Today we’d like to introduce you to Louis and Natalie Lee.
Louis and Natalie, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
J.D. Hobby Center is in our 19th. year of operations. We started as your typical (back then) neighborhood hobby shop of around 1,800 sq.ft. in Palos Verdes, Calif. After running out of space we relocated to San Pedro 13 years ago where we run the largest hobby shop in S. Calif. (some customers say in the country) at 10,000 sq. ft. with two lofts upstairs. I would like to relate an incident that occurred 18 yrs ago while still in Palos Verdes, a regular customer walked in one day holding a baby carrier, his newborn son!! Flash forward to present, this baby now stands 6′ 3″ tall, he came to the shop last Sep. to inform me that he is off to college back east! I’ve related that story many many times to other customers and friends..why? Because of its relevancy on many levels, father/son engagement of building things together, of being around in an industry where every month brings new shop closures, being proactive in life and not blaming other factors for your situation. Having a passion in your career doe’s not mean you can’t share it with others!
“3-D Print Workshop” New at J.D. Hobby Center!!! We’ve all heard and seen the wonders of what “3-D Printing” can do. Think for a moment: “I can’t find that piece I was building”, “I want to create a piece for what I’m building” A perfect example: The Los Angeles Fire Dept. approached us last year and informed us that they would like J.D. Hobbys to make a 4′ model mock up of the “Fire Boat” that is dry docked next to the U.S.S. Iowa (4 blocks from us) The fireboat was originally built in the mid-1930s, they brought me a hull made out of fiberglass..no plans, no other fixtures or parts..11 months later thanks to our 3-D equipment she is now 95% complete… She will be proudly displayed in the L.A.F.D. Museum in Hollywood Calif. later this year.
Through this pandemic we are all experiencing, I sincerely believe we will all come out of it for the better. Not taking for granted of what we’re able to do on a daily basis… taking a walk, driving somewhere, going to a restaurant, but doing so in a more responsible manner, becoming better stewards of our environment. During this crisis I’ve closed the front doors with a sign “Deliveries through back door”, our regular customers call ahead to pick up their essential items, we are able to control the foot traffic. We welcome new customers to call ahead and visit us, or you can google “KTLA/J.D. HOBBYS” for a video tour with news reporter Ms. Gayle Anderson from KTLA.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Over the 19 plus years, the hardships and struggles are constant. In the past five years perhaps due to the many closures by retail brick/mortar shops we have realized a new “constant”. Sales have been very consistent without the big drops in sales. During this partial shut down, I took this opportunity to “cleanse” the shop, to re-organize what I’ve been putting off for many years. Our regulars will come back to find a new and improved J.D. Hobby Center.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with J.D. Hobby Center – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of and what sets you apart from others.
I am 62 years old, been building and collecting model kits for over 53 years. To me “hobbying” is like collecting fine wine. Aurora, Monogram, Revell and Tamiya are kits that most hobbyist’s are familiar with. Aurora started in the late 40s, their original kits are highly sought after and some fetch hundreds of dollars for what once sold for .59 cents! Many years ago, I decided I am going to start attending “Model Trade Shows” held throughout S. Calif. It’s an absolute pleasure in seeing these old kits that I once built that are 40-50 years old, I usually fill up the truck and my regular customers wait for my call. I would say my inventory is 70% out of production kits. The older the better, only I don’t have to turn the bottle. I’ve also been blessed to have an artistic eye, I paint/airbrush the vast majority of customer buildup/restoration/and repair projects. On slower days, I’ll finish another project for the shop and display it or hang it from the ceiling. Over 300 model kits hang throughout the shop.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
I’ve been saying to myself and my wife let’s get ready to “retire” for the past 2-3 years. Then I said to myself what would I really do with my time when I do retire? Travel? Build models? Until my mind and body say otherwise, I will continue this wonderful journey I undertook 19 years ago. Wait for future improvements in “3-D Printing”!!
Contact Info:
- Address: J.D. Hobby Center
471 W.6 th. St.
San Pedro, Calif. 90731 - Website: http://jdhobbies.yolasite.com/
- Phone: 310-514-3702
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jdhobbycenter/
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/jd-hobbies-san-pedro
Image Credit:
Lou Lee, JD Hobbies Inc
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