Houston's Hobby Store
Where Houston's Hobbyists Are Forged
Houston's Hobby Store for Citadel, Vallejo, AK Interactive, Army Painter and Every Brush, Base and Battle Mat You Need | Fully Stocked Wall to Wall | Where Houston's Hobbyists Are Forged
The Forge Hobbies & Games is a hobby store in Houston, TX that stocks six lines of miniature paint, hobby tools, basing supplies, wargaming terrain, battle mats and TCG accessories under one roof at 15123 Memorial Dr, Houston, TX 77079
. You will find us at Memorial and Eldridge, across from Fire Station 78, on the west side of the Energy Corridor.
If you've ever driven across Houston chasing one pot of Citadel Contrast or one Vallejo dropper bottle, this page was written for you. Our paint wall exists so that trip ends here.
Verified community standing across 150+ Google reviews.
Full stock of Citadel, Vallejo, AK, Army Painter, Pro Acryl, & Two Thin Coats.
Custom terrain tables, an open paint station, and two private RPG rooms.
Events every night. Miniature wargaming anchors Monday through Saturday.
Fresh reinforcements. All new releases hit the shelves every Saturday morning.
Upcoming Gaming Events Near You
Browse the Latest Tournaments, Tabletop Sessions, Card Game Meetups, and Special Events in Your City.
Hobby Store Houston
Here's the Truth About Finding a Hobby Store in Houston
Most Houston hobbyists shop at three or four different stores because no single shelf carries every paint brand they use. Citadel from one shop, Vallejo from another, basing supplies from a craft store, and brushes from wherever has them this week. That scavenger hunt is the problem The Forge was built to solve.
We stock the brands side by side so you can compare a Speedpaint against a Contrast paint in the same aisle, in person, before you spend a dollar. Our staff paint what we sell, and they will tell you plainly which bottle fits your project.
“One of the best paint selections of any hobby store in Houston. They carry Citadel (games workshop), AK paints, Vallejo, and army painter! My first stop for anything hobby or miniature related.”— Jacob Simms, Google review
Best Miniature Paint Store Houston
The Armory: Six Miniature Paint Brands on One Wall
The Forge carries Citadel, Vallejo, Army Painter, AK Interactive, Pro Acryl and Two Thin Coats. The table below is the same guidance our staff give at the counter.
| Paint Brand | Best For | Good to Know |
|---|---|---|
| Citadel | Warhammer painters following Games Workshop color schemes | Base, Layer, Shade, Contrast and Technical paints stocked |
| Vallejo | Painters who want dropper bottles and fine control | We stock Vallejo hobby ranges. We do not stock Model Color or Air lines |
| Army Painter | Speed painting whole armies with one-coat Speedpaint | Speedpaint plus brushes, primers and basing supplies |
| AK Interactive | Weathering, effects and 3rd generation acrylics | Stocked, except the Wargames Series and Real Color lines |
| Pro Acryl | High-pigment paints in dropper bottles for brush painters | A newer favorite among our regulars |
| Two Thin Coats | Bright, smooth layering paints | Wave 1 of the range in stock |
"Friendly staff, well stocked. Battletech, Warhammer, Armada.... ask here! They just added the Two Thin Coats line of paint."— John Z, Google review
How to Pick Your First Miniature Paints
Picking Your First Paints Without Wasting Money
A new painter needs a primer, four to six colors, a wash and one decent brush, which runs far less than most starter bundles suggest. Tell us what you are painting and we will build that list bottle by bottle instead of selling you a boxed set you half use.
If You Are Painting Warhammer
Start with Citadel so your colors match the schemes in Games Workshop guides. A spray, a few Base paints and one Shade will carry your first squad.
If You Are Batch Painting
Army Painter Speedpaint covers a model in one coat. It is the fastest road from gray plastic to a table-ready army, alongside matching primers.
If You Are Chasing Display Quality
Pro Acryl and Two Thin Coats reward patient brushwork. Pair either with AK Interactive effects for weathering, rust and grime.
