Great Lakes Hobby & Toy

Category:	Toy Store
Address:	43055 Van Dyke, Sterling Heights, MI 48314, USA
Phone:	+1 586-254-1600
Site:	greatlakeshobby.com
Rating:	4.6
Working:	10AM–8PM 10AM–8PM 10AM–8PM 10AM–8PM 10AM–8PM 10AM–8PM 11AM–4PM

Location

Photos 100

Reviews 18

Bob Beason

I love this place, and I have spent quite a bit of money there over the last couple years. This is a great place to go to not only for model trains and cars, but also Thomas, Playmobil, Hotwheels, and last but not least Games Workshop. I buy a lot of Games Workshop products (Warhammer, Blood Bowl, etc) and I have yet to find an independent retailer with better stock, special ordering, or pricing. They have recently started carrying Star Wars X-wing as well. Unfortunately, I could not give a 5-star review because of the customer experience inconsistency. Sometimes you get the owner and he is very knowledgeable and personable. Other times, you will get a lady who always seems bothered by you being in her store, or a staff member who doesnt really know anything about the merchandise. I have overheard staff arguments and discussions about other customers. After dozens of visits and thousands of dollars spend, the owner has started recognizing me, but the rest of the staff acts like they have never seen me before. If I could give 4 1/2 stars I would, since most of my experiences have been positive, but the customer experience keeps this great hobby store from a perfect score.

Bill Boelke

Used to be the only place in town with Thomas the Tank engine wooden trains at great prices and super selection. Long before the box toy stores started carrying them. Huge selection of plastic models including planes and war Era and cars and trucks. Lionel, ho, n, and z trains. Also has doll house stuff, slot cars, puzzles, painting and games. If they buyout a lot somewhere, they pass the savings on to the customer, instead of just reaping a bunch more profit. Great shop run by awesome people.

Mark Lopiccola

I have been going to Great Lakes Hobby & Toy since... well, before they moved to their current location, about 10-13 years I guess. They carry everything youll need to start or support a hobby. Trains for toddlers to adults. Plastic models for cars, planes, tanks and sci-fi. Die cast models for the hard core collector. Paints, glues, airbrushes. Their staff is well informed and can help you find what your looking for. If they dont have an item in stock, you can special order it.

Chrissy Kaub

Ive been going to this hobby store with my dad since I was very little. Weve both been into trains and model kits for a long time, and have always gone here since they have the best selection of model kits and paints, ranging from the standard Testors paints and kits to top of the line paints and brushes. They also have an amazing variety of scenery materials for train layouts and miniatures- theres always something to make that shoebox diorama the science project of the year!

Joseph McDaniel

This hobby shop has a huge selection of armor, soft skins, artillery, and figures, my main interest, plus paints, glues, tools to finish them. There are aisles of planes and ship kits for those who like that. Its a neat store to browse, lots of modeling magazines, a train layout in the back, kits for kids (boys and girls) as well as adults. Staff is friendly and helpful, willing to talk about the kits, and prices are really reasonable. Highly recommended, worth your time!

M18TD

I have been going to Great Lakes Hobby and Toy for many years. This store has the best selection and the best customer service of any I have been to. Their selection of Accessories, tools, paints and model kits are excellent and with good pricing too. I live near Flint Michigan and it is well worth the trip to shop at Great Lakes. Its worth the trip even if it is to just browse around the store. Barry Beaudry

Aaron Leong

Whoa - wall-to-wall models of all kinds. They have other toys too, but its the fantastic selection of hobby models that get your attention from the moment you walk in the door. Staff are knowledgeable and true hobbyists. Its easy to get lost in this place; I even found the very same Tamiya F4U Corsair model that my dad got me when I was a wee lad in the 80s - same box art and everything! Totally cool!

Mark Mick

THE FINEST HOBBY EXPERIENCE IN THE DETROIT AREA! Biggest and best selection of model kits, books, & building supplies youll find in the entire area! GREAT customer service that CANT be beat! If you dont see it on the shelf, just ask ANY kind member of the staff, and theyll go FAR & WIDE to find it, get it and have it for YOU in no time! Pay them a visit, youll be AMAZED!

Trevor Bennett

In an age of Internet retail, the art of customer service is seemingly dying out. But not here. They have a huge selection ( and when I say huge, I mean it, in all departments. This place is cavernous.) but if its not in the store and available, they can order it. Staff is extremely knowledgeable in the hobby . I cant say anything bad about it. 2 thumbs up

Kenneth Pitt

I have shopped at Great Lakes Hobby & Toy for many years and have always found an excellent selection of products available. If Im looking for something in particular the store doesnt have, the friendly and helpful employees will special order the item. If anyone asks if I know a good hobby shop, I always recommend Great Lakes Hobby & Toy.

Hankster99 Kenaw

The BEST hobby shop there is, love going there, I live in Canada but this is the shop for me, Tom is the nicest guy to deal with (all his staff are great), very helpful, lots of variety of products, our Grandson loves going with us to "The Hobby Shop in the States". All the best Tom, Your Canadian connection, Hank

Nathan Laporte Laporte

This is by far the best hobby store around! I am a modeller and I love the selection of models available as well as paint and modelling magazines. The prices are excellent as well, often better than most online retailers. Besides the models, there is a huge assortment of trains, and remote control vehicles as well.

Tubio Bethards

Been dealing with this company for years.thier my go to store.85% of my supplies to build all the dukes of hazzard displays iv built for the cooters musuems come from here. So much selection in wood supplies and model cars.and die cast..I wouldnt be able to build the in detail displays with out these guys.

Brennan Grego

Very fair prices and usually will have what you need. Given it is an all around hobby store their selection is slightly more narrow than any such that is devoted to one type of hobby. However they are very polite and dont treat you like garbage if you are a beginner like some, *cough cough* wild bill.

Hill Showhill

Wide variety of all hobby materials. Models, trains, doll houses, miniature war games, collectibles. Definately a wide selection but on the wargaming front definately a smaller selection, really just Games Workshop. When Im on the east side and I need tools, paints, or the like thats where I stop.

Steven Lamoreaux

Great store with lots of products for multiple hobbies. Good selection of new Age of Sigmar Warhammer and 40k. Always have new release models in stock. Prices are ~20% lower compared to GW. Friendly staff and special orders are available. My go to place for hobby purposes.

BOB HICKL

Great shopping experience. The shop has a running multi level train layout. The kids love it! The selection of kits, Breyers horses , model rockets are second to none. They also have a Thomas play table for the younger engineers in training.

C C

First Impression, its a little run down building. The store is not visually appealing interior or exterior. And much of the merchandise is a little dated. We do Love the train display in the back and the completed scale car collection.