Not a train shop, but it was where I picked up my Tamiya paints. Dang! Luckily the train shop Whistle Stop is still chugging along, it sells everything else but the Tamiya acrylic model paints I have been dependent on. Bummer now I have to drive to Burbank.
I wonder if the Hobby People here will close too. Last time i was there they had a lot less stock than they used to, and didn’t look very busy.
Very hard to compete with the internet
Dennis
Well Ray, this one has a message to visit their next closest location… in Encino…not bloody likely. Burbank House of Hobbies is really a terrific shop, but it’s not what you would call convenient, traffic is a headache most of the time, grumble.
Vic, I know how you feel. I was looking to purchase some additional signals from Shiloh Signals and found out that they are no longer in business. That is a bummer also. They were good signals to have on the layout.
Vic Smith said:
Well Ray, this one has a message to visit their next closest location… in Encino…not bloody likely. Burbank House of Hobbies is really a terrific shop, but it’s not what you would call convenient, traffic is a headache most of the time, grumble.
Vic,
Burbank House of Hobbies is my go-to store for brass and small tools for my 1/8th scale stuff. Also small hex head machine screws. He also gives me a discount as a member of Los Angeles Live Steamers. Ask him if he would give you a discount if you belong to some model RR club. Can’t hurt. You can also try Gary at the Train Shack in Burbank. He is a big supporter of LALS when it comes to donating prizes for our meets.
I absolutely refuse to shop at Hobby Lobby and they are less than a 1/2 mile away.
I don’t shop Hobby Lobby because they had a really lousy selection of model building supplies, period. Michaels was better which isn’t saying alot.
Burbank is way better, my biggest headache is getting there. Hobby People was convenient for its close location. I could make quick stops for supplies midweek. H of Hobbies requires navigating several freeways and I’m actually fairly close, but the traffic load means that I can only go during weekends, when I am often being committed timewise that prevents me going. As I have said, styrene, brass, glue etc I can get at Whistle Stop, but those Tamiya acrylic paints are just not carried by alot of places, Whistle Stop included. I can order them online, but I hate to do that and I also hate having to wait 2 weeks min just and paying $6 to get a $3 jar of paint.
I seldom go to Hobby Lobby because of its location, its way out of my way. And I am not impressed with their model section. When I am out that way I go to Hobbytown, they have trains and model supplies, although they don’t carry much of anything in Large Scale. The few hobby shops in my area are also closed on Sundays, not to spark nor fuel that discussion, I am just saying that on Sunday my only choice is Hobbytown, and its so far away from where I live. So I buy most of my stuff either at shows or online. Its a shame to have to pay $5 or more in shipping for $3 in supplies, that’s why I try and buy supplies online for several projects at a time. And I have a nice supply of parts and material already stashed in my garage and hobby room, so I usually have what I need on hand. That’s the blessing/curse of being a model hobbyist for most of my life. I have collected so much stuff.
REMINDER/NOTICE
I have a strict No Religion, No Politics policy. Posts have been deleted. Do not stray into that area again.
I believe in one thing…Loyalty to my local merchant. Be it hobby, hardware or tools. I truly dislike “Big Box” mega stores whether they be Home Depot or Hobby Lobby. I buy most of my hardware items from a hardware store that’s at least 10 miles away. I’m going on 73 and have shopped there since I was old enough to use power tools. My Dad and grandfather shopped there too. I have used the two remaining hobby shops in Burbank for the past 30-40 years and truly hope they can stay in business. I like being able to walk into these establishments and actually “talk” to someone that understands what they are selling. Stunning concept!! You go into a Home Depot or Lowes and when you need to talk to a “customer service consultant” (I love that term) and they stare at you like a deer in the headlights and have no concept of what you are trying to tell them and what you are looking for (main reason customer can’t find the product is that the item you want is on a shelf TWO STORIES above your head!!).
Personally I would (and have) paid 10%-15% more for an item in my local Mom/Pop hobby shop or hardware, than go to the internet. If all of us would patronize our local merchants, we wouldn’t have these predatory Big Box stores taking everybody else out. Oh…and what happens when the Big Box store folds or just decides to leave YOUR community? You probably will wish you would have purchased from your local merchant before he closed his shop and decided to retire and enjoy life a little. 
Gary, I’m with you on all counts. Support your local brick & mortar stores whenever possible - especially the older established ones. But I don’t mind falling back on a Box store if the specific item is not carried by the Mom & Pop shop and I need it right now. So for me there are exceptions…
One more train shop has just closed. This one has been there for many years in San Francisco - Chan’s Trains & Hobbies. While open seven days a week, he couldn’t compete with the high rent and internet prices. I was in the store twice in the past, and his prices on Large Scale stuff was reasonable. His customer service was not.
http://www.yelp.com/biz/chans-trains-and-hobbies-san-francisco
David Maynard said:
So I buy most of my stuff either at shows or online.
When it comes to trains and train parts, same here.