After providing thousands of miles in the air, on the roads and on the rails for local hobbyists, Remote Control Hobbies Sequim will close later this month once its inventory is gone.
Store owner Tim Verdick and his wife Leslie opened the store in February 2008 by Sequim’s Walmart before moving to their current space in February 2013 at 680 W. Washington St., Suite B105, near Safeway.
“We helped a lot of people get into the hobby and stay in the hobby,” Verdick said. “We especially tried to get people involved.”
There’s no set time the store will close this month but Verdick said he’ll be done before Feb. 28. He’s selling his inventory for up to 35 percent off, which includes vehicle parts, tools, trains, cars, drones, rockets, batteries, chargers and more. Furnishings are also for sale.
The major factor for the closure, he said, has been the general slowdown in business particularly in the last year.
“More and more people are buying online even though our prices are the same as online,” he said.
Verdick said hobby manufacturers require online and brick and mortar retailers not to advertise for less than their suggested price.
“In general, people just assume it’s cheaper to buy online,” he said. “We’re not even given the chance to compete.”
Over 10 years, Remote Control Hobbies has offered a full range of goods for hobbyists, but the slowdown in business has been across every line and not just one particular interest, Verdick said.
Remote Control Hobbies Sequim is an independently owned part of the Remote Control Hobbies franchise with stores across the country. The closest offerings are in Covington and Olympia.
However, with the decline in his business and in other shops across the country, Verdick questions the future of brick and mortar stores for the hobby.
“I think it would be hard to convince anyone this is something to get into,” he said.
Following the store’s closure, Verdick isn’t sure what he’ll do next for work. He does plan to play more with his grandchildren and continue to fly remote control airplanes, which he’s been doing since age 10.
For more information about Remote Control Hobbies Sequim, 680 W. Washington St. Suite B105, call 360-681-0506 or visit www.rc-hobbies.com/sequim. The store is open 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Saturday.
Reach Matthew Nash at mnash@sequimgazette.com.
This month, remaining items in Remote Control Hobbies Sequim are up to 35 percent off before it closes at an undetermined time.
Remaining items in Remote Control Hobbies Sequim include airplanes, vehicle parts, tools, trains, cars, drones, rockets, batteries, chargers and more. Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash
