City-by-City -- Hobby Shops

Montagar

Legendary Member
Community Staff
RPF PREMIUM MEMBER
Refer to the following post for a list of Hobby shops (by State and City).
 
I'm lucky enough to have friends in different cities and to get to occasionally travel for work, which allows me to hunt for more model kits in different towns at new (to me at least) hobby shops. I'm always eager to hit a new town in hopes that it may have a great shop to find some vintage kits that i've been looking for.

I thought perhaps we could make a sticky thread to aid other travelers in search of kits?

I realize that some people may not want to "give-up" their hunting spot in fear that their local kits being picked off. This may be true, but try to realize, there may be kits in your local haunt that you no longer want/need, but may "feed a weary traveler", lol. In the spirit of being a good neighbor, share what you know.

I will collect each person's contributions, copy/paste it to the first post to aid in an easy to read/access page of these hunting spots. Just provide the State, City, Hobby Shop, and possibly a short note about what to expect? You can also provide a hot link to the store and that will be included (provide a FUNCTIONING link to the store, not to a google search of possible hits). I will also post the contributor's post number in this thread beside their name to read the full review of the store.

Please do not post a Hobby Lobby or a Hobbytown USA (or any other national chain) -- anybody can do a two second search on google to find those and they are usually the same thing from town to town. In addition, note the the forum you are in. We're not interested posting hobby stores that focus on RC or trains or whatever -- this is about getting the resources for model scale kits and resources to construct and finish them.

If you are lucky enough to get to try out one of the following spots in your travels, try to thank the poster for their info.

ARIZONA:
-Phoenix, Hobby Bench (per morris99,#29)
-Tempe, Hobby Depot (per morris99,#29)
-Tucson, Hobby Place at Ace Hardware (per swhite228,#54)

CALIFORNIA:
-Anaheim, Aardvark Clay (per MarkWLewis, #118)
-Berkeley, Berkeley Ace Hardware (per darth_myeek,#10)
-Burbank, Burbank House of Hobbies (per Lee S,#37)
-Canoga Park, Scale Model Stuff (per Lear60man,#137)
-Carmichael, Viking Hobby(per Rick H,#67)
-Garden Grove, Brookhurst Hobbies (per PhArchivist,#84)
-Garden Grove, JK Electronics (per MarkWLewis, #118)
-La Mesa, Reed's Hobby Shop (per micdavis,#5)-best HS in SanDiego
-Montclair, Pegasus Hobbies (per gobler, #147)
-Placentia, Monsters in Motion (per BenCozine, #159)
-San Carlos, J&M Hobby House (per Rick H,#67)
-San Francisco, The Hobby Company (per jcroscigno, #176)
-San Leandro, Hobbies Unlimited (per darth_myeek,#10)
-Santa Barbara, California Hobbies (per drknotter,#72)
-Santa Barbara, Dave's Hobby Central (per drknotter,#72)
-Stanton, Pacific Sign Supply Company (per MarkWLewis, #118)
-Studio City, Kit Kraft (per alan cross,#30) - best hobby shop ever
-Walnut, Carpe Diem (per MarkWLewis, #118)

COLORADO:
-Colorado Springs, Compleat Games & Hobbies (per dcarty,#46)
-Denver, Bonnie Brae Hobby Shop (per You Sir Nay Me,#120)
-Denver, Caboose Hobbies (per dcarty,#46)
-Denver, Colpar Hobbies (per dcarty,#46)
-Denver, Reynolds Advanced Materials (per mydigitalvoid, #117)
-Denver,Thompson's Hobbies and Crafts (per mydigitialvoid,#114)

CONNECTICUT:
-Branford, Branford Hobbies (per Jccarlton,#106)
-Manchester, The Time Machine (per jclinton,#74)

FLORIDA:
-Miami, Micro Macro Mundo (per streetjudge79,#138)
-Orlando, Colonial Photo Hobby (per Lee S,#37)
-Pensacola, Bobe's Hobby House (per Ranger Daryl,#163)
-St. Petersburg, Model Citizen Hobbies (per dinomike,#56,#155)

HAWAII:
-Aiea, Hobby Company (per twistedxknights,#24)
-Kailua, Weller hobby craft (per twistedxknights,#24)
-Kalihi, Arm Chair Adventurer (per twistedxknights,#24)

ILLINOIS:
-Chicago, Forever Timeless Hobby Shop (per qcfoundry)

