I will be moving to just south of the Minneapolis metro area soon. I was wondering if any of you fellow Minnesotans could recommend a hobby shop in the area. I would prefer something in the western suburbs, but all recommendations would be appreciated. When I was at my mothers house a few months back, I searched online for a hobby shop near Savage or Burnsville. I couldn’t find a single one. I don’t mind shopping online, but occasionally it’s nice to pop into a local shop to see what’s what. Thanks for your time.
Scale Model Supply in Saint paul has by far the largest selection. Beckers in New Brighton? is a good HO only store, good prices. Theres Hub hobby in Richfield, I like to stop there for general items because its close to where I work, but they are good about special orders in the train dept. Nothing south of there.
Tim in Shakopee
Hub in Richfield is closest, but only fair for supplies. For HO, Beckers in New Brighton is wonderful. He also does on line. People drive from farther than you will be. Scale Models in St Paul is worth a visit and has HO, N and Lionel. Third Rail in Coon Rapids is the place for O.
Wow, two million people with only a few hobby shops! I realize there are more than what’s mentioned here, but oh my gosh. I may now be a internet only shopper. Thanks for the input.
I live in Norway, but we spend summers with in-laws in Roseville, one of the northern inner suburbs of the Twin Cities.
I’ve tried a couple shops near Roseville. I like Scale Model Supplies - in a basement under a building on Lexington & University. Also have tried Hub in Little Canada. Not terribly impressed with their selection and knowledge, especially on DCC. But taste varies.
Have to try this Becker’s place next time we are in the cities.
Here is a list of hobby shops in the Twin Cities from the Twin Cities Division of the NMRA:
http://www.tcdnmra.org/hobbyshops.html
Edit: list is dated 2005 - so some of these might have changed since then
Smile,
Stein
I think there is a store in Hopkins. I’ll ask some of my friends who live in the western suburbs.
Scale Model Supplies is 5 minutes away from me, so I go there much of the time for supplies, but I never buy big ticket items there. Becker’s in New Brighton is good, but it’s fairly far away, so I only go every now and then. Hub’s ok–when I worked in the area I would stop in occasionally.
I’m not completely opposed to driving a ways to a shop. I just know how little time I have for any sort of leisure activity. We will probably end up living in Shakapee, Savage, or Burnsville. I think I can be added to the list of people with a not so local hobby shop! If there are any more recommendations I’d appreciate it. Thanks for the suggestions so far.
I don’t get there often (the twin cities that is), maybe twice a year at best, but when I do…I make it a point to stop in and see Bill at Becker’s. If he doesn’t have it, he will get it! He and all of the staff (all one of them, I think) have always been friendly, knowledgeable and downright fun to visit with.
Sounds as though you will be a bit south of Becker’s (it’s on Silver Lk. Rd. in New Brighton) and some of the other shops wil be closer. However, do check out Becker’s…I think you will be impressed with Bill and his shop!
And just to throw in a shot of perspective: If you’re thinking that traveling “across town” from a southern suburb to a northern suburb, in the case of say, Burnsville to New Brighton (Becker’s), which is about 20 to 30 minutes on a good day, constitutes being with “a not so local hobby shop”… I beg to differ.
My local hobby shops take a bit of effort to get to. The northern suburbs of the Twin Cities Metro (Becker’s) are better than 190 miles south / east of my house (a good three plus hour drive on a good day) and Duluth (Carr’s Hobby) is 85 miles south / east (almost a two hour drive) so a “local” hobby shop, say 14 miles away in town would be a God-Send. Just something to think about!!
I grew up in So. St. Paul and lived in Maple Grove.I liked Scale Model Supplies, bought my Digitrax system at Beckers, among other stuff!
Is University Hobbies still around?Up in the Northtown Mall area?
Terry
For you old timers in the south mpls area, anyone remember Woodcraft hobbys on west Lake St.? have any idea when they closed up.
