The Anchorage House of Hobbies was started in May of 1964 by Raymond and Ruth Raffuse, after the massive earthquake that damaged the area. The first location was at the corner of 5th Ave and G St, where we sold wood and plastic models, model railroad, leather working and fletching supplies. Then to the corner of 6th and Ingra and remained open until 2002. In the early 70’s we opened our first Spen
ard Road location just East of Gwennies restaurant. That location remained in service until 1988, when the city widened Spenard Road and tore down that building. In the late 70’s we had a location on Mountain View Drive, which stayed open until the mid 80’s. For a very short time in the early 80’s there was a location on Tudor, near Lake Otis. Also early in the 80’s we opened a location on Old Seward just North of Dimond Blvd. That location remained until 1996. In 1988, when we closed the initial Spenard location, a separate business, Spenard Hobby, was closing its doors permanently after 35 years. We were able to move from our previous position on Spenard, into their old building at the corner of Spenard and Benson. The transition was so quick, that many long time Anchorage residents still believe we are the same business as Spenard Hobby. We occupied that 2000sqft building for over 20 years, and after closing the 6th and Ingra location, it was our only remaining store. In 2010, we moved into our current 6000sqft location at 2803 Spenard Road, on the corner of Spenard and Northern Lights. Ray Raffuse came to Alaska through his on Elmendorf AFB, installing radio equipment as a contractor. He had met his wife, Ruth, while stationed in Hawaii for the Navy. There they had two children, Joan and Jim. After serving in the Army as well, stationed in Spokane WA, Ray made the trek to Alaska. His family came afterward, and they started the Anchorage House of Hobbies. Joan was 9 and Jim was 8, working behind the counter, straightening shelves, and cleaning. After highschool, Jim operated the the Spenard locations, while Joan operated the Old Seward shop. Ray passed away in 1988 due to a sudden heart attack. It was a major, and unexpected setback for our family. His legacy of educating and ingenuity through fun lives on. Ruth retired in 2002, at the closure of the 6th and Ingra location. And Joan moved away from the family business after closing the Old Seward store. Jim, and his son Ryan, made the move into the 2803 building, fulfilling Ray’s goal of having one single larger central location. Jim moved into retirement in July of 2016, after over 50 years in the family business. The business is now in its 3rd generation, with Ryan at the helm and big plans for the future.
