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American Science And Surplus Announces New Ownership
After a GoFundMe campaign raised over $200,000 but fell short of its goal, a long-time employee took over the Milwaukee location of American Science and Surplus, the 88-year-old store known for its quirky attitude and eclectic product mix. Kim Stenglein worked at the store for over 20 years, much of that time as store manager. The store is a local landmark for its quirky novelty items, hobby and toy favorites, and industrial supplies. Founded in 1937 by Al Luebbers, American Science and Surplus was sold in 2012 to long-time employee Patrick Meyer. Last May, Meyer launched a GoFundMe campaign to raise money for the store, which had been struggling financially due to competition and rising shipping rates. Despite the fundraiser, the store announced the closure of its mail-order warehouse and e-commerce business. Meyer announced that he was seeking new owners for American Science and Surplus’s three locations—Milwaukee; Geneva, Illinois; and Park Ridge, Illinois. The Park Ridge location in the northwest Chicago suburbs was unable to find a new owner and closed in September. The store in Geneva, a far western Chicago suburb, was sold to one of its former store managers. The new team is excited to continue the store’s legacy into a new chapter, promising more surprises, science, and even more gadgets
Hobby Lobby To Close For Holidays Hobby big box retailer Hobby Lobby has announced it will close all 1,000 stores on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. Each store will be closed for the full 24 hours on Thursday, Nov. 27, and Thursday, Dec. 25. Stores will reopen the day after Thanksgiving with extended Black Friday hours. On Christmas Eve, shoppers can expect standard opening hours. Traditionally, the company has closed on Sundays, unlike most other retailers. . |
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John’s Hobbies Adds Oshkosh Location John Hetzel has completed the purchase of the HobbyTown Oshkosh store, the home of the internet meme “The Backrooms.” Hetzel announced he had fully taken over the Oshkosh, Wisconsin, location, complementing the original John’s Hobbies in nearby Hartford. The original location has installed a new sifted clay track for the racing season. At Oshkosh, shoppers will find the Breyer horse line, Bruder toy trucks, Celestron telescopes, and Gravitrax and Brio toy trains. The Hartford store is an authorized Lionel dealer and service center, as well as an exclusive Traxxas dealer. The story of “The Backrooms” is a bizarre insight into the early days of the internet. When he opened the Oshkosh store in 2003, owner Robert Mazza posted some photos of the building before it was converted into an RC track and other uses. The images of the building’s upstairs portion became known as “The Backrooms.” The photos featured the many walls between the ceiling support poles, plain wallpaper, and molding carpet, all lit with a yellow hue from an old fluorescent tube light. The space was soon remodeled, but the photos spread widely online. Somehow, the images went viral, and enthusiasts spent 10 years tracking down the location of the creepy, outdated rooms. The building needed extensive repairs, and Mozza decided to find a buyer to take over the store. Hetzel began the buying process in 2024. Rod Stewart Spies On Railroad Movers Legendary pop singer Rod Stewart’s massive train layout project grabbed headlines a few years ago, when he disclosed that he worked on it during downtime on his worldwide tour. He rented extra hotel rooms to house the on-the-road workshop and put the pieces together in the attic of his home in Los Angeles. Later, he moved the massive layout depicting mid-20th-century New York City and Chicago railroads to his house in Essex, England. The 1,600-square-foot layout includes towering skyscrapers, bridges, a rush-hour traffic scene, and 900 feet of mainline train track running through a finely detailed cityscape. Stewart couldn’t supervise the move himself, so he installed cameras to keep an eye on the professional movers who usually transport complex movie sets. After 23 years, Stewart continues to revise the layout, adding thunder and lightning effects to simulate rainstorms. |
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US Toy Market Sales Rise In First Half From January through June 2025, U.S. toy industry dollar sales increased 6%, units sold were up 3%, and average selling price (ASP) grew by 3%, compared to the same 6-month period in 2024, according to Circana. The ASP was previously flat for three consecutive years. Seven of the 11 mega categories that Circana tracks posted growth. Games and puzzles led with a 39% increase, fueled by Pokémon trading cards, while explorative toys rose 19% on the strength of NFL trading cards. Other growth categories included youth electronics (9%), action figures (8%), building sets (7%), arts and crafts (4%), and vehicles (2%). Licensed toys, which account for more than one-third (37%) of all U.S. toy sales, grew by nearly four points compared to the first half of 2024, with sales climbing 18%. All of the top growth properties so far this year are tied to licensing, entertainment content, or movie releases. Video game brands were especially strong, with Pokémon, Final Fantasy, and Minecraft among the top ten gainers; Minecraft also benefited from a 2025 movie release. Other popular movie-based licenses contributing to sales growth included Formula 1, Lilo & Stitch, and Sonic the Hedgehog. Demographic trends also point to a widening consumer base. Adults remain a powerful driver of market gains, with sales for recipients ages 18 and older up 18%, split evenly between men and women. Toy sales for 3- to 5-year-olds reversed last year’s decline to post growth in the first half of 2025. “The toy industry is showing strength during this period as consumers are holding their breath and waiting for higher prices to kick in,” said Juli Lennett, vice president and toy industry advisor at Circana. “This resilience is crucial as we set our sights on the holiday season and what categories are critical for the consumer to bring joy to their loved ones.” |  |
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