PM Hobbycraft
Our Story
PM Hobbycraft’s origins date back to 1956 when it began as PMS Camera Shop — PMS originally standing for Photo/Movie Supplies. In a quaint 1,700 square-foot shop in the brand new North Hill Shopping Center, this early incarnation focused primarily on photographic equipment but gradually expanded to include hobby and craft products, reflecting the growing interest in these areas.
Dedication to Hobbies
As the hobby and craft side of PMS Camera Shop thrived, it began to outgrow its corner of the store and it was clear it was ready to stand on its own. In 1974, the two businesses went their separate ways. The hobby and craft division took over the original store and embraced a new name: PMS Hobbycraft. This marked a new chapter focused exclusively on serving hobbyists and crafters with a dedicated retail space.
Expansion and Growth
Following the split in 1974, PMS Hobbycraft continued to thrive, and the original 1,700 square-foot store could no longer keep up with growing demand. By 1979, just five short years later, it was time to move. Boxes were packed, shelves were emptied, and a rented U-Haul van was loaded to the brim. The store relocated to Northgate Village Shopping Centre, doubling its space and opening the door to a wider selection of popular hobbies of the time including that of plastic model kits, a booming slot car craze, and advancing technology in model trains and model rockets. Science fiction in media and their associated model kits were also starting to appear with franchises like Star Wars, Star Trek, and Battlestar Galatica gaining traction in this era.
With a strong focus on hobby excellence, PMS Hobbycraft was cementing its reputation as Calgary’s go-to hobby store and growth continued throughout the 1980s. In 1989, the store moved to a larger store on the corner of 32nd Avenue and 19th Street NE, quickly followed by a one-block relocation in 1994 to an even larger 6,300 square-foot location. These moves allowed PMS Hobbycraft to expand it's unmatched selection adding to surging hobbies of the era like electric and nitro RC vehicles and an even greater selection of plastic model kits including: military vehicles, automobiles, cars, trucks, boats and planes that now featured unprecedented levels of detail.
During this same time period, the store fueled curious young minds with classic science hobby kits including chemistry sets, biology kits, weather stations, microscopes, telescopes and astronomy kits (often with glass accessories, alcohol burners, and chemicals you'd never see sold today). Alongside these experimental hobbies, PMS Hobbycraft introduced Calgarians to the growing world of tabletop games and paintable miniatures like Warhammer 40,000 and Dungeons & Dragons which would help define nerd and hobby culture into the 1990s and beyond.
A New Millenium...
Into the 2000s, hobby culture was seeing major shifts once again. Tabletop games experienced big swings with collectable trading card games like Pokémon and Magic: The Gathering exploding in popularity and Board Games seeing a revival with titles like Settlers of Catan, Cards Against Humanity, and Carcassonne leading the wave. Traditional hands-on hobbies continued to thrive, with model railroading, diorama building, and miniature painting capturing the imaginations of dedicated hobbyists. RC drifting, high-speed Mini 4WD cars, and DIY robotics kits also became popular, as enthusiasts tuned vehicles and robots for performance, precision, and friendly competition. Meanwhile, Japanese model kits, including Gundam and anime-inspired designs from brands like Tamiya & Bandai, were gaining attention, appealing to both collectors and builders.
...A New Era
PMS Hobbycraft embraced these trends, bringing many of them to the store's shelves and was one of the first shops introducing Calgarians to exciting new hobbies and crafts. With the expanding product lines, the spring of 2004 marked another major milestone. Moving a few bays west, the store expanded into its current 12,780 square-foot location and modernized its name from PMS Hobbycraft to PM Hobbycraft — a new chapter that honored decades of history while looking to the future. At twice the size of its predecessor and nearly ten times larger than the 1956 original, the new location cemented PM Hobbycraft as the largest hobby and craft store of its kind in Canada.
Continuing the Legacy
For more than 20 years, PM Hobbycraft has thrived in this spacious location, evolving with trends and expanding offerings across new hobby categories. In 2025, after three generations of family ownership, PM Hobbycraft proudly passed the torch to a new family of owners who share the same vision and passion for the hobby community. With the same family-owned care at heart, this new chapter is guided by a dedication to continue the store’s iconic legacy and a deep committment to ensuring the store's growth, quality, expertise, and welcoming experience that customers expect for generations to come.
PM Hobbycraft now brings together an ever-expanding world of creativity, from the innovation of 3D printing and resin crafts to the precision of RC hobbies, including drones, RC crawlers, and RC helicopters. Tabletop adventurers can dive into the latest board games and trading card releases, while builders immerse themselves in LEGO creations, intricate plastic models, detailed woodcrafts, and imaginative dioramas. To complete every project, our shelves are lined with trusted hobby paints, brushes, tools, and accessories — everything a maker needs to bring their vision to life.
Embracing the Future
Having proudly served Calgary and beyond for 70 years and counting, we continue to bring the same passion, expertise, and unbeatable variety that has been our trademark since the beginning. PM Hobbycraft is committed to grow its selection and embrace new trends that will inspire the next generation of makers, builders, and crafters.
Today, our growth extends beyond the physical walls of the store itself, and through pmhobbycraft.ca we want to bring PM Hobbycraft’s wide range of products, expert guidance, and exceptional service to hobbyists across Canada and the world.
Whatever your interests, now is the perfect time to discover a new passion at PM Hobbycraft!