I think my first magic shop was Hank Lees.

First magic shop I was in was Tam Shepherds. Althought the first I had any proper conversations in was Davenports.

My first magic shop was in Hagerstown MD. It was called The Magic Den & was owned by Larry Nye. That is where I got bit by the bug & I wouldn't change it for anything!

Wizards of AHS in Chittenango, NY

Tech Wizard Store in Miami

I have some memories of how cool it seemed. But that was 60+ years ago, so I don't remember the name.

My first magic shop was Bert Easily's Fun Shop here in Phoenix Arizona in the 1960's. Used to go there at the age of 8 after school and on weekends. The absolutely amazing magician behind the counter was the famous Jack Sutherland. I would go down there on Saturday morning and be there all day bothering poor Jack to show me this show me that.

He finally told be to stop wasting my money on the cheap tricks and invest in books he said that is where you will learn to really do magic, He handed me a hard back copy of Tarbell's Course In Magic Vol 1. He said here this is on me kid, take it come back show me what you have learned! Well he asked for it I went back showed him over and over

No it hasn't, as already posted it was originally in Great Russell street opposite the British museum. It moved to Charing Cross station in around 1982 give or take a year or two.

Diamond Fun Shop, Grand Rapids Michigan. Long gone, now... Spent all my lawn mowing money there for 1-2 years but then gave up. Upon my return to magic, it had shut down. Now, whenever I travel, I enjoy checking ini on local magic shops. Barry's in Rockville was great but I heard it recently closed its doors. Haines House of Cards is an interesting little place. Abbott's is worth the trek if not just to touch a piece of magic history! I recently had the good fortune to meet Bob Klamm and his wife at their magic shop in the basement of their home outside Kansas City! In two weeks I'll be heading to Chicago and plan on making a visit to Magic, Inc. It's too bad so many of these places are shutting the doors. I try to buy something at each place I go into, even if it's just a deck of cards, simply to pay homage to the staff who keep this magical line of art and business trudging on.

I do the exact same thing Ikswonilak...much to the dismay of my wife and son. First thing I do in every city we visit is Google magic shops in the area. They both humor me, and let me go, but I usually have a time limit I can spend in each shop. Like you, I try to buy something at every one, usually an unusual prop that I'll remember later and relate it to that shop.

My first magic store was Hollywood Magic in Hollywood CA. They had great halloween costumes in the window. Many years later I ended up managing that store. It was cool because it was a mile away from the Magic Castle and all the visiting magicians would come in the store becaues they were performing at the csstle. Lots of celebs, too.

My first magic shop was in Kansas City Missouri. Late 1950s and early 60s. I think the owner went by the name of "Monte" IIRC. It was the only professional store I knew of at the time (the other stores had more pranks than magic tricks). I got all of my fox lane gaff decks there and many other of the "mandatory" effects/props (linking rings, mystic floating ball, multiplying billiard balls, and so on).

It was always fun visiting. Monte would always greet me with a smile and demo the latest trick he believed I should purchase within my youthful budget!

I really enjoyed reading this thread. Thanks to Docguitarman for reviving it. My first and only magic shop is Mel's Magic City in Scranton PA. It is one magical place. The owner goes out of his way to help you with your foray into the world of magic. I found this place about a year ago and I have been hooked since.

Thanks for the post. I had no idea they were there.

I'm glad this popped up as well...what a kick to read through.

For me, it was Joe Berg's shop on Hollywood Blvd. After my first visit, I would beg my parents to take me there as much as possible.

It was the type of classic brick and mortar shop of the era - upstairs in a run down building, walls covered with boxes, tubes and other arcane objects (mostly covered in pseudo-Chinese characters) that was all so intriguing to a nine year old. And, of course, there was a corner with tables and chairs where local and visiting magicians would hold court.

Looking back I would grow to appreciate Joe not selling me everything I asked for. Even though he'd have made a sale, he steered me away from so many complicated, expensive or silly props and concentrated on the classics.

Hollywood magic was just down the street in those days, and I'd spend a lot of time there in later years - even worked there for a bit - but you always remember your first.

Did I p/m you befor?(at 80-70yr pro -memory??)Lived in the San Fernando Vally 45' - 73' - 1st Magic Shop I got my effects in the 50's was the Hollywood Magic Shop- then Bergs(Joe and Ronny) also the ORIGINAL 'Owen Brothers' on San Pedro st in L.A.(John Daniels and Carl Owen ) - we were one of the 1st Castle members(Bill & Milt were our sponsors). Ralph(russo)Rousseau

This thread stirred another magic shop memory...I also spent a lot of time at Disneyland's Merlin's Magic Shop at the original park. There was a season where I got some great bargains there because at one point they had hired someone to manage the store who knew magic and...since DL didn't know one prop from another, they had this guy do the ordering.

So, instead of just ordering the standard tenyo/packet trick/color vision - type tricks, he also stocked up on stuff only magicians would care about - rice silks, a full line of Johnson Product merch (back when they were new), higher end parlor magic props etc. They let him have a free hand, a budget and he went to town.

So the bargains came in because that guy left the shop and no one bought the fancier stuff...the typical customer just stayed with the hot rods and such. Well, at the time Disneyland had a policy that they never raised prices on items they sold until they re-ordered...in other words, if an item was priced at $10, two years later it was $10 no matter what the current retail price was anywhere else.

So for a while I was able to buy stuff cheaper than anywhere else because it had sat around the shop for years in some cases. It was great.

Plus I have a soft spot in my heart for the place because I saw the chop cup for the first time (probably 10 years old) and the final load blew my mind. Don't you miss getting fooled?

Mel's has a meeting once a month. It's really a great time. One time I met this guy who was about 90years old. He pulled out an invisible deck and started doing a routine. He told me some wild stories about performing magic in his younger days. I listened to ever word he said. Later on, I looked it up, he was right on the money. Another night after the meeting, these two young guys put a folding chair in between them and started doing card tricks. One would do a trick and then the other would say "did you see this one," then do some mind blowing trick. This went on for about an hour. I'M sitting there taking it all in. What fun I had.

Hi sad to say - for all those who 's 1st shop was at DisneyWorld - I was a Disney Trainer in Merchandise from 83'to 93' - we worked a week in different stores -I worked the Magic shop for a week in late 80's - it was a great shop- sorry its no longer there- its a clothing shop now. -- When I first started in Magic -(1945 -0n ) Hollywood Magic Shop - Joe Bergs(Joe & Ronnie) - and the ORIGINAL Owen Brothers(with John Daniels and Carl)-ahhhh nemories ---Ralph(russo) Rousseau

The first Shop I went to was Ted Carrothers Magic Studio in Toledo OH. Also there was a Mr. G’s Magic shop and also a place called Old Towne Magic. All in Toledo.