Incomplete list of U.S. model kit/hobby shop, retail/wholesale industry shutdowns from 2016 through 2017:
California: After 45 years brick-n-mortar chain store, as well as mail order and online retailer, Hobby People (formerly Hobby Shack) suddenly shutdown, possibly in connection to the founder’s death although many fans say quality of service had been in decline, and the company ‘lost’ some of its in-house brands. In Palm Desert, the owner of popular Uncle Don’s Hobbies was found laying on the side of a road, dead. His hobby shop had been robbed of merchandise, including RC (drone) electronics, months earlier. In Goleta (Santa Barbara), California Hobbies was robbed of RC (drone) monster trucks, it was caught on video. News reports out of Long Beach report that local hobby shops are being repeatedly robbed, the burglars are targeting RC (drone) electronics.
Colorado: In Denver, Guinness Book certified as the world’s largest model train store in 2014, Caboose Hobbies shutdown after 65 years because the owner wants to retire. At one time the model train store employed 60 people!
Idaho:
Photo by AAron B. Hutchins, November 2014.
After first going up for sale at the end of 2014, then making one last attempt to stay alive in 2015 (by moving to a much smaller location), Southeast Idaho’s once iconic Dapco Hobbies finally died, and nobody noticed. More details in Model-Land Deaths; 2013-15.
Illinois: In Bloomington, after 63 years Hobbyland shutdown after a failed attempt to sell the store.
Indiana: Granger Hobby Stop shutdown after 18 years, the owner says he never recovered from the 2008 recession.
Massachusetts: In Brocktown, after six years Hogie’s Hobbies shutdown, but continues to run its model railroad museum. The owner blames customers for his hobby shop shutdown saying for the month of December he had a measly $5-hundred USD in sales: “There’s a lot of people downtown, but they don’t spend their money downtown. The whole atmosphere for people actually shopping here is not here.”-Bill Hogan
Michigan: In Detroit, after 70 years iconic Doll Hospital & Toy Soldier Shop shutdown, the owners admitting that even though they beat-out the ‘big-box’ competition they just couldn’t “adapt” to online competition. In Bridgeport, after 23 years hobby shop Junction Valley Railroad announced on Facebook “Due to declining sales, we are being forced to close the Hobby Shop Doors!
Our final day open will be October 31, 2017!”
Montana: In Great Falls, after more than 25 years Hobby Land shutdown, the owner said she was ready to retire.
New Hampshire: In West Lebanon, Hobbies ’N’ Stuff/Valley Art Suppliers evicted by the the Grafton County Sheriff at the request of the landlord. The owner of the hobby shop told customers he had to shutdown due to health problems, but the landlord’s civil complaint said the owner hadn’t paid the rent for months (more than $10-thousand USD worth).
New Jersey: After 48 years Jackson Hobby Shop put up for sale due to the owner’s health problems. If it doesn’t sell it’ll be shutdown. Shadow Hobbies was robbed of thousands of dollars worth of stuff, including RC (drone) electronics, it was caught on video.
New York: After 31 years Niagara Hobby & Craft Mart shutdown due to crashing sales: “We can’t compete on price with the national chains or an internet-only site. But you can’t stand inside the internet and ask to open a package or put a locomotive on a test track and see it run.”-John S. Kavulich
North Carolina: In business since 1968 the owners of the two story The Antique Barn and Hobby Shop blame declining sales caused by internet competition, plus Mother Earth’s climate change, for their demise: “We were making money, but it’s going down. Ten years ago it was thriving and 18 years ago we were a victim of Floyd and we had 7 feet of water in here for a couple of weeks. So we started from scratch again and of course, we had two more 500-year floods this past year, Matthew and in April this one that didn’t even have a name…”
Ohio: After 40 years John’s Hobby Shop shutdown so the owner could retire.
Oklahoma: Christian Evangelical Hobby Lobby caught illegally importing more than 5-thousand artifacts from The Middle East. The top illegal artifact dealer in The Middle East is Islamic State (DAIISH). Hobby Lobby admits most of those illegally acquired artifacts were meant to be displayed in their massive Biblical Museum in Washington DC.
Pennsylvania: After 33 years J&C Hobbies shutdown so the owners could take a “proper vacation”.
Rhode Island: AA Hobby Shop was hit by burglars who apparently didn’t steal anything, it was caught on video.
Texas: A San Antonio Hobby Town was robbed by a man armed with brass knuckles. Police say the man seemed obsessed with RC vehicles (drones).
Utah: Police captured burglars when they tried to sell the stolen goods, including RC (drone) kits burgaled from a hobby shop in Sandy, on the OfferUp app.
In Canada: R.I.P. Niagara Central Hobbies
Car and Driver: Where Have All the Hobby Stores Gone?
MARTIAL LAW U.S.A.: RC MODEL PLANES NOW CONSIDERED ‘DRONES’ MUST BE REGISTERED WITH OBAMA REGIME!