So maaaaaaaaaaaaany shops!!!
First addiction, perhaps like so maaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaany of us that help feed our first addictions.....had to be AHC advertising in every major model mag-rag.

But my first real addiction was fed by a little hobby shop that was located across from the Iowa State Fairgounds in DesMoines Iowa. It was located just a short distance from my Woodrow Wilson grade and jr. high school.
Even more addicting...it was located on the sidewalk on my way home from school. My twin sister Mary Jo and I would stop in every day to spend our school lunch money change to buy candy or peanuts or a bottle of coke-aaaah-cola from their machines just inside the shop door.
Hummm?
Not only did they feed my habit for cola n candy...BUT FAR AND WAY WORSE!!! MY LIFE LONG ADDICTION TO MODELING!!!
For example...right next to the candy machines...were those little "GOOD TO GO" balsa wood gliders & rubber powered models that were priced almost as cheaply as those sweet toothed snacks.
It wasn't long before my sister Mary was walking the rest of the way home...and tattle-talin' to my grandmother about how I would often save and then spend my lunch money...ON MY NEW ADDICTION TO MODELING!!!

I KNOW ANYONE LURKING..MUST HAVE THEIR OWN "HOBBY ADDICTION STORY?"
Trust me...YOU WILL FEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEELLLLL! SO MUCH BETTA...if you just...
"STOP!"
Lay down on Sparky's website internet COUCH and SHARE YOUR OWN ADDICTION STORY WITH US?

I was in a town of 5,000 when I started building model planes.  I didn't know that enough people were interested in models to have a store just for hobby stuff until I was almost 11, I think.  All of my early supplies were purchased at a variety store that didn't offer much selection.  Then, a couple of teenagers began bringing their CL glow planes to the football practice field below the Junior High, that was just across some vacant lots from where I lived, and before they decided to ignore me any time I didn't have money in hand for their castoffs, I learned that their hardware came from one or another of two stores some 30 miles away in the nearest city. 

I further never realized that model building was of interest to adults as well as to kids, or that entire monthly magazines about the hobby were being published until I actually was inside my first hobby shop, Jefferson Hobbies, after we moved to Texas. 

Mays Hobby shop in Sapulpa Oklahoma, she had lots of stuff. We raced Slot Cars there also. Trains, airplanes and lots of stuff she had a Fire Baby left over from the old days and dad got it to play with. Every body that flew control lint in Sapulpa flew it for fun. This was in 1966.

I don't like to use the word addiction, but I knew I had to fly more, right after my first flight on my cousin's Li'l Jumpin' Bean. I crashed the plane after about 3 turns, but was thrilled by the experience. We went to the local hobby shop later that day. My family was visiting my cousin's family in Florida, so I don't remember the name of that hobby shop. I built the wing while we were still in Florida, and finished the plane when I got back home in Pennsylvania. After that, I flew a lot, and also started a local club. Believe it or not, the best palce I found to buy plane kits and engines in my area was at the local J.C. Penney's store. Babe Bee engines were $2.99.

The first hobby shop that I really liked, a few years later, was the Penn Valley Hobby Center in Lansdale, PA. It is still in business.

Dave

I forgot to mention that the Babe Bee engines for $2.99 at J.C. Penney's was around 1961.

Dave

The 1st place I remember was a SS Kresge's in Beloit WI, the box display of 5, 10, 15, and 25 cent gliders and rubber powered planes, kites and plastic kits.

Then a few shops in the Wilmington NC area my dad took me to but they were too far to ride my bike, so mostly it was plastic kits from the 7-11 ( imagine a 7-11 with models!).

My first Hobby Store hangout was a little place on Main St in Roswell NM. I went there 3-5 time a week to thumb the magazines, drool over the kits and wait until I had a $1.95 for a Sterling 1/2 A profile warbird.

Finally- Benners Bike and Hobby, downtown Grand Forks ND. They had it all, bikes, model kits of all types, science stuff, a huge  slot car track and rental cars, plus a whole annex just for balsa kits FF / CL / RC, engines of all types, Aero - Gloss Dope, Ambroid, Sig-ment, Silk-Span you name it. The guys working the annex would let me open kits and look at the plans, put props on engines and flip them over, read the magazines, pretty much anything to keep me from asking them another 20 questions. It was a sad day when I saw the Gong out of Business Sale sign.

