Another LHS Closing

I was in the area yesterday and stopped in York Town Hobbies.  There isn't a lot of stock left in the store.  What is left is discounted 20%.  I spoke to David Gettle and he told me they are moving the business to New Freedom PA.  The name will change to D.E. Gettle Hobby LLC.  The location will be 6 East Main Street, New Freedom PA.  (717)759-0198.  R/C Planes, Cars, Trains, Model Kits, Rockets & Crafts.  The new store is close to the Steam into History Train Station. 2 West Main Street.  He plans to be open in the early part of 2014.

 

 

That's right down the road from me! Going to have to make it one of my regular stops now.

 

Jerry

I am a 43 year old with 2 children ages 7 and 3. I live in New York, on Long Island. My children love the hobby. Especially my 3 year old boy. This is something that was in my "blood line". My dad still does it , and I will for my lifetime as I hope my son will as well. i have to give a lot of credit to Ken and Ken Jr. over at Trainworld which I frequent often. They are making a real nice effort to attract the "younger generation" to the hobby. It's a two way street. I think the LHS need to have more "promotional days" to attract those younger crowds. I'm 43 and I'm like a kid from an age stand point in this hobby. we need more Ken/Ken Jrs to keep the young blood coming in. There is enough great and affordable sets to do just that. Love this hobby and I will do all I can to bring in the young blood.

I was in New Freedom, PA yesterday and picked up a card that listed D.E. Gettle Hobby LLC web site info:  degettlehobbyllc.com

 

Does not seem to be open yet, but the address is:

6 East Main Street

New Freedom Pa 17349

Yeah, but my point was to provide the web site address which I did not see posted so if anyone was interested in getting more info or store opening updates they could.  What's wrong with that?   Pretty quick to judge...

I see one of the self appointed forum police caught you.  Thanks for the post, some of us don't mind reading new post even if it's on an old subject.  I live about an hour away from there and last time I was up there I looked for the shop and didn't see it. 

Thanks.   Old threads never die.... unless they are on OGR and then _______ ______ _______ (fill in the blanks).    Every once in a while a good thread needs a good bump!

 

The card I picked up did not have an address on it so I did not know where to look.   I'm only about an hour away as well.  Next time.  We went down just to scope out the train for a future group excursion anyway.

Excellent point. 

My LHS is run by a bunch of crooks it seems. The prices are ridiculously high and I never see more than one other person in there. The only young people that seem to come in, always purchase N scale "because it is cheaper" 

I once saw and Athearn Genesis Reefer in there for $70 bucks. Then went home and looked at it on ebay and sure enough it was around $40. A $30 dollar markup is insulting. Also the store owner goes around and raises the prices all of his old stock as soon as the new Walthers catalog comes out.

I would guess that a majority of stores that are on the Web probably do roughly 90% of their business on the Web.  A outdoor independent clothing store that I walk in and buy from say they do 90% of their sales on the web and that's how they compete with the outdoor big box stores. It wouldn't be possible for them to survive without the Web with only one store. So I think it can work both ways but it's not easy. A lot of hard work and great customer service and support goes a long way to help make it work. Just my opinion.

 

Funny this thread got bumped up around this time, since my 4-H train group is going to dedicate their support to our local hobby shop, Big Little Railroad Shop in Sommerville, New Jersey in response to OGR. Pretty good inventory of old and new, and all manufacturers and gauges, pretty much all at reasonable prices. Jan is usually in a good mood, but is certainly is a no-nonsense train woman, which I do respect. The rest of the staff is very nice (since many are in the group, too). Plus, it's nice seeing her two cheerful dogs, Pennsy and Jersey Central.