P & S Hobbies York shop to close, Scarborough shop to carry on.

Nodrog1826

Nodrog1826

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Not sure if this has been reported elsewhere but the York shop is closing this weekend 18th of Jan.
One of those things that popped up on my mobile phone news feed, whilst I was out with Swmbo at the Hospital today.

www.yorkpress.co.uk

'It’s the end of an era' - York shop to close its doors after more than 40 years

An iconic York shop that has introduced generations of people to a new hobby is closing this weekend.
www.yorkpress.co.uk www.yorkpress.co.uk

Shame realy, but the web side of the business is staying open and the actual buisness will continue in the Scarborough shop.
 
It's good to see that it's not because of falling business but obviously a big blow to

The Scarborough shop has been pretty well rebuilt in the last year or so after damage as a result of "unoffical" changes to a neighbouring property causing damage to it.
 
The building in York needs massive repairs, the Scarborough shop had a flood last year, top to bottom.its has been completely revamped, upgraded,
Paul and sue are friends and I wish them all the very best in Scarborough..bit longer drive ,that's all
 
mike said:
The building in York needs massive repairs, the Scarborough shop had a flood last year, top to bottom.its has been completely revamped, upgraded,
Paul and sue are friends and I wish them all the very best in Scarborough..bit longer drive ,that's all
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Think not much difference in walk from Station, Scarborough could be slightly close to that station.
 
A sad loss to York, and the hobby. Mostly because it's my closest G Scale Dealer, I live in Pontefract and work in York. It's been all too easy to empty my wallet on occasions.

On a positive note, all the stock and expertise will be focused on one shop, just in Scarborough. I like Scarborough :).

I think we're all lucky that they have decided to keep going at all. I just hope one day, when they chuck it all in, there is someone as serious about the hobby and supply as Paul and Sue have been in the same area. Of course it's not just G Scale, I work with others in York Signal Box (York ROC) who also, use the shop in York, model planes, tanks and cars. I guess it's just nice to know that other people not into G Scale, use model shops.... On the surface, I thought my work mates just watched football....

All the best to Paul and Sue in Scarborough, I'm looking forward to visiting.

I have attached a screenshot shot of their Facebook post regarding the closure, for the benefit of members on here, who may not do the Facebook thing. I'm sure they wouldn't mind.Screenshot_20250118-125048.png
 
A great shame - I always managed to leave some money in there. Last time, for a radio controlled tugboat!

At least it's not because the business is failing. Talking of which, there was another model railway shop just down the road (Not Monk Bar) that appeared on Google, but I never saw it open. Looking through the windows, there were racks for Graham Farish models. Does anyone know anything about that?
 
Practical_Phil said:
A great shame - I always managed to leave some money in there. Last time, for a radio controlled tugboat!

At least it's not because the business is failing. Talking of which, there was another model railway shop just down the road (Not Monk Bar) that appeared on Google, but I never saw it open. Looking through the windows, there were racks for Graham Farish models. Does anyone know anything about that?
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We popped in a few years ago on a visit there. Interesting, but for large scale PS was the place. Any model shop has got to be a good thing, they're getting about as common as a dodo
 
Paul M said:
We popped in a few years ago on a visit there. Interesting, but for large scale PS was the place. Any model shop has got to be a good thing, they're getting about as common as a dodo
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To be fair, with P&S 10 minutes walk away, there's no point in Monk Bar doing large scale. Not sure this will change, as their shop seems full enough as it is. I'll still make the trip, and buy something - we've got to support those physical shops so they stay with us.
 
Practical_Phil said:
we've got to support those physical shops so they stay with us.
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I agree..
Though one model shop here, never seems to be open? - Perhaps they need a coat of paint on the shop-front, and better lighting?

But it is the same with shows.. If we don't support them, they will disappear.

PhilP
 
Use 'em or lose 'em.

We had a great, but physically very small, mother and son model store here in Huntingdon that disappeared off the map after a couple of years struggling against greedy landlords. If British outline models in 00 or n were your thing, they were the go-to place....
 
Thing is with G Scale suppliers, very few take it seriously with regards stock. The good thing about PS is, everything on their website is actually IN STOCK. Often I've looked at other supplies and it says, available to order, so I just lose interest and don't entertain them.

I do genuinely fear for the hobby, especially in the wider Yorkshire area, once Paul and Sue do eventually stop. Yes, we can buy offline as boxed, but Paul has helped with everything on a personal level. Example, if I purchase a new Massoth Point Decoder, he will offer to program it for me before selling it to me. It's this type of thing, and chipping my older locomotives when I went DCC, where else can that be done. It's got to be about more than selling an expensive locomotive.

I just hope someone else fills the gap.

When I started, in Dewsbury, I always went to Arcadia in Oldham, but it's a shadow of its former self now. There was also Frizinghall, and Wakefield. Glendale Jn has gone too, and even TopSlots, what an amazing shop that was.

Worrying times for the hobby. We need to get the younger end interested again. LGB and Piko need to take note about the age demographic. I'm 40, and I consider myself young for this hobby. A lack of shops selling the stuff will not help the hobby grow.
 
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duncan1_9_8_4 said:
Thing is with G Scale suppliers, very few take it seriously with regards stock.
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Just think about that statement, for a minute..
Then add up the capital you would have to tie-up, in holding that amount of stock.
Rent, rates, energy, insurance, staff costs...

The numbers soon get very frightening.

Then add in limited production runs, and it becomes a nightmare.

PhilP.
 
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