Tell us a little about your business. – HobbyTown (hobbytownlincoln.store) is a brick and mortar toy store featuring “toys for all ages”. We are a full line hobby, toy and game store and have a huge variety of fun things to keep you busy.

How did you get started in the business? – I was hired as a sales clerk at the East Park location in July of 2000. I became the manager of that location and eventually moved to the Corporate HobbyTown Office to help in the training of new franchise owners. In 2006, my wife Chelsy and I purchased the Corporate-owned location at Southpointe and became independent business owners.

What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced professionally? – The 2008 recession was the most challenging time of ownership for us. Sales in some categories dropped more than 50% in less than six months. Our business dramatically changed and we were forced to diversify our product mix quickly or we would have closed. It was an incredibly stressful time and we were still very young and didn’t have any experience navigating a major economic catastrophe like that.

What has been your most important achievement professionally? – Our HobbyTown, here in Lincoln, was the recipient of the National Retail Federation “Retail Champion” in 2022, a national award.

Tell us a little about your family. – Chelsy is my wonderful wife and trusted partner in the business. We were married in 2005. We currently have Chloe, an adopted Italian Greyhound, who spends her days lounging on a fluffy pillow, taking in the sun.

What do you see as one of the biggest turning points in your life? – The time period from 2005-2006. Chelsy and I met, got engaged, married, and then decided to buy a business together all in less than 14 months.

What is your favorite thing to do on a day off? – Grilling a juicy hamburger out on the deck is pretty awesome on a Saturday. I also like to play board games with friends or go float in the swimming pool.

What is the most unique or interesting thing about you that most people probably don’t know? – Chelsy and I live on 20 acres that we have turned from farmland into a natural native grassland. Both of us are passionate about conservation.

If you could choose only one descriptive word to be remembered as, what would it be? – Fun.

What is your favorite book or the last good book you read? – I’m almost done with the latest book in the Dungeon Crawler Carl series (written by Matt Dinniman).

What is your favorite movie? – Star Wars: A New Hope.

What is your favorite TV show? – Andor was my favorite show last year by far.

If our readers would like to contact you, how should they do so? – HobbyTown is located at 70th & Pioneers (4107 Pioneer Woods Dr #108).
We can be contacted by phone at (402) 434-5040 or via email at hobbytownlincoln@gmail.com. You can also check out our Facebook page at facebook.com/HobbyTownLincolnSouth.