Looked like a fun place to visit. Sad to see someone's dream die.
I have NO local/regional LHS that is sincerely involved with any of the "hands on" hobby things I do: Model trains, control line model airplanes, etc. Haven't had one in this region in decades.
Those same decades I've had to live "online" for my hobby fixes. I'm so used to it now, even a well stocked regional LHS would be hard pressed to garner a portion of my hobby income.
I have learned there are MANY online hobby shops that will go out of their way to keep your business and offer an amazing array of product.
Hate to say it, but I suspect my circumstances I described above is just the way it is now for LOTS of hobbyists.