(From left) Nathan Helminiak, Matt Feagins and Adam Eckerson pass the time at Backstage Hobbies of Manistee with sci-fi board game Galaxy Trucker. Courtesy photo.
By Carmelitta Tiffany
Looking back at the last 18 months, many people realize the pandemic has changed their lives, and not necessarily all for the worse.
“It’s cool to be a nerd now,” Ryan Horton, co-owner of Backstage Hobbies & Games in Ludington, observed.
Horton, along with co-owners Nate and Nicole Petersen, opened Backstage in June 2007. The “amazing support” the Ludington store experienced led to the opening of a Manistee store in April 2019.
Backstage offers trading cards such as Magic: The Gathering, Pokemon, and Yu-Gi-Oh. The store also carries role-playing games such as Dungeons & Dragons, board games and video games.
“The hobby industry has been growing for years now and is in something of a golden age of content,” Horton explained. “Being a nerd/geek is no longer seen as taboo or weird. There is also that desire to bring back family game night and turn off the screen. The pandemic has certainly also brought new people into the hobby, as people spent more time at home last year and had a little extra money for entertainment though stimulus checks.”
Horton identified Ludington and Manistee as two places with an unmet need.
“The respective communities had a wide audience of kids, young adults, and families with a love of games and no access to them,” said Horton. “We chose the locations we did to be in the heart of the downtowns of both Ludington and Manistee; this makes us centrally accessible to the most people and easier to discover for folks who never knew what they wanted until they saw it in person!”
Brian Lefler, owner of Ludington Hobbies, decided in 2019 that there was a need for local resources to entice the radio-controlled model hobbyists. His Ludington store was such a success, he recently opened another in Manistee. He echoed Horton’s view of the pandemic as a catalyst for the hobby trend.
“The pandemic (people trapped inside with nothing to do) has definitely kickstarted the radio-control vehicle hobby,” Lefler shared in an email. “Once people are exposed to this hobby for the first time, they are hooked. COVID was an excuse for people to explore.
“This store has brought a huge community of people together,” he continued. “I chose this business because this hobby was very alive and well in our area, but our hobbyists were traveling 50 or more miles one way, or shopping online. This keeps the hobby money local and gives jobs to passionate people.”
The stores carry a large stock of radio-controlled planes, helicopters, cars and trucks, and other hobby items such as model rocketry, plastic and balsa modeling kits, kites and others.
“For the Christmas season, we are anticipating a huge jump in sales for our Radio Control Rock Crawlers,” Lefler said, explaining that they can be used indoors as well as in the snow.
Though the pandemic bolstered the hobby industry, it continues to pose challenges. Current shipping issues on the West Coast have many concerned about holiday shortages.
“We anticipated the shortage and believe in buying in major quantities, unlike other hobby shops, so that we can ensure we have plenty of selection for the Christmas season,” Lefler said.
He suggested that beginner hobbyists visit the store and consult with staff to find a good fit.
“Our Arrma 4-wheel-drive brushed (Mega) lineup is the most popular vehicle for all ages – they are ‘ready-to-run’ with throttle limiters for the beginners, and upgradability for the enthusiasts. These are all around ‘bashers’ that are designed to take a beating. Also, the Axial 1/24 scale miniature crawlers are a huge hit with unlimited upgrade potential. Our free indoor 1/24 crawler course is sure to draw some crowds…”
Horton, of Backstage, agreed the shipping stagnation might be a customer concern, but he stocked new items during the pandemic ⸺ stuffed animals and plush toys, such as Squishables; deluxe accessories for several game lines; and boxed model sets for Pokemon, Gundam and Anime. He suggested shopping early.
“During the holidays board games are very popular, games such as Ticket to Ride, Settlers of Catan, Codenames and Chess,” Horton said. “Pokemon cards are also a popular stocking stuffer. This year’s Pokemon 25th Anniversary Celebration Gift Boxes are going to be one of our most sought-after gifts. Magic’s newest release, Innistrad: Crimson Vow, will also be a popular present this holiday season.”
Backstage Hobbies & Games of Ludington, 199 S. James St., can be reached at 231-233-6729. Contact Backstage’s Manistee store, 419 River St., at 231-887-4122. Ludington Hobbies is located at 210 S. James St. and can be reached at 231-239-7202. Manistee Hobbies is closed.
Carmelitta Tiffany resides in Mason County, where she spent the last 30-some years enjoying the blessings of rural life. She is a semi-retired journalist who serves those needing “wordy” advice.