Remember as a kid back in the mid /late 1950s spending my lawn cutting or snow shoveling dollars there. back when a Monogram airplane kit was 98 cents…and no taxes’ lol
’
Oh, I know it’s not that far. I’ve become a little funny about how far out of my way I will drive for anything. With working sixty plus hours a week and only having one day off, which is usually Sunday, I don’t want to spend a lot of time in the car. At least I’ll have more than one to choose from! I can’t believe the inventory that Beckers lists on their website. I think I’ve given my current hobby shop too much credit!
FWIW, Becker’s is closed on Sunday (and Monday). It’s worth a trip, though, if you can break away on a Saturday.
Colvinbackshop must drive faster than I do, too, as I would guess Burnsville (or Shakopee) to New Brighton would take 45 minutes or so.
Ragnar, I remember Woodcraft Hobby on Lake Street in the '70s. Used to take the 17 bus from Knollwood mall to look at all the great airplane kits.
That’s how long I was thinking. With traffic it would be worse. Maybe I’ll have a day off mid week when I move up there. It would be nice to see some merchandise in person.
Gary: I’m only making a guess…I surly don’t drive the Metro much. And the roads and traffic levels seem to be constantly changing.
Not to mention my comment regarding “on a good day” sure makes a difference! Usually, when I’m heading for Becker’s, it’s from the U of M. Taking the freeways I seem to remember it taking about 15 minutes for the trip. But…One time it took well over an hour!
colvinbackshop,
I guess I shouldn’t complain about a short trip compared to your all day outing. You aren’t kidding when you say ‘Northern Minnesota’ in your handle!
Colvinbackshop–
I have to apologize. My comment was supposed to be funny, but I just looked at it again and it comes across as surly.
Sorry about that.
You’re right; a good day makes a difference in traffic, as well as road construction, etc.
The Twin City area does not seem to have a lot of hobby shops. Maybe the lakes/boating/snow activities compete for modeling time. I have lived in the Twin Cities for 30+ years, and have been 75 miles south of there for another 25 years. I worked in a LHS(Lightfoot’s Hobby) in high school amd was a part owner in the 2 Hobbytown hobby shops in the late 70’s/early 80’s. The 2 big hobby shops in the 60’s/70’s were Woodcraft and Gager’s. Woodcraft was closed a while back(early 90’s). The Gager’s chain was sold and became Craft Village, IIRC.
Currently, the big hobby shops are:
- Scale Model Supplies - they have a fantastic inventory, but everything is MSRP.
- Becker’s Hobby - Mainly HO, a good selection and they do discount.
- Hub Hobby(2 stores) - Used to have very good train departments, but do not have a lot of train stuff any more.
There are a couple of other small shops(KDC in Hopkins for one). I suspect that the Internet/Mail Order shops and train show dealers(there are at least 8 train show or train flea markets each year in the Twin Cities) have taken a lot of the business.
I live in Rochester, MN; we lost our LHS(Moons/Hendy’s) a few years ago when the owner died. A new LHS(Everything Hobbies) has started up in the past year, but they mainly stock R/C stuff(he will order from Walthers every week). I try to feed many of my orders to him.
In the 2 years without a LHS, most of my purchases were through the Internet or at Train Shows. Small detail parts were a 75 mile drive to Scale Model Supplies in the Twin Cities.
Jim
I’m making a trip to Scale tonight to mark my return to model RR after a 10 year hiatus!
Are there any local forums or clubs around?
My 2 cents worth.
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Beckers for proximity to where I live, and discounted prices.
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Scale Model Supplies for selection, lots of stuff, all scales. Plus, a fair amount of used items in the back room. Ask for Bruce.
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Hub Hobby, 2 locations, Richfield and Little Canada.
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Hobbytown USA in Woodbury isn’t too bad either.
You’ve been spoiled in Wis. with a hobby store on every street corner, as well as a tavern next door.
Good luck, Joel
The local leadership is concerned about the ‘culture of drinking’ in the La Crosse area. This is the same leadership that participates in ‘the tapping of the golden keg’ at eleven a.m. for Octoberfest. You have to love the irony!