Some of the best afternoons in West Virginia start with a tiny errand, like grabbing a tube of paint or one replacement part for a remote control truck. Then you step inside a little shop with crowded shelves and a friendly face behind the counter, and the clock quietly stops mattering.
Hobby shops like these are where kids catch a lifelong passion and grown-ups rediscover the fun they had years ago. Here are seven spots across the Mountain State where ‘just one thing’ almost never stays that way.
1. West Virginia Hobbies & Crafts, Hurricane, WV
Picture a store split right down the middle, like two shops sharing one front door. On one side sit model trains, rockets, RC cars and planes, and plastic kits.
On the other side, craft goods stretch across the shelves for painters, crafters, and folks who like to make things by hand.
That split personality is why a quick stop here rarely stays quick. You might come in for a tube of paint and wander over to check out the railroad aisle, then find yourself comparing rocket kits.
Couples with different hobbies can both leave happy, a small miracle.
The craft side goes deeper than you might expect. There is a decent leather crafting section, handy for making basket handles, and a small selection of reed for basket weavers keeping an old Appalachian skill alive.
The staff are kind and easy to talk to, the sort of people who make a shopping trip feel neighborly.
Hours run Monday through Friday from 10 AM to 6 PM and Saturday from 9 AM to 5 PM, with Sundays closed. Saturday afternoons tend to be the busiest, so a Monday evening visit may offer more elbow room.
Find it at 12 Putnam Village Dr, Hurricane, WV 25526, inside Putnam Village Shopping Center.
2. Loco Joe’s Hobbies, Bunker Hill, WV
Model railroaders know the struggle of hunting down the right piece in the right scale. At this Eastern Panhandle shop, trains of all gauges share space with RC planes, helicopters, drones, cars, trucks, and boats, so the hunt often ends in one stop.
N scale fans in particular seem to treat the place like a weekly habit, and the prices are a big reason why. Paint and parts round out the shelves, which matters when a project stalls over one missing bit.
It feels well put together, with enough variety to cover almost any hobby need you walk in with.
Here is where the afternoon slips away. The man behind the counter knows his stuff and genuinely enjoys a good conversation about it, so a question about a helicopter rotor can easily turn into a half hour of swapping tips.
Nobody rushes you out the door.
Plan around the schedule, since it is a little different from most stores. Doors open Wednesday through Saturday from noon to 7 PM and Sunday from noon to 4 PM, with Monday and Tuesday closed.
Free parking, free Wi-Fi, and in-store pickup make things easy. Stop by 10539 Winchester Ave, Bunker Hill, WV 25413.
3. THE EMPORIUM, Princeton, WV
Most hobby shops ask you to imagine how a truck will handle. This one lets you watch it happen.
Race tracks and crawler courses spread across multiple floors, including an indoor rock climbing course built for RC trucks and a drift track where cars slide sideways around the corners.
It is hard to leave a place like that after ten minutes. Kids press close to the action, grandparents get pulled in, and suddenly everybody has an opinion about tire grip.
The whole building feels designed for lingering, clean and neat with a selection that spans RC, diecast, and trains.
Collectors should head straight for the premium Hot Wheels and other diecast pieces, which can turn a casual browse into a serious treasure hunt. Beginners are welcome too, and first-time RC pilots can find a fair price on a starter plane.
Staff are helpful for all ages and skill levels.
When something breaks, and in RC something always breaks, the in-house repair center can get you running again. Events and updates are posted on the shop’s Facebook page.
Hours are Wednesday through Saturday from 10 AM to 6 PM. Visit 921 Mercer St, Princeton, WV 24740.
4. Mountain State Models LLC, Mt Lookout, WV
Did you know that Gunpla is simply short for Gundam plastic model? Those snap-together robot kits from Japan have a fiercely loyal following, and fans find their way to this quiet corner of Nicholas County to build their collections.
The selection is the draw. Kits run from beginner-friendly builds through High Grade and Master Grade all the way up to the hefty Perfect Grade models, all arranged in an orderly shop at a beautiful location in the hills.