INDIANA:
-Indianapolis, Big Boy Hobbies (per Double T, #87)
-Muncie, Toys Forever Models and Hobbies (per Double T, #87)
-Valparaiso, Valparaiso Pet & Hobby (per qcfoundry)

IOWA:
-Davenport, Major Art & Hobby (per PoopaPapaPalps, #141)

KENTUCKY:
-Corbin, Leisure Time Hobbies (per qcfoundry)
-Louisville, South Louisville Antique & Toy Mall (per qcfoundry) - plenty of vintage

LOUISIANA:
-Metairie, Hub Hobby (per EasternBloc, #165)

MASSACHUSETTS:
-Malboro, Spare Time Hobbies (per vismus,#164)
-Norton, Harry's Hobbies (per Paulbo,#55)
-Tyngsboro, Hobby Emporium (per Redhead Kevin, #168)

MICHIGAN:
-Fraser, P&D Hobby Shop (per DarkCreations, #110)
-Owosso, Dean's Hobby Stop (per emojo5, #132)
-Royal Oak, Michigan Toy Soldiers & Historical Miniatures (per Amish Trooper,#33)
-St. Clair Shores, Whistle Stop Hobby & Toy (per DarkCreations, #110)
-Sterling Heights, Great Lakes Hobby (per DarkCreations, #110)
-Warren, Prop Shop Hobbies (per DarkCreations, #110)

MINNESOTA:
-Minneapolis/St.Paul, Hub Hobby Center (per ssdesigner,#32)

MISSOURI:
-St.Charles, Mark Twain Hobby (per tgreco,#15)

NEBRASKA:
-LaVista, Hobbytown USA (per JMChladek,#36)
-Omaha, Hobbytown USA (per JMChladek,#36)

NEW HAMPSHIRE:
-Wolfeboro, Clickety Clack Model Train and Hobby Shop (per caymen shen,#18)

NEW JERSEY:
-Magnolia, AAA Hobbies (per Jkirkon,#156)
-Red Bank, Hobbymasters Hobby Store (per jonny5,#13)
-Ridgefield, Ridgefield Hobbies (per emojo5, #131)

NEW YORK:
-Astoria, Rudy's Hobby & Art (per Feraud,#35)
-Bayshore, Bayshore Hobbies (per Creative Models, #119)
-Bronx, Bruckner Hobbies (per Rider Kabuto,#38)
-Buffalo, Fields Hobby (per Rider Kabuto,#38)
-Buffalo, Niagara Hobby & Craft Mart (per Rider Kabuto,#38)
-Mineola, Willis Hobbies (per Feraud,#35)
-Mount Vernon, The Hobby Store (per Rider Kabuto,#38)
-Rochester, Dan's Crafts & Things (per konar,#82)
-Staten Island, Brownie's Hobby Shop (per fatgeek,#115)

NORTH CAROLINA:
-Fayetteville, Hayes Hobby House (per mec011, #140)
-Fuquay-Varina, ToyTown Hobby Shop (per fuelish,#3)

OHIO:
-Cincinnati, Don's Hobby & Bike Shop (per qcfoundry)-small selection, but vintage stuff
-Columbus, Hobbyland/Graceland (per qcfoundry)-only new kits, but lots wide selection of other supplies
-Kettering, Smitty's Hobby Shop (per Chrgr44oRT,#128)
-Lancaster, Smoke Stack Hobbies (per jasonw2112,#16) - large selection of models & plenty oldies

-OKLAHOMA:
-Owasso, Top Shelf Models (per HIGHWAYMAN9674,#144)

OREGON:
-Beaverton, Tammie's Hobbies (per br12819,#22)

PENNSYLVANIA:
-Indiana, Whirlwind Toys and Hobbies (per the bdk,#19) - large shop huge selection & occasionally gets older collections
-Cranberry Twp, Hobby Express (per the bdk,#19) another large well stocked store but mainly newer kits.
-Doylestown, Herb's Hobbies and Crafts (per blakeh1,#51) - huge warehouse, tons of models
-Dubois, Fishels (per bdk,#19) - there are some older kits and lots of odd things
-Easton, Trains & Lanes Hobbies (per blakeh1,#51) - huge warehouse, tons of models
-Millvalle, Esther's Hobby Shop (per Ukyank,#179)
-Pittsburgh, SW Randall (per Ukyank,#179)
-Plymouth Meeting, Main Line Hobbies (per jackdoud, #173)

