Hobby Shops in San Diego, CA

“What a gem!! This store has everything a miniaturist will appreciate, including exquisite furniture, SO many accessories, kits, tools, and allll the building supplies you could need (trim, carpet, wallpaper, etc). The sterling silver miniatures were remarkable. This place has the (house) works!!”

“Went to this place a few months ago as I just happened to be in the downtown area. This place shines on a street that’s mostly dead during the daytime. From the great front windows display to the first table you see when walking in this super is a gem. I’m a big D&D player and a board game enthusiast and this place has a good amount of both. Some tables in the back were there for card games and some Warhammer TT. Lots of painted miniatures on display in cases in the back of the store. Plenty of dice sets to pick from in the glass counter at check out as well. Games workshops top line gets a good treatment here as well. Next time I’m in downtown I’ll def be back. Maybe host some D&D games there or you his host an episode of the Nerd Expansion Pod??!”

“Blick Art is housed on 1844 India Street in Little Italy in San Diego. I had called so many places looking for foam core or museum board for my daughter's college project to no avail. Then, I remembered passing that store a few nights ago and called them. They had what she needed and when we arrived a salesperson called Dean knew exactly what we needed and helped us (thank you Dean) for great service and being so efficient and just making the purchase seem effortless! What an amazingly helpful guy who genuinely seemed to like what he does! The selections are really good and everything seems so well organized and clean!! I can't say enough how much I love being in a store where staff seem happy and the place looks great!!! I'll definitely be back as they have such a great selection of pens and most anything art related! Thanks Blick for being my new go to place even if you are 1/2 an hour away- you are worth it!!”

“Hands down, the best shop I have been to anywhere. Whether your visit is to buy, sell, or trade in all manners, they are tremendously fair! Super friendly and always a great inventory to choose from. Don't hesitate to give them a visit!”

“I never walked into a shop that sells figures and been "wow good prices" until today. Also the worker was helpful with some questions we had which we appreciated :) not local but I definitely want to come back here one day”

“Hands down my favorite store, Damien is doing the Emperors work for dealing with all of us super nerds, but in all seriousness I ONLY go to this hobby store for my hobby needs, from the friendly atmosphere Damien provides, to the knowledge and just approachability in general is above and beyond. If you’re thinking about taking the plunge into warhammer hobbying I highly recommend starting here!”

“We found this little gem in Old Town a few years ago. Have been a fan since. In the Spring of 2020, Jane was so gracious, warm, polite and informative to answer our questions and educate about types of flagpoles, flag-sizes, quality and fabrics ideal for residential use. Bought a 25ft telescopic pole that was quick and easy to install; just needed small gravel-like rocks and ready-to-use quikrete mix. This store has since been a staple for us to make a long drive every year to get many more flags (Padres and other sports, world flags, festive flags), stakes and other décor items. All their flags are decent-priced, high quality and mostly Made in USA. Thanks to Susan, Ben and Robin for helping custom order a flag through their flagship store in Phoenix. I just wish you’re open an hour longer during DST months like pre-pandemic times.”

“Well Date Of Visit : October 30 , 2023 the day before Halloween and I have been Calling all around to see if anywhere had USA Flag Pins so I finally found a Spot and this has to be a perfect shop for all your Flags needs !! First it is kind of hidden but once you find it you just park and the parking is not bad big lot and as I walk in I was greeted and asked if I needed help and I said do you have flag pins and the nice lady showed me there pins and the price was amazing !! Good Price and she had patience as I was looking through the pile of pins !! Super Nice and Good Service Also !! The Shop is not to big but good service and Good Selection !! I surely suggest you check this shop out !! So If your looking for flags this is the prime Spot !! I surely will return here for all my flags Needs !!”

