainluver1
This has nothing to do with hobby shops closing, but I have an interesting story about father-son MRRs. My story is actually backwards to most, thats what makes it interesting. I had been racing slot cars for a couple years and I was getting really good at it. Winning races at the local track and all that. But it just started to get boring. So, I told my dad I wanted to try R/C airplanes. We went to a local plane club with thier own little airstrip and watched the members fly for a few hours. It was really neat. So we looked around in hobby shops for a couple of months at airplanes and lessons. We were finnally ready to buy our first plane. We went to Hobbytown USA where we had never been before, but had looked on the internet and they had the perfect plane. We walked in, and what do I see but a large HO scale layout! It had buttons that ran the trains and turned on lights and such and I played with it for about 20 mins before my dad tryed to get me to go buy the plane. But I said I wanted to do trains instead. Ever since that day I have been hooked. So we left, I had new ideas, and my dad had an extra $300 that he didnt have to spend on a plane[:D]. My dad supported my new hobby, but wasnt interested himself. We went to the LHS which we visit to this day and I bought an athearn GP38, a few cars and some EZ track. I played with that all week and the next weekend we started visiting local train clubs. We saw a nice G scale layout covering probably and acre. And a couple large HO layouts. Then we went to the last club in the area. They had a brand new building… with nothing in it… There were a couple of members sitting around talking and we asked where the trains were. It was a BRAND NEW building and the layout wasnt under construction yet. But they were willing to accept somebody my age (9 at the time) as a member. So we joined. The first thing we built were modules for the modular division of the club. I built two and I finnally convinced my dad to build one. He did and really enjoyed it. So, I brought my dad
I’ve only got one LHS within 30 mins of me (but several more outside that radius), and he’s recently downsized tremendously, and changed locations to a much smaller unit in the strip mall. He’s always willing to order you anything you want from the Walthers catalog, but he charges full MSRP, so it just depends on how bad I want the item since through the internet I’d pay less, but also pay shipping, and probably have to wait longer to get it, so it kinda evens out. I hope he stays in business. It’s a father/son joint venture, and both of them are really great guys. I’d hate to see the internet put them out of business.
The internet doesn’t seem as attractive on this side of the world, there is something reassuring about handing over cash and getting your product… and paying in US dollars is like playing the lottery every time you purchase.
Brisbane has several quality MR shops and a presence in several others…I hope that the two US Proto stockists continue to do a roaring trade… at least until I get finished my layout (in 20 years) [:P]
Andy’s Mainline Trains in Collinsville, IL closed down a couple of years ago. Also, one of my favorite stores from a past life, Tom’s Trains of CT, closed and went over to internet sales only.
I don’t know what you would consider “lately,” but five hobby shops in Tucson, Arizona, have closed up in the past 3 or 4 years.
My latest experience with a Tucson hobby shop was a real disappointment. LBF’s Web site listed Tucson Hobbies has one of their authorized dealers. The owner of Tucson Hobbies said he had never heard of LBF. How did he wind up being listed on the LBF web site if he isn’t their dealer, he had no idea.
His selection of train items was extremely disappointing. Radio control cars and aircraft up the kazoo, but very little train stuff. He said there was no demand for trains in Tucson. Yeah, at the prices he wanted for cheap train sets, I can see why.
Don’s Engine House in Pennsauken NJ disappeared sometime in the last six months or so.
I didn’t go there often - he was a cranky cuss, and did not carry a stellar inventory in track and accessories. Still, I did stop by for an occasional magazine or pack of rail joiners and such.
Not lately, but I recall some stores from years ago.
Gettysburg PA Steinwhier Ave had a Gilberts for many years, it is a gift shop now. I think his Nephew runs his own hobbyshop near the square now.
Hobby City of Baltimore. A very small store that apparently got buried by his own mortage to Equitable Bank. The sales probably did not match the bills. The last I saw of it was in the late 80’s news article ranting about the large interest on a mortage of that store.
A few times I thought the internet will finish stores like MB Klein that have been around forever. Lo and behold, the internet is simply another revenue stream for them as they take advantage of it.
The hobby store will probably endure for a long time yet. We will always need Kaydees, metal wheels, engines, paint, detail magazines etc. etc.
But the day walmart gets into the HO scale business will see me totally getting my supplies from the internet.
At this time last year I ranted about a deep distrust of the net for buying and selling. Have had no problems what so ever getting what I needed that the hobby shop did not have from the net.
Awesome.
