One shop on this list keeps a huge HO train set running at the back of the store, all day long. I love that detail more than I can explain.
Another spot is a model railroad maker that turns out HO and N scale locomotives, freight cars, and containers. Nearly 2,000 products, made right here in Tennessee.
Who knew?
Rain has a funny way of wrecking plans. But a gray Saturday also clears your schedule for glue, paint, tiny parts, and big ideas.
Some of these shops stock Gundam kits. Others carry Warhammer armies, Lego sets, or puzzles.
I can’t think of a better excuse to wander the aisles. You walk in for one kit and leave with three, plus a paint set you swore you didn’t need.
So which shop gets your next rainy afternoon?
1. Mid-South Hobbies
Most hobby shops pick a lane, but this Memphis store seems to have built a whole highway. RC vehicles and model kits lead the show, and the selection runs deep.
Keep wandering, though, because the shelves branch out fast. You’ll spot model trains, action figures, comic books, and board games.
Then come the surprises that make a rainy day feel smart. Book nooks, those DIY miniature houses that slide between books, sit near embroidery kits and paint by numbers.
Puzzles round things out for anyone who prefers a slower pace. Honestly, it feels like a craft store and a hobby shop teamed up on a project.
That mix makes the place handy for families with different tastes. One person can chase an RC truck while another picks a tiny house kit.
Planning helps on weekends, since Saturdays and Sunday afternoons tend to draw the biggest crowds. Weekday mornings and evenings run quieter if you want room to browse.
Hours run 10 AM to 6 PM Monday through Saturday, and noon to 4 PM on Sunday. That shorter Sunday window matters if you’re driving in from out of town.
Practical perks help too. There’s a free parking lot, free Wi-Fi, and curbside or in-store pickup if you order ahead.
Summer Avenue isn’t flashy, and that’s part of the charm. Memphis keeps plenty of its best spots in plain sight.
Address: 4862 Summer Ave, Memphis, TN 38122
2. Hobo’s Hobbies Trains & Planes
Crossville might not be the first town you’d link with serious model railroading. Yet this little shop on the Cumberland Plateau packs a surprising load of train and plane supplies.
The name tells you the focus right away. Model trains and model planes share the spotlight, backed by plenty of model-making supplies.
Plastic model fans get a fair shake as well. The store carries a good selection of plastic kits, paints, and tools.
That matters when you’re halfway through a build and suddenly need the right brush. Small details make or break a model, after all.
The owners have a helpful reputation, which counts for a lot in a niche hobby. Questions about scale or supplies are part of the fun here.
Here’s a sweet bonus for the drive. A chocolate shop sits right next door, so consider yourself warned.
Timing takes a little planning. The shop opens Tuesday through Friday, 10 AM to 5 PM, and closes Mondays and weekends.
So this one works best for a rainy weekday road trip. Crossville sits roughly between Nashville and Knoxville along I-40, an easy stop either way.
Pair it with a plateau drive and you’ve got a full day. Trains, planes, and chocolate make a pretty strong itinerary.
Address: 128 Northside Ln, Crossville, TN 38571
3. HobbyTown
Gundam builders, mark this one on your map. The Turkey Drive store has earned a name for one of the strongest Gundam kit selections around Knoxville.
Gunpla is only the start. Shelves hold Warhammer, Lego, toys, games, and puzzles.
RC fans have plenty to look at too. Model airplanes and remote-controlled cars are core parts of the lineup.
Classic train hobbyists aren’t left out either. Model railroading gear shares space with the newer crazes.
That range makes the shop a solid pick for mixed groups. A Lego kid and a Warhammer teen can both find their corner.
Saturday afternoons get the busiest. If you’d rather browse slowly, weekdays tend to run calm from morning through evening.
Hours stretch longer than many shops on this list. Doors open 10 AM to 7 PM Monday through Saturday, and noon to 6 PM Sunday.
Those Sunday hours are a gift on a soggy weekend. You can grab a kit after lunch and still have time to build.
Curbside pickup is available if you already know what you want. Still, half the fun is spotting a box you didn’t plan on.
