MAIN STREET
Who’s Hobby and Who’s Toy
A History of Fun in Downtown Rapid City
Story by Main Street Square // Photos by Andy Greenman
Who’s Hobby House has been a staple in space was a vacant parking lot and has been our home since it was finished,” stated Kingsbury. Downtown Rapid City since 1950 and has been The Kingsbury family business expanded in the Kingsbury family since 1957. Clancy again in 2011 when Somer Kinsbury, Clancy’s Kingsbury, a third generation owner of Who’s wife, opened up Who’s Toy House at the Shops at Hobby House, continues to carry on the tradition of fun and customer service Main Street Square. “We took the same customer service started by his grandfather "We have customers from approach at the toy store that 63 years ago. “I was selling everywhere in the region who had already been in place at insurance in 1992 when my father said he was going come to see us because they know the hobby shop. If we can keep to sell the hobby shop. I our customers happy, we have we will take care of them." a leg up as the online option.” thought, I would rather sell -Somer Kinsbury, toys than insurance so I made As the retail market continued Owner, Who's Toy House to change with the explosion of the change into the family business.” companies like Amazon, these Over the next 28 years local businesses continued to focus on their repeat customers to grow their Who’s Hobby House has changed a lot, including business. “Because we both have niche shops the space that they call home. “Fires destroyed we want to ensure we are there for our repeat multiple buildings in downtown Rapid City and through the years we moved a couple of times customers. We have customers from everywhere in the region who come to see us because they until we built the current building in 1996. The elevaterapidcity.com 15
