Houston LHS Closing

[Anonymous]

Greetings ,

Any Houston area modelers out there? I read on the Atlas forum that Larrys Hobbies is closing.

40 percent discount on items.

Sorry to see them close if this is true.

I usually go to Spring Crossing as it is, larger selection.

And when in town G&G Model shop is where I go.

Mark in Texas

[dehusman]

Arrrgh. Larrys was one of my favorite places to shop on vacations to Texas.

Dave H.

[Anonymous]

Do they have a website?

[Anonymous]

Sad to say many of the traditional LHS are going the way of the dodo.

They can no longer compete with the internet giants who sell direct to the hobbyists for less than the LHS is able to purchase from the manufacturer or distributor. Further, many manufacturers extend only 'short discounts' to resellers. Others insist on large initial orders to qualify for discounts. Economic reality is closing them, one by one.

Relatively soon we will see a question posted here: "Will someone please tell me what a 'LHS' is, I've never seen the word before?"

Randy

[dknelson]

Local Hobby Shop = LHS
Dave

[bcammack]

I found that post on the Atlas forum. They are closing their Train Department, not going completely out of business. Of course that makes little difference to us railroad modelers, but that sort of misinformation can be harmful to a store.

Just wanted to clarify this. They're a bit too far away on the north side of Houston for me, plus I've read that they cater more to the HO modeller and I'm doing N. Ah, well.

Regards,
Brett C. Cammack
League City, TX

[Anonymous]

I've experienced LHS closings as well. A couple years ago my nearest LHS was closing out. They were also a craft supply store and didn't have a huge amount of trains. They had a 50% off sale on the whole store and I bought a bunch of Athearn blue box kits (mainly cabooses, because that's almost all that was left). They had some better quality engines that they kept in glass under the counter, but they raised the price on them once the 50% off sale started! Also recently, another train-only LHS fairly close to me shut down. When I was on vacation this summer I saw an ad in a papaer about a hobby store closign that had trains and was doing a 10% reduction each week until everything was gone. Unfortunately they were only going to be open a couple days each week and I wouldn't be there when they were open. It's a shame that we're losing all these places, I'll miss them.

[AntonioFP45]

Sorry to hear about this. So far haven't seen this happen much here in Tampa (Hillsborough County) as we're actually growing, but I have to admit that at the GATS show last month, I met vendors that sell model rr products at significant discounts on the internet and as a result will probably buy the more expensive locomotives from them (Kato, Stewart).

[:)] I will still support my LHS (HAPPY HOBO TRAINS) for most rolling stock, parts and other items as the customer service and attitude is always positive, friendly and helpful regardless who walks in the door. I enjoy supporting a business that proudly provides good customer service, (something that seems to be "dissappearing" from this country). The owner also has a "swap meet" twice a year at the store to attract more and new modelers. It's working.[:D]

[Anonymous]

I am from the New Orleans area and so far our LHS's are doing ok. I purchase most all my rolling stock and parts from a local train store, which is a train store only and we also have a couple of hobby shops that handle trains and other hobby supplies. Its unfortunate that we are loosing a lot of good hobby shops but with the internet and big stores willing so sell at reduced rates, it makes the local hobby shops hard pressed to show a profit. Like what AntonioFP45 said, I was able to purchase two SD80 and SD90 Mac's from Kato for $70.00 a piece at a train show here in the New Orleans area. The local could not sell for less that $125.00 a piece. I travel a lot and try to visit the local train stores in the cities I visit. Its ashame that we are loosing so many good hobby shops to big internet stores, because you loose the personal touch that the retailer gives you when you need help with a problem. Its to bad that change sometimes takes the friendship out of the hobby.

[Anonymous]

Greetings,

Seems they are going to keep it open after all.

Scaled back, it was small enough as it was.

The train manager is now at Papa Bens Train Store.

Good move and much larger selection.

Mark in Texas

Houston Roundhouse is also well stocked, enjoyed my visit there last week.