Good times back then- but good times are still around , just gotta look a bit harder.

The White Church Hardware Store was where I would go to get my Scientific kits.  My Guillows Rat Racer and 35 size engine that I have been told didn't exist at that time came from Charley's Hobby Shop down at 18th and Chelsea in KCK.  That is where I learned about the flying circle at City Park.  Mr Brooks is the one who put the initial flights on the plane and told me about the Flying Eagle Model Airplane Club.  Even after I moved to southern Missouri it was Charley's Shop when I needed something.  When he didn't have it was Americas Hobby Center in New York.  When I moved back to KC it was to Charley's to let him know I was back in town.  A young man with a shotgun put him out of business for ever.  We have not had a decent shop since.  Hobby Haven in Overland Park was close.  Now I am afraid to go to new shops I hear about as they don't stay in business very long.  Oh, I almost forgot Jim's Key & Hobby on Central Avenue in KCK.  Still Having fun,  DOC Holliday

Ah yes, Charley's. I remember his shop well. Not been in one I liked half as much since I moved from KCK to Arkansas. Hey, Doc. Do you remember Mr. Brooks's first name? I wondered if might have been my dad?

Mike

        Ulmer's hobby shop in Baton Rouge, La. it was just about 4-5 block's from my Aunt's home, and I would walk when we visited her, the time was about 1955-56 and he had several Barnstormer's with Fox 29's and 35's. Man, I would sit and "daydream" about flying one of these model's !!
  All the "older" guy's flew the Barnstormer, so I had top have one also, never got to fly it though as a girl cousin of mine managed to get it off the freezer.... it never was the same after that.
  Shoultzie, you sure do have a nack for trips "down memory lane".  Thanks,   

Hmmmm. I was thoroughly addicted to model airplanes long before I ever saw a real hobby shop. Many hobby visits were to the base PX, wherever we were. Many others to the hobby department of some local store, the last of those I recall being "The Empire Dept. Store" in Pullman, WA. Didn't have much except the basics, but they were pretty good about getting what you wanted. Can't say that for our LHS, these days. Last week, I was in the LHS, and the guy (that flat lied to me before) was busy flying an electric toy helicopter up & down the aisles. I was looking for all the hardware twirly display thingys, and they're gone. But I digress.

The first really astounding hobby shop I encountered was Barney Snyder's Model Craft, somewhere in LA. We got by there once every month or two, while we lived at Edwards AFB. There were some good ones in the Seattle area, but none of them lasted all that long. Easy to understand why, if you have any business schoolin' at all. Too much inventory, expensive to display twiddly stuff that sells for pennies, persnickety customers, high rent, inventory taxes...  Steve

Quote from: Michael Brooks on September 19, 2008, 07:24:57 AM
Ah yes, Charley's. I remember his shop well. Not been in one I liked half as much since I moved from KCK to Arkansas. Hey, Doc. Do you remember Mr. Brooks's first name? I wondered if might have been my dad?

Mike

Can't recall first name as that period in time we always addressed adults as Mr or Mrs.  He did have a new born that grew up to be Dennis Brooks a young man that I helped get really started in control line competition.  Then he went the route of RC and the giant scale planes.  He said his dad was killed in a plane accident.  DOC Holliday

It was during ww2 and there were a lot of military planes at Gieger field in Spokane. One day I went into town and ended up at the hobby shop there. There was a beatiful New Ruler free flight hanging there with a Motor on it. Boy was I a watent person then. But alas, I could not afford such a plane so I bought a stick Model. I built a lot of them during the war with thier pressed paper formers and basswood stringers, but I learned how to build them and I used to set them on fire and toss them off the Garage roof. I been sort of goofy every since.

Art Mays Camera and Hobby ...Bismark N.D.
Ed's Camera Corner.... Portland Or
Strictly RC...Portland Or
RC and More... Portland Or

Originally enough, it was The Hobby Shop in Lexington, KY. On Main Street down near Broadway. Of course, 8 or 10 years later, I discovered Joyner's Bike Shop, which was 10x as good!

