Wednesday, August 1, 2012

Rudy's Hobby Supplies


















When I walked through the door, there I was in a U.S. version of my childhood: a world of jigsaws, model kits and miniatures.  My brother's Matchbox collection - long gone - and Britain's figures: rural gentlemen in shooting jackets, kilted soldiers with worn-away faces, and a farm's worth of sheepdogs, piglets and cattle.  Even the smell of another era.  Of non-virtual concentration. Kids up at kitchen tables with furrowed faces, armed with glue and cryptic instructions.  Kids down on carpets, directing railroad lines or battle formations, or neat pairs of ark-bound animals. Kids with the power of gods.
Rudy's Hobby Shop has been on 30th Avenue since 1987, and for fifty years before that was Rudy's ice-cream parlor.  Marvin Cochran runs the show, and a wonderful show it is.


















Rudy's Hobby Supplies
35-16 30th Avenue, Astoria

4 comments:

Marty Wombacher said...

I haven't seen a hobby store in years, I have to check it out, thanks for this post!

Unknown said...

An amazing place. If anyone is interested in a video about Rudy's here is short about the store:

Here is short video about Rudy's.

https://vimeo.com/224872892

Big fan of the blog and if you haven't read the article about it go here:

http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2017/06/26/an-activist-for-new-yorks-mom-and-pop-shops

onemorefoldedsunset said...

Thanks Jay! I'm a big fan of Vanishing New York, and am so happy about the book.

onemorefoldedsunset said...

Jay - I just watched your video - beautiful.