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  • Dan and Angele Lolies, behind the counter, have a look at Joshua Deaver's gas powered RC car at their hobby store, Cullman R/C Hobbies. The store is located on their 20 acre farm, where they raise goats and chickens. Benjamin Montgomery

    Farm proves good supplement for Dan and Angela Lolies’ hobby shop

  • Dan Lolies watches over his goats on his 20 acre farm. He also runs a hobby shop and RC car racetrack on his property. Benjamin Montgomery

    Farm proves good supplement for Dan and Angela Lolies’ hobby shop

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March 3, 2010

Farm proves good supplement for Dan and Angela Lolies’ hobby shop

Benjamin Montgomery The Cullman Times

CULLMAN — Many farmers in Cullman County have taken up second jobs to supplement their farm income, often turning to their interests when choosing outside employment. For Dan and Angela Lolies, it was the other way around.

The Lolies started Cullman R/C Hobbies in the city of Cullman about 10 years ago. The store sells remote control vehicles and accessories, and Dan also repairs customers’ vehicles.

“I started out in this hobby going to other hobby shops…and some of the help that I felt like I needed being a new guy, a lot of them just sell you the product and go on, and they wouldn’t help me.

For me, that’s just part of the sell.”

The Lolies bought about 50 head of goat five years ago to bring in extra income. Their son, Kevin, began experimenting with chickens; they currently have about 30 three-week old birds (and a rooster named “Jerry,” a reference to Kramer‘s pet on Seinfeld). Dan also helps his father with about 30 head of cattle.   

“We sell goats to individuals who just want to buy a few goats to start their own little herd,:” said Dan. “And of course, there’s some people that eat goats…it’s actually some pretty good eatin’.”

Dan said he hasn’t seen any bad business despite the recession. He said he had especially strong holiday sales, and that he thinks people are reluctant to give up their hobbies to save money, even in times when money is tight.

“It’s the only hobby shop I go to,” said Joshua Deaver, a customer of Cullman R/C Hobbies.

Actually, according to Dan, it’s the only dedicated RC hobby shop in Cullman. He said they stay fairly busy, but the real key to the shop’s success is their low overhead;  he said he feels this is the reason his store is succeeding while other entertainment businesses, such a big chain movie rental stores, are failing.

The Lolies built a flight field for model airplanes and an RC car race track in the middle of their 20-acre farm. They hold races at 1 p.m. on the first and third Saturdays of every month. They have different race categories and usually race 10 cars at a time, with trophies or plaques for the winners.

“You could be racing with a nine-year-old child, you could be racing with a 60 or 70-year old man. But, usually, the kid’s going to be the one out front,” said Dan.

Dan can repair machinery big and small, and said his love for RC machines may have had a role in developing his larger machine skills. He owns a full-drive Kubota tractor, and he does most of the maintenance work himself to keep costs down.

“We work on about anything and everything, except for water heaters,” said Dan. “I fix airplanes, boats, cars, whatever…it’s just scaled down, it’s just a smaller version of the real thing.”

The Lolies have a few regular customers that are farmers as well.

“I’ve got a couple of chicken farmers that in their down time they might fly a little aviation, a little small remote controlled airplane out back while they’re not working, just to try to relax themselves.,” said Dan.

Cullman R/C hobbies is located at 1631 Highway 69 North, one mile north of Highway 157.

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