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Whenever I’m traveling, I always try and get to a local hobby/gaming store if time permits. Over the recent holiday break, my family and I visited my parents in Florida, and I recalled that during my middle school years there was a hobby shop called Bobe’s (rhymes with Moby) in downtown Pensacola. It was about a 30-minute drive to get there, so visits were few and far between… but I do recall that it was a great place to go as a young gamer.
Jump forward 30+ years, and while I was sitting around letting the New Year’s leftovers settle, I did a quick Google search for the area and found that Bobe’s was still around. It had moved locations (about three years ago), but a quick call to confirm they were open was all it took. I told my dad and my 10-year-old to hop in the car and off we went.
If you’re ever in Pensacola, you’ll definitely want to pay a visit. I walked in and felt right at home–models, paints, miniatures, RPGs, board games, wargame books, trains, and more greeted me. I even got to meet the current owner, Mike Bobe, who helped hunt me down some tiny bits of weaponry to mount on a few Matchbox cars I’m prepping for a game of Gaslands. Everyone that walked in was greeted with a smile, and my son even got to watch a regular paint up a WWII armored vehicle for an upcoming wargame.
I’ll include some photos below that showcase some of their tabletop terrain that was ready for players. The aisles are packed with stuff, and I could have easily spent a few hours or more walking around and browsing if my dad and my oldest hadn’t tagged along. (Next time, I will definitely be going alone at least once.) I’d like to thank Mike and his staff for making me feel welcome. Bobe’s does ship, by the way, so if you’re looking for something that you can’t find locally, give them a call… address and phone are below.
Bobe’s Hobby House
2 E Nine Mile Rd, Ste 11
Pensacola, FL 32534
(850) 433-2187
