Before I went into the USAF, my home town had as many as 8 stores that were either actual hobby shops or had departments where you could buy flyable planes and engines for CL, FF, and even RC, as well as train and boat kits and supplies.  Not just plastics.  The old Cycle Shop I mentioned in an earlier post was never more than 3 blocks away.  In fact, for a lot of years, I could getkits and supplies for only at most a 4 block walk.  In fact, even in high school, there were two hobby shops and 2 hardware stores within a couple blocks walk where I could stop after school.

The last hobbyshop in my home town of around 60000 people pretty much shut down about 2 years ago.  And it was a model railroad shop.  Now, the closest full service shop is about a 20 mile drive in another town.

Sportster Hobby shop, Santa Clara, Calif. Discovered it when I was 8, in 1949.  Mom & Pop store, Ed and Eileen. Ed was a Boy Scoutmaster, and sponsored C/L assembly and flying for a merit badge. Troop 42 was a real flying force!
I started with an A-J Hornet, which was a flyaway when Dad showed me how to wind it up...It was replaced that day!
Really wanted a Firebaby, but Dad said "You'll cut yer finger off!" He was retired Navy, WWII; took me to Moffett Field for a NATS. Ed and Eileen were there, assisting with registration...
There were other hobby shops, (Sheldon's, Ed's of Willow Glen, Boys' Store Basement Hobbies, Huston's Hobbies...) We rode the bus to get there. But my favorite planes came from Ed & Eileen's, starting with the Speedi-Bilt P40.
They closed in '65 (or thereabouts) victims of the reigning Kiely Family's 'Urban Renewal'. The whole town was razed, became a mall-type 2-block walkaround that is devoid of landmarks...(sob)

Paul's Hobby Shop in Chicago. The owner was Paul Van Saant who I considered God at that time, 1945 through 1959. He had a huge Nieuport 17 hanging there with a Spitfire 65 in the nose. It had a metal cowl and was just beautiful. He had other planes hanging but that is the one I remember. Paul was kind of eccentric but was a master craftsman. When Arden came out with the glow plug, I went into his shop and he started an Arden right there in the shop. He was remarking how the clear plastic tank was beginning to melt. Arden came out with bakelite tanks that were fuel proof. Paul said I guess I'll have to get one of those tanks. His shop was a storefront at the street level of an apartment building. I guess Paul figured the people in the building wouldn't mind the noise of the Arden running in his shop. I bought my first engine, an O&R 23 front rotary valve from him.

Joe Connelly

Kirkwood Hobby Center in Kirkwood, Mo.  I happened to ride by there om my bike one day.  It was about 1.5 miles from my house.  There was an old couple who owned it whose name I have no idea.  I was quite young, but when I started delivering papers, bought models to build.  Then Comet flying models.  In '52 my grandmother sent me a plastic Super Sabre with an OK Cub .049 for power and I was hooked.  I never could get more than 3/4 of a lap out of that plane and have been opposed to plastic plans ever since.  About that time the hobby shop changed hands to a young guy who moved it to Central Kirkwood, about a half block from school and only 1 mile from the house.  My father bought an ABC Trainer and a 1/2A trainer, both Victor Stanzel models.  I built the 1/2A trainer and put my OK Cub on it and flew it all year.  Just about wore it out that first year.  My father built the ABC trainer and put a McCoy "36" Sportsman on it.  After two stalled take-offs and two wing separations I learned to fly big airplanes.  After my father built and crashed a Firecat he quit flying and gave me the engine which I used until it died.  The owner of the hobby shop conducted a contest at Kirkwood Park every year where I was initiated into competition.  There was a club called Schaeffer's Yellow Jackets.  Those kids had lots of practice and cutting edge equipment, much better than I could afford, and had coaching which I didn't.  One day I wen to South St. Louis to Schaeffer's Hobby Shop to see what the competition had.  Art was very affable and didn't treat me like a pain.  Still, I didn't go there on any kind of regular masis because it ias a loooooong bike ride from Kirkwood.  But, his shop was FABULOUS with all the Stunt planes he had made hanging from the ceiling.  I then went into the Military and...

There was a shop in KC at about 95th and Holmes run by a one-legged guy, whose name I forgot.  He took me to Swope Park once and let me launch his stunt plane.  I bought my OK .29 from him.  Do any of you KC guys remember him?  I'd like to look him up.

Ty,

The last time I was in St. Louis, I stopped by the Kirkwood Hobby Center to say hi to the owner.  There had been a guy who worked for him who had bought the place a few months before and was running it.  The owner had retired and moved to Phoenix.  It was still open and was selling as was said, mostly trains along with other assorted hobby items, but no airplanes of any kind.  It had taken over two stores with a large opening between them.  This was a few years ago, but I imagine it's still going strong.  I think it had a strong following.

Bob

A couple local hobby shops have pretty much done the same thing.  Because of a decline in the number of areas to fly, to stay in business, they have slowed down or shut off the model airplane business, and increased the model train RC car, and even wargaming stock.  (Have to say that for me, LHS means nothing closer than 10 miles.  Most are at least 18 miles.)To stay in busines, they have to adapt to the customer base.  One hobby shop just moved to our county from Cleveland, and they are in the process of feeling out the customer wants and needs.  A different clientele.

