imho, it is not commercially viable to setup a hobby shop to sell racing or pro gears, most hobbyists will be happy to bash their cars and trucks around their backyard and those are the same people that will and can support a LHS, they probably make up the majority of the entire hobbyists populations... my LHS is selling futaba s9351 servo at USD160 a piece, if i were to buy from them, i can probably afford only one kit and no spare parts...
for the real enthusiasts and racers, online hobby shop is the better way...