RE: Old time Hobby Shops
We HAD one in Nampa Idaho. Owned by an older gentleman who fits your description exactly.
One thing about the "real" hobbyshops- they SMELL like a real hobby shop.
We went to a shop in Bakersfield, CA, where we bought the Hobbico Trainer. I smelled the fumes from glue, fuel etc. and it reminded me of every
hobby shop my dad took me to. Had tears for about 5 min.
Don
P.S. Now we only have a "sterile" hobby shop close by.