West Knoxville makes it an easy stop for anyone around Farragut. A rainy afternoon basically plans itself from there.
Address: 11145 Turkey Dr, Knoxville, TN 37934
4. Phillips Toy Mart
Somewhere in the back of this Nashville toy store, a huge HO train set keeps rolling. It runs all the time, and it might be the best free show on Harding Pike.
Phillips Toy Mart is a long-standing, family-owned shop. Families who grew up here may now be bringing their own kids.
The stock covers modern, vintage, and educational toys. That blend makes browsing feel like a trip through several decades at once.
Hobby fans get their share as well. Models and train sets sit right alongside the toys.
Kid-friendly activities add another reason to linger. Little ones can stay busy while grown-ups compare model kits.
Plan around the schedule, since Sundays are closed. Monday through Saturday, the doors open at 9 AM and close at 5:30 PM.
Saturday mornings and afternoons draw the biggest crowds. Weekday mornings tend to be calmer if you want the train set mostly to yourself.
The early opening is a nice perk on a rainy day. You can start the afternoon before lunch and still have hours left to build.
West Nashville has changed a lot over the years. A family toy store still running strong feels like a small Tennessee victory.
Address: 5207 Harding Pike, Nashville, TN 37205
5. Lionel Trains – Nashville Retail Store
Lionel is a name that echoes through generations of holiday mornings. Nashville gets its own retail store for the brand, right at Opry Mills.
Model trains are the main event, naturally. The shop works as a specialized model railroad retailer and hobby outfitter.
Racing fans get a surprise, though. NASCAR diecast fills part of the selection, which fits nicely in Tennessee.
Layout builders get a real boost here. Staff have a reputation for helping with train layout projects.
That help matters when you’re puzzling over track plans. A few good tips can save a whole weekend of frustration.
Pricing tends to hold up well against online options. That’s a pleasant thing to hear in a hobby that adds up fast.
Since it sits inside a big mall, rain barely touches your plans. You can park, stroll, and spend a long afternoon indoors.
Hours run 10 AM to 8 PM Monday through Saturday. Sunday hours are 11 AM to 7 PM.
Weekends and Friday evenings bring the biggest crowds. Wednesday afternoons tend to be the quietest window for browsing.
Grandparents, this one’s an easy win. Showing a kid the trains you loved feels like passing down a family secret.
Address: 388 Opry Mills Dr, Nashville, TN 37214
6. ScaleTrains
Plenty of folks run model trains without realizing some were designed in Cleveland, Tennessee. ScaleTrains ranks among the leading makers of HO and N scale models.
The lineup covers locomotives, freight cars, and containers. With 40 different models and nearly 2,000 products, options span many budgets and skill levels.
Modelers of North American railroads especially appreciate the focus. Service, product quality, and fair pricing come up often with this company.
Shipping boxes even get a playful nickname among fans. Some call them candy boxes, which tells you how exciting they are to open.
So why include a manufacturer on a hobby shop list? Because Tennessee pride deserves a stop, and this place serves walk-in model builders.
Visiting takes weekday planning. Hours run 10 AM to 5 PM Monday through Friday, with weekends closed.
Cleveland sits about 30 miles from Chattanooga. That makes a rainy weekday drive pretty painless for southeast Tennessee families.
Bring a list of what your layout still needs. Locomotives tempt fast, and freight cars multiply quicker than rabbits.
Not into trains yet? A look at fine scale detail might change that.
Address: 4901 Old Tasso Rd NE, Cleveland, TN 37312
7. Utopia Toys and Models
Hard-to-find is the specialty at this Knoxville stop. Japanese model kits and anime figures fill the shelves in impressive numbers.
Gunpla gets plenty of attention, so mecha fans can stay busy. Action figures and figurines add even more to scan.
Funko collectors aren’t forgotten either. The latest releases often show up next to rare imports.
Prices tend to be friendly for a collectibles shop. That makes it easier to grab a new kit without guilt.