When you consider all the hobbies that we can maintain an active interest in, and all the NEW things that have come along ( Play Stations, PC, X-Box, etc.) in the last 20 years, you begin to see why the LHS have problems. Couple that with internet buying, higher costs to maintain a store ( RE taxes, heating, electricity, labor costs, general maintenance, inventory carry costs ), and the picture becomes even clearer.
But, it is all not as bad as it would seem. Many people are returning to MRR after many years of other life’s duties and time consumption. There is a nostalgia to trains, even among the young who may never have seen or rode on a steam train. I see it in my own children at age 37-44 who have regained their hobby interest after many years because they now have children, ( 8 of my grandchildren) and there is a genuine interest in this hobby. Think of the attributes of this hobby: You can be as creative as your talents and abilities will take you, then there is the pride and pleasure of building your layout and running and enjoying it. The sharing that goes on between other neighbors or interested MRR’s in your area, or, on-line like this forum which I happen to think is one of the very best that I have ever experienced on the internet for ANY subject. You guys and gals out there are A1 in my book, just plain down to earth terrific people. This REALLY helps a hobby to survive and grow.
Now as for Hobby Stores, I am sure that eventully###### only the major metropolitan areas will have Hobby Stores. You must have a moving volume to survive. And if any of you have ever taken Marketing 101, then you remember the 4 “P’s”; Product, Price, Place, and Promotion. A LHS in a small country town, run by a ready to retire person, with a population of less than 10,000 withing 20 square miles, is just not going to have enough customers to survive, the selling volume for his revenues will just not sustain his business against all the other rising costs.
I still have a LHS that has been in th
Maincentral229…just noticed that you are in Bath, or near Bath. Have you traveled to Intervale, New Hampshire to Hartmann’s Model Train Store and Museum on routes 16 & 302? In the Fall we travel up into your area, I have been to your very lovely town, and although it is a bit of a ride from Bath to Intervale. Do you also visit the LHS at Kezar Falls in Maine on route 25?
over the years i’ve seen a lot of hobby shops come and go in the Houston area especially on the east side …there was a good one on Spencer Hwy. years ago…went under,…then there was another good one on El Dorado …gone…then a couple more,… one on Southmore in Pasadena and another one on Preston and Fairmont…gone as well…Then there was one south of Almeda Mall that was once loaded with train stuff…he doesn’t do trains anymore, just RC cars, boats, and planes now…there are a few good one’s left, but i have to travel to the other side of town to get to them…a 40+ mile drive…Chuck
My local hobby shop is trains only and still going strong!
However, one hobby shop in the area where my parents live still exists, but has gone to online only. Bummer … going on vacation to see my folks and browsing the local hobby shop was always fun.
One of my LHS, 60 miles away has to be close to closing. Every time I go in there,hardly anything new. If you order something,it could be a week or two before it comes in (if you’re lucky),more likely a month or longer,seems he only orders if it’s a large order. He doesn’t carry MR.Trains,RMJ,ModelRailroading,RMC,etc. Anyone know a good LHS in the Lexington,Ky. area.
grayfox1119 I am in Phippsburg, which is just south of Bath(Thanks for the kind words about Bath. I was born and raised there, and am also modelling Bath in HO Scale), and yes, you are right: Intervale is quite a haul to visit a LHS. Didn’t know about LHS in Kezar Falls, but that is also a long haul. I believe the closest LHS to me is Maine Modelworks in Falmouth. Guess I’ll have to tough it out, huh?[:)] The hardest part is making time in my schedule to make it to these places when they are actually open! [:D]
MaineCentral229 sorry to hear that your favorite hobby shop closed down for good and nearest shop is now 45 miles away. In northern lower michigan michiganians’ choices of model railroad hobby stores were minute at best in early 1980’s. I lived in Roscommon, Michigan back then. During that time your choices of hobby stores were Trains & Things in downtown Traverse City(67 Miles) ***-Craft Hobbies in downtown Bay City (closed forever about 1992, (97 miles) Roger’s Hobby Center in Saginaw( about 108 miles from Roscommon) and Riders Hobby Shop in Flint Township near Flint (132 miles) and Brasseurs Electric Trains in old town section of Saginaw ( about 105 miles)Thankfully now living in Bay City, Michigan i am close enough to the hobby shops in saginaw valley area they are easy to get to and not spend 2 hours to get to
Just lost my LHS.Now its a 20-25 mile ride to a shop.Looks like walthers will be getting my detail part business from now on.Dan