Ralph

Zempter's Hobby Shop in old downtown Lake Charles. It was next to the Paramount movie theater. Just a hole in the wall but twas the place that did it for me. They got ALL of my lawn mowing money! They were also a Bell Hearing Aid dealer and I guess thats how they really kept the doors open. All gone now like the rest...sighh
Later on my brother opened up Jim's Hobby shop for about 5 years.I worked there a few summers.He had too many "good buddies" that all got discounts and helped him close the doors too.

State Line Hobby Shop, Kansas City Mo. 1955.  I got a Ringmaster, K & B 35 Greenhead, lines, weird handle, dope,etc.

I built the plane and the owner took me to Swope Park and taught me to fly.  Bought  a McCoy 36, and more

Rings.

Hothandle

Jim Easton's Hobby Shop s.e. 92nd and Division in Portland Or. There is a freeway exit there now.

Don

Quote from: Don Curry on October 01, 2008, 09:33:27 PM
Jim Easton's Hobby Shop s.e. 92nd and Division in Portland Or. There is a freeway exit there now.

Don

Arn't you retired now? Have you flown your Actic Fox Yet? Welcome aboard!

Hi Leo: Yep I am finally retired. That last month was a killer. The Fos is still on the bench.I am still fighting the dizzies so I will save it for later.

Don

I remember a lot of places but the one that was always a treat because it was close enough to ride my bike to was Sumner's Trading Post. It was a nice old fashioned hardware store that also did model airplanes. I can still see the firebaby hanging in the front window and especially the Fox Black head Combat Special sitting in the display case. I bought a lot of Fox Super Fuel and Testor's 39 there. We burned it up 2oz at a time in Fox 15's and TD Baby Bees. Dawn to dusk.......

My grandad (mom's dad) had one of those little drug store...sundries type
places that they now call a convenience store in Jacksonville Fla. in 1960.
We lived in Valdosta Ga. then about two hours away but would visit every couple of months and even more often in the summers. He started my younger
brother Steve and I out on rubber powered models then gave me my first cox PT-19 shortly thereafter and I never looked back. I just got my brother Steve back into it when we met at the KOI contest in Jacksonville after more than 30 years off into the darkside. I brought an ARF Flitestreak with a LA.25 on it and he smiled from the moment he picked up the handle till he lawndarted it trying..I fixed it in one evening with a new prop and i'll bet he is still smiling.  We had a blast together 45 years ago and we still love it.

 I grew up in hobby shops.
Ed

Don's Hobbies on Front Street in Mankato, Minnesota.  The airplane kits were leaning on one end up high on the left wall as you'd walk in.  I still remember how HUGE those kit boxes looked after all the 1/2As I had built. 

Quote from: Jerry Eichten on October 13, 2008, 08:11:09 PM
Don's Hobbies on Front Street in Mankato, Minnesota.  The airplane kits were leaning on one end up high on the left wall as you'd walk in.  I still remember how HUGE those kit boxes looked after all the 1/2As I had built. 

That is probably why you don't build half "a'S now.That's a good thing. My moto, Nothin smaller than a 15.

Joe's Hobby Shop on Wyoming in Detroit. What a great place. Dope and fuel smells and walls and shelves stacked to the ceiling with kits. I would go down on Saturday's with my Dad and while he'd shoot the s--- with the hangers out, I'd explore. I could never see it enough, and walking past the engine case, I couldn't wait to get one of those big engines that the exhaust came out the stack instead of the OK Cubs I had. I saved my money and bought my first kit there, a Jetco Trooper glider, it was $1.19 and that's exactly what I had. When I went to pay for it the guy said I had to pay sales tax, 5 more cents. I was crushed, and told him I didn't have it. He looked at me and made me promise to bring it the next time I came in and I got a nichol and held it for just that time. When it finally came and I tried to pay my "taxes" , he swore he didn't remember, so I added a nichol and bought a tube of Comet cement. Joe's is still around by name, but far from the mecca it was in the '30s-'60s, and no longer in Detroit but ironically in the suburb where I grew up.