You’ll find the store inside Building E at Cross Park Plaza. It’s off Cross Park Drive, near the Kingston Pike area.
The shop is LGBTQ+ friendly and a transgender safe space. Everyone gets room to enjoy their fandom.
Hours run Tuesday through Saturday, 11 AM to 7 PM. Sundays and Mondays are closed, so plan your rainy day carefully.
In-store pickup is offered if you spot something online first. Still, browsing in person turns up surprises you’d miss on a screen.
Knoxville is lucky to have several strong model shops. This one carves its niche with imports and anime flair.
Got a kit in mind? Bring the name, but leave room for a happy detour.
Address: 131 Inside Building E in Cross Park Plaza, 9111 Cross Park Dr Suite E, Knoxville, TN 37923
8. Grand Adventures: Comics & Games
Friday nights here stretch until 11 PM, which is rare for a hobby shop. That late window turns a rainy evening into bonus build time.
Comics and tabletop games form the backbone of the store. Model builders find plenty to love too.
Gunpla stands out in a big way. The inventory ranks among the best in Middle Tennessee.
Warhammer fans get a big collection of figures. Paints and painting tools of many kinds round out the supply side.
The space stays clean and well organized. You won’t spend half the afternoon hunting for one brush.
Hours start at noon each day. Closing runs 7 PM Monday and weekends, 9 PM Tuesday through Thursday, and 11 PM Friday.
Weekend afternoons tend to bring the biggest crowds. Monday evenings are usually the calmest.
Delivery and in-store pickup are both options here. That’s handy when a storm keeps you home.
Murfreesboro sits about 35 miles southeast of Nashville. It’s an easy drive for Rutherford County families and beyond.
Comics, games, and kits under one roof make for a flexible afternoon. Everybody in the car gets something.
Address: 1013 Memorial Blvd, Murfreesboro, TN 37129
9. Tabletops Hobbies & Games
Paint racks tell you a lot about a hobby store. Here, they’re stocked to the brim with supplies for painting and building models.
Board games and collectible card games share the floor. Models and paints keep builders coming back.
The store has a welcoming feel that suits newcomers. Nobody should feel lost picking a first primer.
Timing works well for after-work rainy evenings. Doors stay open noon to 10 PM Monday through Saturday.
Sundays are closed, so plan around that. Monday and Wednesday evenings, plus Saturday afternoons, get the busiest.
Want a quieter visit? Weekday afternoons tend to be calmer for slow browsing.
A free parking lot makes the stop simple. In-store pickup works if you’d rather reserve something first.
Murfreesboro Pike puts the shop in southeast Nashville. It’s handy for Antioch and Donelson folks.
Game nights and painting projects pair nicely here. Grab a new board game and a fresh paint set in one trip.
Rainy days were made for tiny brushstrokes. This shop gives you plenty of colors to choose from.
Address: 2645 Murfreesboro Pike, Nashville, TN 37217
10. Brickhouse Collectibles
Lego bricks built the name, and the shelves go far beyond them. Brickhouse Collectibles covers a huge spread of hobbies in one Knoxville stop.
Comics and trading cards join the vast Lego selection. Pokemon, Magic, manga, and models fill out the mix.
That variety makes it a family-friendly pick. Kids and parents can split up and still meet back happy.
The shop is LGBTQ+ friendly as well. Collectors of all kinds have a place here.
Hours run generously through the week. Monday through Thursday it’s 10 AM to 7 PM, with Friday and Saturday open until 8 PM.
Sundays run 11 AM to 5 PM. Weekend crowds peak, while Monday and Tuesday mornings stay quieter.
Curbside and in-store pickup are both offered. Rain won’t stop you from snagging that set you’ve been eyeing.
West End Avenue sits near Farragut in west Knoxville. Pair it with HobbyTown nearby for a double-shop afternoon.
Honestly, that combo could eat a whole rainy Saturday. Your wallet may want a word with you later.
Tennessee clearly has plenty of builders, collectors, and dreamers. This shop gives them one more reason to pray for rain.
Address: 163 West End Ave, Knoxville, TN 37934
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