AB Charles

Dave & Dave, over at WQED, blogged about their recent visit to the basement at AB Charles, where they discovered what generations of South Hills boys and men (and likely more than a few girls and women) have known for a very long time:

The name itself sounds like a cross between one of the early Presidents of the United States and perhaps an eccentric billionaire who runs his own circus. Turns out, A.B. Charles has been delivering the hobby goods to our area for 60 years… and the place is huge! If model cars, miniature railroad and stuff like that is up your alley, then the big barn building should be a planned stop for you. It’s right next to Atria’s and used to house the old Rollier hardware store. You can’t miss the place if you’re ever on
Banksville Road near the Dormont Pool.

Okay… slot cars? If you were thinking pine wood derby, forget about it, but if you were thinking hot wheels, you are in the ballpark. And if you’re a dude and over the age of 20, then you might remember having an AFX track as a kid. It was like having electric-powered hot wheel or matchbox cars. You set up the track, plugged it in, put your car in a lane (or slot as it’s properly called) and let it rip with your hand controller. Now you remember!

Well guess what… the lower level at A.B. Charles is a giant slot car room. There are 3 huge tracks set up that range from easy Sunday drive to fierce Indy 500! They also have a straight-away drag strip to separate the men from the boys and I guess the boys from the girls?