St. Louis County has a great flying field for both CL and RC.  I remember when it opened, a bit after Double Cola closed and we lost our field behind the bottling plant.  That's when we changed our name from The Double Cola MAC to The Lafayette Escadrille.  I'ts still there although there are many more rules, I've heard than there were in '59 or '60.  But still, I guess a lot of the intrest waned and only the hardcore people are left.  Or maybe a lot kinda moved away like I did when I went into the military for 20 years and then after retiring and starting a divorce, was transfered to Ohio.
There are 2 hobby shops in the Toledo area, one catering to rc, mostly foamies and arfs and one with a few arfs, a lot of cars, trains and other stuff.  Can't get fuel, dope or CL pieces parts.

Bob

George's Model Shop on King Street in Alexandria, VA.  Classic shop of the 50's-60's.  Planes, boats, slot cars, plastic and wood kits.  I remember seeing Jim Warker kits, before I knew what CL was.  He had an M-5 5 cylinder radial in the show case.  The real big deal hobby shop was Corr's Hobby in Washington DC.  I didn't get there much but that was a real treat when I did.  I could then and still can spend hours looking at stuff in a "real" hobby shop.  My wife would rather have a root canal than acompany me to an LHS.

There was a Hobby Shop that I went to in Charlotte when I was very young, but the one that got me hooked is still around and the original owners still regularly work there!  It is Hayes Hobby Shop in Fayetteville, NC.  They had just opened when I first went there in 1963.  The store expanded and moved to another section of the Shopping Center, but it is still going strong.   Alan Hayes (a member here!) is the son of the owners and I am sure he will carry on the tradition of great service and friendly manners that his Mother, and Father, Gentry, have established.  A great thing is that the staff is knowledgeable in everything they carry!  You don't see that everywhere.........

Big Bear

Nowhere near my first, but I still remember MR. Barts in a mall in Topeka, Ks back in the 1967-68 time frame  when the USAF gave me room and board localy.  Also still remember visiting Ace back when Paul Runge was still running it when I was TDY down the road at Whiteman AFB.  I could only drool.  That's back when as a Sgt, I ws drawing a whole $326/mo, including seperate rats, before taxes.

Boy you do bring up memories.  I remember driving all over Topeka when the company had me working at the Toll Office(long distance phone service).  Bart's was was one of my favorites.  I do not know what ever happened to him.  Then there was the bait shop out on 21st, that the lady carried some control line stuff. 

In the early Fifties, my friend Steve and myself would walk or ride our bikes to Hobbyland, a small shop on South Beckley in the Oak Cliff section of Dallas. A man named Joe was the owner and he would actually run your new Fox, K&B, Mccoy etc. engine for you in the back room of the shop before you left with it. Later we frequented Bernies Hobby House on Jefferson in Oak Cliff owned by Bernie Haire, a really nice person who was always willing to give good advice or help with any thing hobby related, even if you didnt buy it from him,those were the days!

Gene's Hobby Shop, Tulsa, mid-late 1960s. He even had a workshop in the back for kids to build their planes in!

Joe's Hobby Shop in Detroit, early 1970s. Everything for a CL-er and plenty of combat stuff, too.

This will sound crazy, (most of what I say/do does) but my addiction actually started in a Rexall Drug store!  They sold the ten cent Comet models and that got the juices going!  Years later when I could drive and earn enough for an engine the good old AHC was first in line for my purchases until I found Elliot's Sporting Good store in Marietta, Ohio.  They had quite a hoby shop in conjunction with their regular store.  The guy doing the counter for the hobby section was none other than Steve Wooley!  I had many conversations with Steve during the next few years, then went USN.  Later, after I was located in the Toledo area, we ran into each other at the Toledo r/c conference.  We risked our lives standing in the aisle and talking for who-knows-how-long.  That was the year of Steve's tragic accident.  I look back at our time at the Toledo show as so very special.  He was good guy.
Blessing,
Will

The modelers haven in Lawrence ma. I hung there from 1958 to he closed around 1980. I met lots of nice people there. Jim Carpenter and Jay Leno. Yes that same guy on the late show. He still owes me five bucks, I dont think I,ll ever see it   Bob Lambert was the owner and one of the best guys I have ever met

There were a couple hobby shops in mny area (south Los Angeles).  Before I was old enough to drive a car, I took the bus into a place called Huntington Park.  After walking several more blocks, there was the Seville Ave. Hobby Store.  It was run by an old couple, but they knew the best things to stock.  In 1944, I went in and filled out the papers to get on the waiting list for a brand new Ohlsson & Rice 23 engine.  These were still being made during the war, although in limited numbers, and by employees working after-hours (being paid by O&R, and not their government contracts).  Later, and just in time for Xmas 1944, the engine arrived.  And that was my main present for Christmas.

Floyd

addition July 15.  In 1948, in South Gate, CA (south L.A.), Morgan's Model Supply opened.  They were primarily wholesale, but would sell OTC from their stock.  I believe they later moved.  In the meantime, West Coast Model Shop opened in my hometown of South Gate CA, and operated by Walter Hallberg.  I left the area briefly in '52, but later found Walter running another hobby shop in nearby Downey, CA.

