| Hobby Town Unlimited, Inc. | |
| Type: | Private |
| Areas Served: | United States |
| Foundation: | in Lincoln, Nebraska, United States |
| Hq Location City: | Lincoln, Nebraska, United States |
| Key People: | Thom Walla (Founder), Bob Wilke (President) |
| Industry: | Retail |
| Num Locations: | 105 |
| Num Locations Year: | 2024 |
| Products: | Remote-controlled cars, Radio-controlled aircraft, Radio-controlled boat, Models, Paints, Tools, Toys |
HobbyTown is an American retail hobby, collectibles, and toy store chain headquartered in Lincoln, Nebraska. There are more than 105 HobbyTown franchise stores located in 39 states in the United States. [1]
Most stores offer a full line of radio control hobbies, scale models, games, toys, educational items, paints, tools and model railroad items. The stores also carry seasonal items such as rockets, pinewood derby cars, educational toys, and kites. The website for HobbyTown provides E-commerce for customers worldwide.[2]
Thom Walla, Merlin Hayes, and Mary Hayes founded HobbyTown Unlimited, Inc. in 1985 and opened the first franchise store in 1986.
HobbyTown USA has 106 franchise stores are located in 35 states in the continental United States. The company describes itself as the largest brick-and-mortar hobby retailer in the world.[3]
On July 13, 2018, RadioShack announced they would start opening "express stores" in HobbyTown locations in hopes to bring RadioShack "back to the suburbs". About 80 out of the 110 stores at the time decided to carry RadioShack products.
In 2022, RadioShack’s Twitter account posted a collection of porn-themed memes, sexual jokes and crypto-related posts.[4] [5]
“This is so damaging to their integrity, and the reputation of the brand. We just do not want to be associated with that type of marketing,” said Bob Wilke, president of HobbyTown Unlimited Inc. He said RadioShack Express locations that are operated by HobbyTown are locally owned franchises.
Online retailer AMain Hobbies announced on July 26, 2023 an agreement in principle to the acquisition of HobbyTown. The agreement includes the Lincoln, Nebraska headquarters and distribution center. AMain Hobbies, with this agreement, now has three distribution centers across the United States.
In 2002, HobbyTown acquired a vacant outlet in Oshkosh, Wisconsin to expand their business. Prior to renovations, photos were taken, showing the state of the interior from the former tenant, and were posted on their website in 2003, documenting the renovations.[6] One of the photos would be shared in various 4chan message boards, describing the image as 'creepy'. The image would soon gain popularity in May 2019 as part of a creepypasta that would launch the Internet legend The Backrooms.[7]