RHODE ISLAND:
-Warwick, Apponaug Color & Hobby Shop (per Ricktor,#142)

SOUTH CAROLINA:
-Cayce, New Brookland Railroad and Hobby (per thunderbolt47d, #124)

TENNESSEE:
-Memphis, Mid-South Hobbies (per qcfoundry) - huge selection, lots of rare/vintage

TEXAS:
-Austin, King's Hobby Shop (per Engelnicht, #75)
-Bastrop, BigDog Hobbies (per AnimatedPanda, #85)


UTAH:
-Salt Lake City, MRS Hobbies, (per philp, #146)
-Salt Lake City, West Valley Hobbies, (per philp, #146)

VERMONT:
-Barre, Coins & Hobbies (per gunnerk19, #116)

VIRGINIA:
-Chantilly, Hobby Hangar (per EKF5, #130)
-Newport News, Denbigh Hobby Center (per rbeach84, #143)

WASHINGTON:
-Seattle, Skyway Model Shop (per DeanB,#128)

WISCONSIN:
-Greenfield, Greenfield News & Hobby (per xl97,#61)
-Madison, Hobby Horse (per wookiefood,#49)
-Madison, The Last Square (per wookiefood,#49)
-Madison, Madison Hobby Stop (per wookiefood,#49)

AUSTRALIA:
-Newcastle, New South Wales, Frontline Hobbies (per Noumcea,#101)
-Newcastle, New South Wales, Hobbyco (per Noumcea,#101)

CANADA:
-British Columbia,Burnaby, Burnaby Hobbies (per Thestig604,#122)
-British Columbia,Richmond, Imperial Hobbies, Vancouver's premier source of hobby, gaming and role-playing games (RPG) for over 20 years. (per altername,#65)
-British Columbia,Vancouver, Central Hobbies (per PeteVenkman,#68)
-British Columbia,Vancouver, Magic Box Hobbies (per altername,#65)
-Ontario,Mississauga, Panther Hobbies, (per Dart, #145)
-Ontario,Oakville, Carefree Hobbies (per CJS,#69)
-Ontario,Ottawa, Hobby House Ltd (per Eric Ardros,#71)
-Ontario, Sunny Dundas, Dundas Valley Hobbies (per Bulugawrx, #172)
-Ontario,Toronto, John's Hobbies (per crackerjazz,#39)
-Ontario,Toronto, Wheels & Wings Hobbies (per crackerjazz,#39)
-Quebec,Laval, Sial (per Gorgot3000,#80)
-Quebec,Montreal, Udisco (per Bigturc,#151)

GREECE:
-Athens, Fasma Models (per Teddz, #133)
-Athens, Kalfakis models (per Teddz, #133)
-Athens, Plastimodelismo (per Teddz, #133)

JAPAN:
-(per FlyingDachshund,#69)

NORWAY:
-Carl Berners Plass, Amundsen Hobby (per TheTimeRanger #148)
-Ensjø, Small Size Hobby (per TheTimeRanger #148)

UNITED KINGDOM:
-Hampshire,Portsmouth, Fratton Model Centre (per FoxhoundTCF,#96)
-Hampshire,Portsmouth, Southsea Models (per FoxhoundTCF,#96)
-South Yorkshire,Sheffield, Marcways (per Sidewinder,#111)

Last Updated per Post #180
 
Last edited:
I should have been clear in my first post:
only recommend hobby shops that you think others would genuinely find a good/great place to shop. I'm hoping nobody denotes any hobby lobbies or hobbytowns in their community.
 
Sadly there isn't one under 45 minutes from me and most of them only carry miniature gaming stuff anymore. We had one 15 minutes away but he didn't last long and the other 2 good ones are in Youngstown.
 
Sadly there isn't one under 45 minutes from me and most of them only carry miniature gaming stuff anymore. We had one 15 minutes away but he didn't last long and the other 2 good ones are in Youngstown.

The hobby shop you reco' doesn't have to be NEAR you...only that you have visited it. Personally, I have very little nearby but I make it a point to try to spare a little extra time in my travels to go a few miles out of my way to visit a hobby shop.
 
Cool Idea, and don't die. You are the only one who can update this thread.