Anime goods, Warhammer items, and other Gundam merchandise fill out the shelves.
Not a robot person? Model kits of nearly every type are stocked here, including trains and railroad pieces.
Card players can pick up Magic: The Gathering and Yu-Gi-Oh cards, so the whole family has something to flip through.
What really stretches a visit, though, is the owner. He is friendly, deeply knowledgeable about the products, and patient with newcomers who are not sure where to start, often helping them land a kit at a fair price.
Evening hours make it easy to swing by after work: Monday through Friday from noon to 9 PM, Saturday from 11 AM to 6 PM, and closed Sunday. Head to 684 Ridgeview Dr, Mt Lookout, WV 26678.
5. Nitro Hobby & Craft Center, Nitro, WV
Tabletop gamers, take note. If you build your own battlefields and landscapes, the terrain building supplies here may be the quiet reason you keep coming back, no matter your skill level.
Small in size but not in reach, this Kanawha Valley store packs in model airplanes, trains, rockets, and plastic kits of every stripe. Tanks, ships, planes, cars, and Gundam models all share shelf space, with a strong showing of Gunpla for the robot crowd.
Craft supplies round things out for makers who lean more toward art than engineering.
The town has a story worth a nod, too. Nitro sprang up quickly around 1918 as a factory town, and its name reportedly comes from the nitrocellulose made there.
That same practical, make-it-work spirit fits a shop full of builders.
Prices are competitive, the store is clean, and the staff are friendly and knowledgeable. The owner has been known to go beyond hobby talk, happily suggesting places to see and restaurants to try around the area.
Ask a question, and you may walk out with a new kit and a full afternoon plan.
Hours are Monday through Friday from 10 AM to 6 PM and Saturday from 9 AM to 5 PM, with Sundays closed. Look for it at 104 21st St, Nitro, WV 25143.
6. Eds RC & Hobby, Parkersburg, WV
Rain on race day? Not a problem here.
Indoor carpet off-road racing is the headliner at this shop, so snow, storms, or a gray Ohio Valley afternoon never have to cancel the fun.
Truck fans will feel right at home. The store carries a full line of RC trucks and accessories, and the parts wall covers everything from tires to bodies and all the little pieces in between.
Fast machines like the Traxxas Bandit are the kind of thing that sends young drivers home grinning.
Even better, the staff know RC inside and out and are willing to help you fix whatever went wrong on the last jump. Parents and kids often show up together, and the easygoing, funny crew makes the visit feel more like hanging out than shopping.
Finding it is simple once you know the trick. Look near the Grand Central Mall, tucked behind Tim Hortons and AT&T.
The shop is open seven days a week: Monday through Friday from 11 AM to 7 PM, Saturday from 11 AM to 5 PM, and Sunday from noon to 5 PM.
Weekday afternoons get lively, while Tuesday and Wednesday mornings run quieter. The address is 401 Cora Dr, Parkersburg, WV 26101.
7. Hobbies Shop, Charles Town, WV
First, a warm welcome, sometimes with a wagging tail. A friendly dog has been known to greet shoppers at the door, which sets the tone for one of the most easygoing stops in the Eastern Panhandle.
The store may be compact, but the range is wide. Models, toys, puzzles, games, RC models, and 3D printing all fit under one roof, with small crafts on one end of the spectrum and full model kits and supplies on the other.
Items suit every age, so grandkids and grandparents can shop side by side.
Service is the part that makes people stay. Staff are friendly and knowledgeable, and they have a habit of showing buyers exactly how to use a new product before they head out the door.
That kind of patience turns a nervous first purchase into a confident new hobby.
Evening hours on Friday and Saturday run until 8 PM, perfect for a leisurely browse. The full schedule is Monday through Thursday from 10 AM to 6 PM, Friday and Saturday from 10 AM to 8 PM, and Sunday from 11 AM to 6 PM.
Sunday afternoons draw the biggest crowds.
Free parking, free Wi-Fi, and in-store pickup add convenience. Find it at 305 S West St, Charles Town, WV 25414.
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