What are some of the better model railroad hobby shops in San Antonio, Texas? Thanks in advance.
John
Austin, Texas
there aren’t any good hobby shops in San Antonio…the only good one was in Universal City and they closed down years ago (I grew up in SA and that was the only one around)…you’ll have to come to Houston for the good ones!..they are close to the road to Austin…take a day off and come here…the best one is off of US 59 and IH610…from HWY 290 (the road to / from Austin)…get on IH 610 South…then onto US 59 East.(towards downtown). get off on the second exit which is Kirby dr…go right on Kirby until you see South street…turn left on South street…Papa Ben’s is 1/2 block down on south street on the left and it is a good one!..The other hobby shop is on IH610…stay on IH610 until you get to the Buffalo Speedway exit…take the exit and get to the other side of the freeway under the overpass…it is on the feeder road on the other side of the freeway…(if you pass Reliant Stadium and the Astrodome you went too far) …It is the Houston Roundhouse and it also is a good hobby shop with everything you’ll need…and if they don’t have it…they’ll order it for you and mail it to you!..Chuck
Thanks, Chuck. I get to Houston on business fairly frequently and will stop by both LHS you recommend. If you ever get to Austin, Kings Hobby is good and Villiage Hobby is okay (IMHO). Best I’ve been to is Caboose Hobbies in Denver. I am a relatively recently out of the armchair and into my first layout with my 8-year old grandson. Other hobby is RC airplane building and flying. Thanks again.
Anyone out there have a different opinion about shops in San Antonio?
John
Austin, Texas
sorry about that …but it’s South Blvd…not South Street…
John…I visit Austin at least once a year since a lot of my wife’s family live there and it’s a trip we make many times…will you give me directions to the two LHS’s you just mentioned? It will give me something to do while we are there after we’ve visited with her relatives…state highway 1 is a good reference since that is where they live and i’ll start from…Chuck
Chuck, sent you an email.
John
Chuck, just had to comment for any others who may be interested …
Checked out Papa Ben’s website and it looks like it might rival Caboose Hobbies in Denver. Won’t know for sure until I visit, but it looks very impressive. LHS in Austin that I mentioned are much smaller unless Ben’s pics are misleading. Look forward to a visit and thanks again for the tip.
John
John there is a new shop in Austin as well.
In Cedar Park at the Railyard (Where the Austin Steam Train yard is). Take US 183 N and turn right on FM 1431.
It is called the Collectible Caboose and the owner, Craig Berry is building a very nice store from the ground up. You should try to stop by sometime and speak to him.
My O-Gauge club has our modular layout set up in a vacant store coutesy of Craig and you could come by for a visit.
Ed
papa Ben’s is awesome…there are actually two floors…the stuff upstairs is used and on consignment… a place to get a good deal on used stuff…and the retail stuff is on the bottom floor…i’ve never left papa ben’s without finding what i’m looking for…(,well, except that time he didn’t carry a DALLEE walk around throttle…but that’s mail order stuff anyway)…I was impressed …he has volumes and volumes of microscale decals and carry’s all brands of track from atlas to shinohara and pecos in all codes…he (Ben P. )opened about 5 years ago and was the founder of the N crowd here in Houston (a massave N scale club layout) and was / is involved in a lot of the MRR clubs here in town …he knows what his customers want…Chuck
Ed, thanks. The Collectible Caboose had a booth at last week’s Home & Garden Show. I do plan to give them a visit, will say hello to Craig, and will take a look at your layout.
John