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Your first hobby shop

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Posted by drgwcs on Tuesday, May 16, 2023 11:26 PM

MidlandMike

Speaking of combination hobby shops, I don't recall Hobby Lobby being brought up.  Our town lost its last hobby shop, and I have drifted into Hobby Lobby when my wife was going there, and I actually picked up some useful hobby tools.  They also have things like Woodland Scenics which are used in a number of hobbies.

 

I'm actually working on a clinic on things that can be used from the craft store. Hobby Lobby used to have a very great hobby and train selection. My first job was running the hobby dept in store 5 when there were only 13 stores. We had quite a bit of train stuff probably the equivalent of one of their modern aisles although ours were shorter. We had Athearn Roundhouse and Atlas plus a bunch of woodland scenics.  Even had a good selection of radio control. Quite a change from today but they still have a bunch that is usable. 

Jim

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Posted by SeeYou190 on Wednesday, May 17, 2023 10:39 AM

drgwcs
Hobby Lobby used to have a very great hobby and train selection.

I have noticed that not all Hobby Lobbys have the same sized hobby section. Here in Fort Myers ours has two aisles of hobby stuff, but the Hobby Lobby in Lakeland only has half an aisle.

-Kevin

Living the dream and happily modeling my STRATTON AND GILLETTE Railroad in HO scale. The SGRR is a freelanced Class A railroad as it would have appeared on Tuesday, August 3rd, 1954, in my personal fantasy world of plausible nonsense.

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Posted by drgwcs on Wednesday, May 17, 2023 11:00 AM

SeeYou190

 

 
drgwcs
Hobby Lobby used to have a very great hobby and train selection.

 

I have noticed that not all Hobby Lobbys have the same sized hobby section. Here in Fort Myers ours has two aisles of hobby stuff, but the Hobby Lobby in Lakeland only has half an aisle.

-Kevin

 

May vary according to store size. They used to have class A,B&C stores. Not sure if they do that anymore as most are the size of what used to be an A store. The ones nearest us are roughly the same size and have the same amount of hobbies. 

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Posted by DonRicardo on Wednesday, May 17, 2023 4:08 PM

Our Hobby Lobby has a limited amount of model railroad merchandise, but they have a terrific paint, magic marker and tool section.

I find myself using our local hobby shop mostly, Great service, can order almost anythig, and when you add shipping to on line items, they are very reasonble. And a great place for asking questions!

 

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Posted by maxman on Wednesday, May 17, 2023 4:17 PM

Went to Hobby Lobby more frquently when they had the coupons.

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Posted by AEP528 on Thursday, May 18, 2023 7:02 AM

I drive the extra distance, and yes, pay the higher (non-corporate subsidized) prices to buy from local hobby, craft and art supply stores instead of Hobby Lobby. 

But go ahead, continue to shop at Hobby Lobby, Ebay, and Amazon and whine on these forums that all the local stores have closed.

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Posted by josephbw on Thursday, May 18, 2023 7:38 AM

My first hobby shop was Weaver's Bikes and Hobbies in Greenville Ohio. Dan Weaver became a very close friend of mine. Sadly he passed away a few years ago.

Joe

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Posted by York1 on Thursday, May 18, 2023 7:42 AM

AEP528
But go ahead, continue to shop at Hobby Lobby, Ebay, and Amazon and whine on these forums that all the local stores have closed.

 

The Hobby Lobby that I use (50 miles away) is not exactly the same as Ebay and Amazon.  At Hobby Lobby, I can actually pick up and look at the items.  They also employ local people.

There is a 'local' hobby shop about 55 miles away which I use.  They often don't have the same types of things that I want from Hobby Lobby.

York1 John       

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Posted by Flintlock76 on Thursday, May 18, 2023 7:51 AM

MidlandMike

Speaking of combination hobby shops, I don't recall Hobby Lobby being brought up.  Our town lost its last hobby shop, and I have drifted into Hobby Lobby when my wife was going there, and I actually picked up some useful hobby tools.  They also have things like Woodland Scenics which are used in a number of hobbies.

 

When Lady Firestorm goes on one of her what I call "yarn raids" (her hobby's knitting)  to places like Michaels or Hobby Lobby sometimes I'll tag along.  First, she's fun to watch!  Second, I might just find something useful myself and frequently do. 

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Posted by n012944 on Thursday, May 18, 2023 8:47 AM

AEP528

But go ahead, continue to shop at Hobby Lobby, Ebay, and Amazon and whine on these forums that all the local stores have closed.

 

I don't go to Hobby Lobby, but I love eBay and Amazon.  I don't really miss having a local hobby shop at all (there are none in the Jacksonville FL area anyway).

An "expensive model collector"

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Posted by drgwcs on Thursday, May 18, 2023 3:37 PM

AEP528

I drive the extra distance, and yes, pay the higher (non-corporate subsidized) prices to buy from local hobby, craft and art supply stores instead of Hobby Lobby. 

But go ahead, continue to shop at Hobby Lobby, Ebay, and Amazon and whine on these forums that all the local stores have closed.

 

I do patronize my "local" hobby shops but they are an hour and 15 to 30 away. For most of us that is a reality. Going to shop one Saturday. But if I need a bottle of paint or glue etc I do buy at Hobby Lobby rather than make the drive. That being said there are some things that you wind up having to buy on ebay. I'm a narrow gauger on the VA/ NC border and it's rare here. 

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Posted by MidlandMike on Thursday, May 18, 2023 9:54 PM

AEP528
But go ahead, continue to shop at Hobby Lobby, Ebay, and Amazon and whine on these forums that all the local stores have closed.

Perhaps you missed the part where I said that I've been going to Hobby Lobby after my local hobby shop closed.  I use eBay after I can't find what I'm looking for at out-of-town hobby stores or train shows.

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Posted by SeeYou190 on Friday, May 19, 2023 9:19 PM

I went to the Hobby Lobby on East Colonial Drive in Orlando today.

Two aisles of "hobbys", but an amazingly diverse selection.

Model trains, military models, coin & stamp collecting, woodburning, airbrushes, miniature rocketry, hobby paints, anime models, foam cutters, and on & on & on.

I don't remember that many different sub-sections in the hobby aisles.

-Kevin

Living the dream and happily modeling my STRATTON AND GILLETTE Railroad in HO scale. The SGRR is a freelanced Class A railroad as it would have appeared on Tuesday, August 3rd, 1954, in my personal fantasy world of plausible nonsense.

  • Member since
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  • From: Southern Florida Gulf Coast
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Posted by SeeYou190 on Friday, May 19, 2023 9:23 PM

n012944
I don't really miss having a local hobby shop at all (there are none in the Jacksonville FL area anyway).

Is Hurricane Hobbies still there?

I know they did not have any trains, but they had a massive selection of paints, tools, and supplies.

-Kevin

Living the dream and happily modeling my STRATTON AND GILLETTE Railroad in HO scale. The SGRR is a freelanced Class A railroad as it would have appeared on Tuesday, August 3rd, 1954, in my personal fantasy world of plausible nonsense.

  • Member since
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  • From: The 17th hole at TPC
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Posted by n012944 on Sunday, May 21, 2023 3:11 PM

SeeYou190

 

 
n012944
I don't really miss having a local hobby shop at all (there are none in the Jacksonville FL area anyway).

 

Is Hurricane Hobbies still there?

I know they did not have any trains, but they had a massive selection of paints, tools, and supplies.

-Kevin

 

 

Yes, they are still there.  Since they don't bother stocking model railroad stuff, I don't bother them with my money.

An "expensive model collector"

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