“This shop is located off Aero Drive with fairly decent parking and is easily accessible. Upon entering, the right side of the shop was dedicated to tournaments and the left side was retail.During our visit a tournament was in progress and it was pretty packed. Our past experiences with other LGS's usually don't have the same turnout, so it was awesome to see such a contrast! There's a snack/drink selection in the retail part of the store, which is always nice to see, and I even noticed a spare room in the back that was setup for a private session to hold for your own party. I thought that was a pretty nice addition that I haven't seen at other LGS's before, so it was very unique for me!The back section was dedicated to online games/systems, the middle section to board/strategy games, and the rest was all card/miniatures related merchandise or enhancements. We took a quick browse through it all! There was a fairly large selection of everything and the store was modern, organized, and clean.The staff member we interacted with was so friendly and helpful, I wish we got his name! We came in looking for Disney Lorcana Chapter One booster packs and purchased 12 (limit was 6 per person per day). They asked if we wanted to keep one of the booster boxes which I thought was very considerate! We definitely took one, haha. The price per pack was $6.49 which was very fair and not gouging, thank goodness.We enjoyed our overall experience and the shop in general, it was a nice surprise and end to our day. We can't wait to come back! If you're a local, Brute Force is a definite must if you're into TCG's or any strategy game, period.”

“This place is awesome. They have always made the highest quality pool tables. And you can order a customized table too. I was surprised that they have all kinds of other games too like foosball, shuffleboard & poker tables. Even outdoor furniture and grills. It's way more diverse than I expected. A lot of accessories too. I recommend you check it out when you are looking for something fun to do, or buying a special gift.”

“I just absolutely love this store and frequently visit it. On my last visit, I had the absolute pleasure of meeting the owner, RaFFaella. She was such a pleasure to have come in contact with and she went above and beyond with her kindness and generosity. Thank you RaFFaella for the kind and beautiful person that you are.”

“Unique collection of handicraft items at this place which reflects old Spanish culture very well. Prices are a bit higher but that is also because being antique and touristic place.However, I found some of the arts very similar to Indian handicraft.”

“Donald at San Diego Coin Buyers deserves commendation for his exceptional service. His profound knowledge in the field sets him apart, ensuring a smooth and informed coin-buying experience. Beyond expertise, Donald's friendly and approachable nature creates a welcoming atmosphere, making customers feel at ease. His easy-going demeanor fosters open and enjoyable conversations, turning what could be a transactional encounter into a genuinely pleasant interaction. Donald's unique blend of professionalism and friendliness makes him a standout choice for anyone seeking a positive and enriching coin-buying experience.”

“Vertex has really grown and has continued to be a reliable and fun social setting for RC drift! Be aware that RWD is required; but they have rentals if you don’t yet have a drift RC car! ???”

“You simply cannot go wrong using Grand Central Scenery handcrafted products. Realistic quality and ready made for you. Helps any project look as if it was done by a professional modeler. Beautiful selection of products to choose from.”

“Very knowledgeable group of people in this store. From RC cars to drones and model building these guys are a great spot to check out. Huge inventory and if they don't have it they will get it for you. I just wish it was closer to my house but thats my problem.”

“Went to sell 4 semi-rare date coins today. I had a pretty good idea what I wanted and what they were worth to a coin dealer. I was in no hurry to sell. Had a great conversation with John and could not quite come to a deal. We ended up $200 apart on $5000 with of coins. He was fair and I could completely understand where he was coming from. He even called a colleague to tell them about my coins. I left feeling valued and respected. I was not the least bit disappointed. Though, I think he was. He really tried to make the deal work. The customer ahead of me had about $20 worth of common date stuff. John treated him the same as he treated me. That was nice to see. Next time I am in town I will bring some other coins in that I want to sell. This guy knows what he is doing and is friendly and fair.”

“I gotta say, this place is pretty awesome. They've got a ton of space in the back for games, and if your into Warhammer minis, it's a paradise! they've got a fantastic selection of minis and paints. Sure, they do run out of stuff from time to time, but the good news is they restock often.”

“Geppetto's is a great toy store located in Fashion Valley plaza. It is a vintage looking boutique toy store. They have such an amazing collection of toys, puzzles and board games, craft and dolls. I always enjoy shopping there. They have a unique collection of merchandises.The service is always exceptional.”

“decent sized clean store staff was friendly one of the cashiers was awsome she had nightmare before christmas earings on and some jewerly it looked homeade whoever she was desvers praise”

“Huge store with a wide variety of boardgames and puzzles. They have a large aisle of used games and stuff which is an awesome way to spend time picking through. A large game floor for table top games with bright lights and clean floors.”