Another model shop opened in the area about 1954.  It was run by Bob Dunham (owner of Orbit Radio R/C).  I worked with Bob in designing their Orbit 10 channel R/C receiver and transmitter, using the popular Medco or Bonner tuned reed banks. (I still have the first hand-wired receiver)

F.C.

Most unfortunately, just about everyone that could remember "Bob's Cyclery" on Yousemity Ave in Modesto are now Dead and gone.  I think the one last person who could remember it is Dan Cockrum.  However, I don't know if he even remembers when he flew model planes?

Jim Pollock,  The Modesto Flying Circus (MFC) used to be such a magnificent model airplane club......in the 50's 60's and at least the early 70's. 

Boy, this just released a couple old and almost forgotten names from my early exposure to this addiction.

First kits, Comet Struct-O-Speed, and some Guillows and Walker gliders and rubber FF, were purchased by walking ( when my mom was distracted, I started doing this at sometime between ages 4 and 5) about 2 blocks to a corner store named Yurcheck's.  The building is still there, has been through several itterations including a store front church, a private bar/club, and now appears to be a private residence.  Then there was Karnack's, about 4 blocks away, where I bought the usual Comet and Guillows, as well as Strombecker kits, Revell kits, Lindberg kits,Flying models and MAN mags.  They went through a similar fate as Yurcheck's, but the building was torn down last fall.  The bicycle shop has been empty for years, although for a while, it was a small high quality butcher shop.

Of course, right around the corner from my High School, was the old Lorain Hobby Shop (imaginative name) which was mostly CL planes and model railroading.  I remember buying many older MRR and MA magazines, used from racks on the back wall.  They are now a gap between a Jewler and an empty store.

Wilsons Hobby shop Jamaica Queens N.Y. Run by Pete Wilson.
Forest Park MAC held it's meetings down in the basement.

 Western Hobbies early 50s Compton CA. It was owned by my parents and grand parents. Later in the 60s was Robbie's Hobbies in Cudahy CA. Robbie would always give me a job there during Xmas season when I was in junior/ High School. Worked for hobby supplies and model kits.
Cheers!
~VanCam

Believe or not, my parents led to my addiction.  When we were just kids they started giving us Strombeker solid models to build. This led to them showing us the hobby department at the Montgomery Wards store in Manhattan Kansas where I bought my first 10¢ Comet model.

Encouraged by our parents, my brother and I managed to find hobby shops near wherever my Dad was stationed in the Army.  This included Germany from 1950-53.  At that time the "good stuff" came from America's Hobby Center by slow boat from the US.  Balsa wood did not exist in Germany at the time.

Oh how I remember drooling over the AHC adds, planning what I'd eventualy buy.  Actualy put in 2 orders:  First was after getting my first job out of high school.  Bought a Super Aerotrol radio kit.  Never worked right.  Then, geting ready to rotate stateside from Wheelus AFB, I placed a large order.  It was waiting for me when I got home on leave.  Actually more than I'd ordered.  They'd combined my order with that of anoter Sergeant stationed there.  Contacted them several times, hoping they'd at least reimburse me for forwarding the order.  Got total denial, their shipping papers showed I'd recieved my order, and that the other order had been properly sent to Tripoli.  I imagine the extra order finally found the proper home.

Encouraged by our parents, my brother and I managed to find hobby shops near wherever my Dad was stationed in the Army.  This included Germany from 1950-53.  At that time the "good stuff" came from America's Hobby Center by slow boat from the US.  Balsa wood did not exist in Germany at the time.
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It was not a slow boat.  It was the ship of the plains, called "Conastoga" wagon.  Pony express kept saying package was too large.  But those of us out in the remote areas relied a lot on AHC.   

More dull stuff added to my previous.....

There were a couple hobby shops in mny area (south Los Angeles).  Before I was old enough to drive a car, I took the bus into a place called Huntington Park.  After walking several more blocks, there was the Seville Ave. Hobby Store.  It was run by an old couple, but they knew the best things to stock.  In 1944, I went in and filled out the papers to get on the waiting list for a brand new Ohlsson & Rice 23 engine.  These were still being made during the war, although in limited numbers, and by employees working after-hours (being paid by O&R, and not their government contracts).  Later, and just in time for Xmas 1944, the engine arrived.  And that was my main present for Christmas.

Floyd

addition July 15.  In 1948, in South Gate, CA (south L.A.), Morgan's Model Supply opened.  They were primarily wholesale, but would sell OTC from their stock.  I believe they later moved.  In the meantime, West Coast Model Shop opened in my hometown of South Gate CA, and operated by Walter Hallberg.  I left the area briefly in '52, but later found Walter running another hobby shop in nearby Downey, CA.

Another model shop opened in the area about 1954.  It was run by Bob Dunham (owner of Orbit Radio R/C).  I worked with Bob in designing their Orbit 10 channel R/C receiver and transmitter, using the popular Medco or Bonner tuned reed banks. (I still have the first hand-wired receiver)

F.C.