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Forums - News / General

For General modelling or hobby-related topics that are not covered by any other specific forum. Please keep to topics concerning the hobby.

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Subject:

Why no Hobby Shops in Malls?

Date:

Nov 28, 2004

From:

Peter Ong

Why are there almost no hobby shops in large malls (with dept. store anchors) or factory outlet malls, or even newly built strip malls (such as its own stand-alone building like a fast-food place)? Most of the hobby shops I know of are either in old strip malls, small strip malls, a store on some street, a store that once served another purpose (and hence not really custom-made for the store), a store off the street that one wouldn't even know was there, or some location that's hard to get to or find.

OK, San Antonio Hobby was at a mall, but not inside a mall... And I heard being inside a mall means the store has to adhere to all the mall rules and regulations, such as not being able to open at 8:57 am but EXACTLY at 9 am. But imagine the free parking! The Christmas crowds! The security guards to chase down looters! The window shoppers, the lure of young employment, not to mention more places to eat in a mall.

Most hobby shops I know are inheirted or handed down to store employees so hobby stores do survive past the original owners. Granted, hobbies probably don't generate a lot of profits to move, but I do wonder, is it really that hard to move to somewhere where there is more people and perhaps more kids? Wouldn't moving qualify as a top priority or is moving the hammer of doom for a hobby store? Since most hobby store owners run at best one or two stores, I'd think location, location, location would be the top concern.

Even chain hobby stores such as Hobbytown are not found in populated locations.

Compared to being able to set one's own hours when not being in a mall, wouldn't being in a mall have more benefits than out of one? Or for that matter, being in a newer, more populated mall too...or even bustling downtown.

How many hobby stores closed because of bad location?

Any comments? A question for the cyberspace void...

Peter

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