I was in Tulsa last week on business and went to the three model rr hobby shops I was familiar with.
Challenger N Scale–closed. Shop vacant and for sale [xx(]
Action Hobbies–More planes and RC cars than trains. Small selection. [V]
Scale Models–empty building. [8]
I didn’t know of any other shops and was unable to locate any info on line.
What happened??? [%-)]
Probably the same as what happened to most of my old haunts on the east coast.
In some cases family descendants carry on the business.
Challenger N Scale has moved. Their new location is at 8753-B South Lewis. As for Action Hobbies, you’re right about more planes and RC cars. The last time I was in there, the train inventory was pathetic. The only O gauge shop also closed, Toy and Train Hobby on South Peoria.
Dang it!!! I wished I had known about Challenger’s new location. It didn’t show up on line. I really like their shop.
I knew of three LHS in Tulsa in the 1950’s and early 60’s. After a 20 year absence, I was shocked to see all three long gone. There were two shops that are hardly worth mentioning. Fortunately, I had brought back plenty of rolling stock kits that I had “stock-piled” while living in the Baltimore, D.C., Annapolis area on my return to Tulsa. It appeared to me that Tulsa, always known as “The Oil Capital of the World,” had gone from “boom to bust.” I now live in the Tampa Bay area where this no lack for LHS most of which have good HO inventories, some with 10% to 15% discounts. It is always “feast or famine.”
Scale Models–empty building. - Her husband died during the middle of last summer or close to it. Which in turn left her alone, and it was no longer any fun without him. So she closed it down last month.
tyco_ryan, I’m very sorry to hear that. I know of another popular hobby shop which suffered the same fate. Death has hit close to home lately, so I can comprehend how she must feel. My heart goes out to her. [:(]
There is a another shop it was on Peoria near I44, Called Wings N’ Things They have a pretty good selection of Blue Box kits and other stuff they are on the web. The guy in there was always really nice to deal with. I haven’t been home since 2004 so I don’t know what the status is.
http://www.wings-n-things.com/
Brad
It was “very” sad, I had just discovered thier shop shortly after he had passed. At that time they/she had one of the better stocked shops, when it came to MRR stuff.
I have not been into Wings N’ Things in the last few months. They/he were pretty much sold out on track and other small stuff, last time I was in there reguarding HO. However, he still had a wide variety of engines and cars, the best I can remeber.
Another place is HobbyTown USA I “think” it’s called… 71st & Memorial buried deep in one of the malls, on the Sothwest corner of the intersection. They are very well stocked on WS products, and other such things since last Christmas. They really did not have anything for MRR until then, due to being sold out too…