Ohio Hobby Retailer Loses Longtime 
RC Racing Site

After nearly two decades of hosting RC racing next to a local shopping center, the Hobby Shop of Elyria, Ohio, is losing access to its outdoor track as the property owner reclaims the land.
 

Owner Jerry Ivancic said the adjacent lot, owned by Walmart, had been used for RC racing for 18 years with prior approval from store management. The space recently began being dismantled without advance notice, including the removal of the driver stand.
 

While the arrangement had been informal, Lowery acknowledged that Walmart had allowed the hobby shop to use the property free of charge and had assumed liability for events held there. The site had become a gathering point for customers and a key driver of engagement and sales.
The loss marks the end of an era for the family-owned business, which has served the Elyria community since 1984 and carries a wide range of hobby products, including RC vehicles, models and drones.
 

Lowery said the store is actively searching for a new location to host RC racing. In the meantime, he has advised customers that the 
former track is no longer available for use.
 

For other hobby retailers, the situation highlights both 
the value and the 
vulnerability of relying on shared or informally secured spaces for community events 
and experiential 
retail.