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"MANISTEE - Today marks the first day of business for Manistee Hobbies, providing a place for remote-controlled vehicle enthusiasts and other hobbyists to get their hands on the latest and greatest products and accessories.  Owner Brian Lefler, who opened Ludington Hobbies in July 2020, said RC stores are few and far between in the area so he decided to set up shop in Manistee. \"One of the biggest reasons we decided to open in Manistee is we're driving traffic to Ludington from Traverse (City), and they're not coming as frequently as they probably want to, just because of the distance,\" he said. \"We're trying to bridge the gap between Ludington and Traverse City, and then also - kind of the same reasons we opened up in Ludington - Manistee's a great little town. There's a ton of foot traffic, but it definitely needs something like this.\" Lefler knows the feeling of not having a local place to check out new RC vehicles or pick up a replacement part, which it what caused him to get into the RC business in the first place. \"I've always been kind of an RC enthusiast myself and I had special ordered a truck online because I couldn't get it anywhere local. I waited three months to get it and I spent $1,000 on it - it was a big deal,\" he said. \"The day I got it I ran over something and blew a tire. I drove all the way to Muskegon to get a replacement and they didn't have it. On the way back I told me wife, 'This is ridiculous. We're going to open a hobby shop,' and we were open in Ludington six weeks later.\" Lefler said Manistee Hobbies' offerings will closely resemble those of the Ludington store. \"We'll have planes, boats, helicopters, obviously cars and trucks, all the parts, accessories. ... We'll also have hobby-grade kites and metal detectors, model rockets, and plastic model kits are a big one,\" he said. \"Our main goal is that we have products that appeal to every age group. And it's that way in Ludington, too. Our age group is anywhere from 7 and 8 all the way up to late 60s and early 70s - and across all the hobbies, too. We have 8-year-olds who like putting plastic model kits together and we've got 70-year-olds who like flying model airplanes.\"  Manistee Hobbies is a full service shop, meaning staff will be on hand to make repairs and even share a few tricks of the trade. \"We'll do service on site, so if someone needs help fixing something, we do all that right there. We also teach people how to fix their own,\" Lefler said. \"That way, they can be self-sufficient in making their own repairs. Naturally, in this hobby, you're going to break something. If you don't break something you're not doing it right, so it's important that people can learn from professionals how to do their own maintenance, their own repairs and things like that.\" The store is located at 415 River St. in Manistee and will be open 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends. \"It definitely was difficult to find a space, but it's a great location right by the Manistee Beverage Company,\" Lefler said. Lefler said the name of the game is fun when it comes to RC vehicles, and he wants every customer who walks in the door to leave with a smile on his or her face. \"It's a really positive environment,\" he said. \"One thing that's made us super successful in Ludington is, you walk in and it's pure laughter until you walk out.\" Lefler said the beauty of hobby-grade RC cars is their upgradeability. Customers can purchase a lower-end vehicle to give the hobby a shot and then upgrade once they determine it is worth their while. \"The (Traxxas) Slash is great for beginners. There's also the ARRMA MEGA lineup that's really cost-conscious for people who are just getting into the hobby and don't want to go all in just yet,\" he said. \"Plus, even the beginner models are fully upgradeable. You can turn a $200 car into an $800 car and run with the pros.\" Visit manisteehobbies.com for more information."
<https://www.manisteenews.com/insider/article/New-store-in-downtown-Manistee-provides-option-16482812.php>