J-Bar Hobbies was founded in 1982 by Jerry and Barbara Bindus. The original location was in downtown Britton, Michigan — a tiny, no-traffic-light town situated in the middle of farm country. It wasn't long before J-Bar Hobbies outgrew that location.

In 1984, the shop moved up the road to a slightly larger building in the city of Tecumseh, Michigan. This was home for about six years before moving across the street to the store's forever home at 117 E. Chicago Blvd. This massive 6,200 square foot building was thoughtfully designed by Jerry Bindus, who always dreamed of having an old-time hobby shop similar to what he grew up with in Detroit, MI.

To this day, walking through the doors of J-Bar Hobbies is sure to bring back that nostalgic feeling. There's a G-Gauge train that runs around the top of the store as well as hundreds of model airplanes suspended from the ceiling — the charm of an old-time hobby shop is undeniable.

Jerry loved the hobby business, and he enjoyed talking with all of our customers — from the child just starting his or her first kit to the seasoned hobbyist. It was this passion that grew the business to what it is today. Jerry Bindus passed away in the late fall of 2014 at the age of 82. Even though we all miss him, his passion for the business lives on with all who find themselves in J-Bar Hobbies.

Jerry's wife and co-founder, Barbara, still works every day alongside her son and granddaughter. She loves talking to every customer, both new and long-term. Although there have been many changes over the years, the one thing that hasn't changed is the friendly customer service that Jerry and Barb provided since day one. Whether you have a quick question about glue or maybe an in-depth question on how to wire up your old trainset, we are here to help!