“I stop by this location when I have other errands to run in this part of town. This visit, I had my list ready to mark off, when I found what I needed. Usually it's ribbon to make money leis. The selection of ribbons, is okay. Not too spectacular- which ends up leaving me having to go elsewhere for the colors schemes and the type of ribbon... I needed a ribbon that was firm, not flimsy, and maybe an inch or so in width . No ribbon this time around. Found some wide eyed threading needles, which have been on my list for awhile. Different color options for twine. Now, for the artificial flowers... I think it's Ashland (?) that has the flower name labeled to the product. THANK YOU! And then, there were a few other artificial flower products that weren't labeled on the merchandise itself or on the shelves. The shelves had the SKU numbers- which doesn't help the consumer at all. Bummed on that- so, I had to order this specific item on Amazon. I do thank one of the employees for having a friendly approach when I asked for the twine- which saved me time from circling aisles.”

“Addison is wonderful. I'm very pregnant and my military spouse and our son were with me. I asked a simple question and when I inquired further Duncan refused to be of any help. Here comes Addison who says oh yes we can absolutely do that for you, let me assist you. When I asked Duncan about it he had nothing to say other than the fact I'm sure he was embarrassed for how horribly lazy he appeared. Addison is amazing I appreciate your stepping in and correcting the wrong from Duncan. The world needs more people like you.”

“A great stop for any type of n*** out there from comics, anime, tv shows, tabletop, DnD, baseball, you name it, they most likely got it if it's n*** related. Besides the comics, figures, and other collectible merchandise, they have a large selection of TCG, CCG, and Miniatures games from new to retired. Even old movie, baseball, and dead card game packs. I stopped in and was surprised they had a great selection of Heroclix from brand new Iconix stuff to some blasts from the past. Wish I had a place like this in my state.”

“Very uh, unorganized looking but honestly a very good selection of older cards and newer cards! It might look intimidating from the other reviews but the owner is a nice person, but the area down town might have you looking for parking for awhile! But if you can make it come! Very good stock of old Yugioh sealed products!”

“Guy working just before closing was great and very helpful. Prices seem a little high but maybe that's because it's San Diego. You can definitely find things cheaper online but you're not going to beat being able to walkin and buy what you're wanting when you want it.”

“I am a big crafter around the holidays. I enjoy making various decorations, ornaments and arrangements for gifts and for my home. Michaels has always been one of my go-to places, and this is my local, go-to Micheals. Truthfully, I am not sure what I would do without Michaels, as there just are not that many craft stores around. The store is arranged with seasonal items in front, frames and custom framing in back, and all of the other craft supplies organized in-between. Since we recently passed though Christmas and Valentine's, I have found myself at Micheal's several times. This Micheals is located in a small strip mall just off Pacific Highway, The mall isn't particularly attractive, but there is plenty of easy parking. Inside the store, they have both shopping carts and baskets. I think they usually have a good mix of holiday decorations and supplies. Generally, they have decent selections (but not huge) of most other craft supplies. I feel like since they have lots of different types of supplies, they don't specialize in any one particular type of craft, meaning that the selections are not huge. I do think they do very well with artificial flowers, and scrapbooking items. Things like candy-making, rubber stamps and macrame, are pretty limited. I used the custom framing once, and my item came out very nice, but my order was pretty simple. I would probably go to a custom framing shop for something more complicated. Staff is generally friendly. You are always welcomed at the door, and the cashiers sometimes help me find the right coupons. By the way, always check the website or mobil app for coupons. It helps quite a bit. My biggest complaint about staff is that sometimes I find myself searching for something, and I have difficulty finding someone to ask. All in all, this is a nice place to have nearby in order to get all of my crafting basics. If you specialize in something, you may need to go to a specialty shop, but for a basic crafter like myself, this meets most of my needs.”

“Danielle in the framing department is so awesome! I came in at opening needing help wilmy son's class project. She helped me pick the perfect selection and even placed the art piece in a frame for me so thankful.”

“Excellent customer service!! I asked online if they carried the brainteaser "One in a Chameleon", and although they unfortunately didn't carry it, they went above and beyond to recommend some other brainteasers that they do carry! Thank you for the nice service!”