I can’t find a website for Viking Hobby, only a few listings in online phone “books” and such. I give out their business cards all the time, but I need an online listing that’s easy to find and uncluttered by a bunch of advertisements. So here it is!
Viking Hobby
916-483-6885
4713 El Camino Ave.
Carmichael, Ca 95608
![[ Yahoo! Map ]](http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/us/mp/gr/mplogo.gif){kind=small}
They’re open Monday-Friday 10:30-6:00 PM and Saturday-Sunday 11:00-5:00 PM.
If you’ve coming east on El Camino, be advised that you cannot make a left into their parking lot–the road is divided right there, so you’ll have to continue down to Greenfield Way and make a U-turn. Alternately, you can go north on Mission past El Camino, and go around the block: right on Hazelwood, right on Greenfield, right on El Camino, then into the parking lot. It sounds like a pain in the ass, but if traffic on El Camino is heavy, it’s much easier than a U-turn!
They stock boardgames,
miniatures,
models,
historical reference material, paints and painting supplies,
all kinds of good stuff!
I’ve been patronizing this store for about 25 years (!), introduced my kids to boardgaming, miniature painting, and model building here. If they don’t have what you’re looking for, they can usually order it for you reasonably quickly. Tell Jess or Mark that Jim from the Boardgames Meetup says “Hi!”
Huh. I knew that name sounded familiar when everyone was talking about the place at a boardgame meetup a while back. I work about half a mile from there. Guess I have no excuse not to check it out, then.
Go for it, Nicholas! I forgot to mention that they give a 10% discount on games. (I don’t know if it applies to anything else, since I mostly just buy games there.)
This store has totally swung my opinion on buying games locally versus buying them online. It is nice to be able to go into a store and talk board games. They are great about special ordering games for you, as well. I look forward to heading over there today to pick a copy of Caylus.
Yay for Viking Hobby!
Reminds me, I need to call and stock up on new games again.
Viking Hobby is a awesome resource for model building of all kinds. My experience has been with WWII vintage armor models, mainly. Mark really knows his stuff and discussing the intricacies of winter whitewashing techniques or the kinds of painting schemes applied at the platoon level of the Wehrmacht during different periods of the war is really something you cannot get online.
Can’t recommend them enough. THE place to go in Sacramento if you are into models, wargaming, scifi boardgaming, or even military historical reference material. I can’t tell you guys how many people I’ve seen in there just BS’ing because Jessica and Mark are such cool people to talk to about these hobbies.
GO VIKING HOBBY!
Bottom line, Viking Hobby just plain rocks! I’m been known scratch build or convert a model or two, plus they are more than willing to help you find what you’re looking for, be it a model, game, rules or info. I’ve been going since they first opened (I can’t believe it’s about 30 years or so now) and never been disappointed. Keep up the great work Jessica and Co.!!
Hello, my dad loves this place and has proabaly been going there as long as you have Jim. He is a huge fan of wargaming, minitures and all that stuff. He has been trying to get me into it but its slow going. mostly because I am in school and don’t have too much free time but it all seems so interesting that I might have to make time. But anyways I was wondering if they sell Gift Cards or Gift certificates? I don’t want to ask my dad because then he will know my plans for his Christmas gift. If they don’t I may just give him money so he can spend it there. Thank you for your response.
I not 100% sure about this, but I’d be very surprised if Viking didn’t have gift certificates. Best thing to do is to call the store (phone number listed above.) Jessica or Mark will be able to give you the definitive answer.
Sounds like your dad is a regular customer there, so Jess and Mark may even have some ideas about things he might want. I always make a point of letting them know what I’m hoping to get for birthdays/Christmas. When my family members drop in to buy gifts, Jess and Mark already know the answer. Plus they make sure nobody buys a second copy. It’s a personalized gift registry!
Thank you, I will call them and ask. I know one thing he likes to get is these magazines that I think are from Sweden or Switzerland. They are about minitures I think but I proabaly will do what you suggested and go there and see if they have any ideas for him. Thanks again.
Wow that is quite the collection of models and boardgames all in one place. Very impressive. It sure would be fun to have a store like that around here. Nice job guys!
Viking does have gift certs. Nothing fance but always fun to get. Viking is the best hobbie store I have ever been to. Whenever I travel I hunt out local hobbie shops, this is clearly the best.
Hi Jim,
LOVE this post!
I’m planning to borrow your photos and also push Viking Hobby on my site if you don’t mind! Please let me know if you do…
When Jessica told me about Viking being mentioned on the web, I didn’t make the connection that, THAT Sonic Chicken was YOURS! I knew it sounded familiar!
Very cool!
Mazel Tov!
Good gaming to you!
Shalom, Maksim-Smelchak.
No problem, Maks! The pictures are under this Creative Commons license.
Hi Jim,
Thanks!
I realized that you were probably operating under Creative Commons, but I always ask anyways… it’s a good practice and good manners.
Thanks again!
Shalom, Maksim-Smelchak.
Just trying out Google Map code…
View Larger Map
Wow! Thanks for this, I shall post it around, and maybe generate some new business for the Vikings. I have some pictures of my own taken a few years back, if you’re interested.
– Brian Collins Formerly of Berkeley Game Distributors Now managing Gator Games in San Mateo.