"We started manufacturing our own rockets about four years ago, and that is some of what is driving our growth today," Broadway said.
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Broadway works with the museum regularly to offer rocketry programs. He also collaborates with the Wright Stuff Rocketeers, a local chapter of the National Association of Rocketry, to provide meeting space and plan outreach events.
"My favorite customers are always the ones that are from out of town and they decided to come in for a day at the Air Force Museum. And then either before or after they stop in for an hour or two and see us," he said.
The store has options for any level from beginner to advanced, and has open house events every Tuesday from 6 to 8:30 p.m. to help customers get started. The most frequent customers are those who grew up in the ’60s when Appollo was flying and continued a hobby formed then. Others are fathers wanting to start an activity with their children.
Some local rocket fans frequent the store weekly, including 65-year-old Mark McBride who drives up from Cincinnati every week for the open house and meeting of the Wright Stuff Rocketeers. The retired Miami University professor sometimes makes a trip a second time during the week. He first became interested in rockets when he was in the Civil Air Patrol for five years beginning at age 12.
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Carter de Werd, 60 of Urbana, also frequents to the store, moving from smaller rockets to bigger over the last 15 years since he rekindled a childhood hobby.
"It's a great place to build and he's got a paint booth we can use, so you don't have to stink up your house or your garage," de Werd said. "He's got a nice work area. He's got tools we can use. He's got a metal cutter.
Broadway started the company nearly a decade ago after he was downsized out of a role at Meijer’s corporate offices in Michigan. During the first three months, the store only brought in $1,000, Broadway said.
In addition to increased outreach, Broadway said his business is growing because general aerospace interest is growing. The local chapter of the National Association of Rocketry has 34 members. Nationally the group has 7,000 members, up from 5,000 five years ago, he said.
“It’s sparked some interest back into schools and museums and people and general who are becoming kind of space fanatics again,” Broadway said.
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