Hobbies Unlimited (near Oakland)
937 Manor Boulevard - San Leandro‎ CA‎ 94579

Berkeley Ace Hardware (Basement, seriously.)
2145 University Ave - Berkeley, CA 94704
 
Actually, I've got some sites that I'm working on that are cataloging hobby shops, comic shops, and gaming shops in Indiana and have a few in SoCal as well.

I'm working on getting them up and running again because they're kind of broken right now, but the sites are:
Geeking In Indiana | Stores, shops, shindigs and more
Geeking in Southern California | Stores, shops, shindigs and more

Please, be gentle. Oh, and I also have Google Maps attached to both with shops listed.

Just thought this would be relevant to this thread. The sites will be going down in a week or so, but should be back up and being updated by the end of January.

Tony
 
Actually, I've got some sites that I'm working on that are cataloging hobby shops, comic shops, and gaming shops in Indiana and have a few in SoCal as well.

I'm working on getting them up and running again because they're kind of broken right now, but the sites are:
Geeking In Indiana | Stores, shops, shindigs and more
Geeking in Southern California | Stores, shops, shindigs and more

Please, be gentle. Oh, and I also have Google Maps attached to both with shops listed.

Just thought this would be relevant to this thread. The sites will be going down in a week or so, but should be back up and being updated by the end of January.

Tony

GREAT IDEA.
personally loving the indiana one because i'm in kentucky.
seems only the front page is up (all links = dead).
not sure i'll copy any of the info directly -- kinda like the idea of straight recommendations from each individual here (no offense).
will be checking to see when the site is back up -- thx.
 
New Jersey:
-Red Bank 62 White St. Hobbymasters

Website is crap their local cable commercials are laughable, and the 1st floor is R/C cars, kites and gaming crap... but Upstairs!
You will find all scales of trains and decent size selection of plastic model kits.

It is probably not the greatest shop into which you will ever set foot, but its the best thing central Jersey has going on.

Tell 'em Jon sent you, and get a FREE confused look.

Also, if you are into comics and the films of Kevin Smith, Red Bank is home to a place called Jay & Silent Bob's Secret Stash which is near the intersection of White St. and Broad.
 
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There is a great hobby store called Smoke Stack Hobbies, located in Lancaster, Ohio.

This place has everything! It's a small shop crammed with model's! I bought some re-released Rat Fink kits a little ways back, that came out in the 90's?

He is constantly buying older kits as well, and sells them at a good price. The last time I visited, he was putting out a bunch of older ship model kits.

I've been to many hobby stores, but he has the biggest selection of models I have ever seen! Not to mention the models he has stacked in the back of the store, out of sight!
 
Anyone know any in Miami? Doubt there is any down here..

You doubt correctly.
Such a large population and no hobby store - what does that say :confused

Head up to Fort Lauderdale where theres still two decent stores - Warricks Hobby and R.C. Hobby both have lots of plastic kits and full stock of Plastruct and Evergreen. Both stores are on University Drive.

Might also try Discount Train & Hobby. This place sometimes gets in bunches of vintage kits from estate sales.
 
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Great thread!

Heres a short list, later I'll try to get some more as I remember them:

Indiana PA: Whirlwind Toys and Hobbies, large shop huge selection and occasionally gets older collections someone brings in to sell.

Cranberry Twp PA: Hobby Express, another large well stocked store but mainly newer kits.

Dubois PA: Fishels, old school shop full stuff. There are some older kits and lots of odd things, old pewter star wars and star trek for example floating around.

Pittsburgh PA: South Hills area, AB Charles and Sons, huge 2 story shop.
 
Great thread!

Heres a short list, later I'll try to get some more as I remember them:

Indiana PA: Whirlwind Toys and Hobbies, large shop huge selection and occasionally gets older collections someone brings in to sell.

Cranberry Twp PA: Hobby Express, another large well stocked store but mainly newer kits.

Dubois PA: Fishels, old school shop full stuff. There are some older kits and lots of odd things, old pewter star wars and star trek for example floating around.

Pittsburgh PA: South Hills area, AB Charles and Sons, huge 2 story shop.

visited Pittsburgh once to meet M.Fitchenmeyer (sp?) and go to one of his hobby meets - sheesh, probably 6-8 years ago. visited a shop there, but can't remember the name..pretty sure it wasn AB Charles (mine was an older one-story shop). shop was on a street that was on a hill and the store had tons of roco. i wasn't into SS modeling yet and had no idea that these little tanks would play a part in my future collecting...but was def'ly in awe of their assortment. store overall seemed nice too.
 

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