"This place has every brand of miniature paint and then some. I was looking at the paint markers and asked a question about opacity. The employee pulled out her personal stash and a test model primed black on one side and white on the other so I could see for myself."— Michael Richard, Google review
Hobby Brushes, Sprue Cutters,
and the Tools That Save Your Minis
Good tools prevent the two most common new-hobbyist disasters: torn sprue gates and glued fingerprints on a fresh model. The Forge stocks the full bench of hobby supplies so your kit goes together clean the first time.
We provide everything needed to ensure your miniatures are assembled with professional precision.
- Hobby Brushes: Sizes for basecoating, layering and detail work.
- Sprue Cutters: Nip flush so you sand less and swear less.
- Adhesives: Plastic glue and super glue for plastic, resin and metal models.
- Cleanup: Hobby knives and spare blades for mold lines and cleanup.
- Modification: Magnets, putty and greenstuff for weapon swaps and gap filling.
- Protection: Cutting mats to protect the table you assemble on.
A finished base is the difference between a painted model and a finished model. We carry bases in every standard size, textured pastes, tufts and static grass in dozens of styles, plus movement trays for rank-and-file armies and battle mats to fight over.
- Complete Your Army: Add mountains of free-to-use in-store terrain on our 20+ tables.
- Immediate Play: Test your newly based army the same day you finish it.
Houston TCG Supplies
TCG Supplies: Card Sleeves, Deck Boxes, Playmats, Binders and Dice
The Forge stocks TCG supplies, sleeves, deck boxes, playmats, and binders for every card game we sell, including MTG, Pokémon TCG, One Piece TCG, Gundam TCG, Flesh and Blood and Riftbound. Sleeve brands on the shelf are Dragon Shield and Ultra Pro.
We sell sealed product, not singles. If you are hunting one specific card, our Discord community is a friendly place to arrange trades with other Houston players.
Dragon Shield and Ultra Pro card sleeves in standard and Japanese sizes
Deck boxes and binders for collections large and small
Playmats for tournament tables and kitchen tables alike
Dice for every system, from d6 bricks to full polyhedral sets
Warhammer Store Houston
Warhammer Miniatures and Games Workshop Models,
Restocked Every Saturday
New releases hit our shelves every Saturday, including Warhammer 40K, Age of Sigmar, Kill Team, Necromunda, Horus Heresy and The Old World. Beyond Games Workshop models we stock BattleTech, Star Wars Legion, Star Wars Shatterpoint, Marvel Crisis Protocol, Conquest, Warmachine, Bolt Action and more.
One honest note: current-production Games Workshop kits can usually be ordered if they are not on the shelf, but we cannot guarantee stock if Games Workshop is out, and expert kits are not available. We would rather tell you that up front than promise a kit we cannot get.
Weekly Warhammer 40K play runs alongside competitive RTTs on the 2nd Saturday of each month. See the full calendar on our events and booking page.
“I recently picked up Warhammer 40K as a hobby (just as a painter, collector). I found The Forge a few months into my hobby and haven't gone anywhere else since. The staff is super friendly, the selection is excellent and everyone is very knowledgeable and helpful.”— Adam Edwards, Google review
Learn to Paint Miniatures in Houston
Paint at the Store: The Learning Center
You do not have to paint alone at a kitchen table. The Forge runs an open paint station inside the store, paint-and-take workshops, and learn-to-play sessions through our Learning Center, all inside The Stronghold, our medieval-themed hobby space.
Your First Paint Session
A Step-by-Step Guide for New Hobbyists
The Entry
Walk in and tell us what you want to paint. Staff will point you to the right paints and a seat at the open paint station.
The Council
Paint with people who can help. Our regulars and Forgemasters answer questions in real time, from thinning paints to edge highlighting.
The Structure
Book a workshop when you want structure. Paint-and-take workshops and staff-led demos are booked through Square.
The Victory
Come back and level up. Events run 7 nights a week, providing an immediate table to put your finished models on.
"They have the best paint selection of any store I have been to. You can even paint a mini in store if you have time using their store paint options."— Nathaniel W., Google review
"The employees are friendly, funny, and are passionate about board games. They helped me with tips on how paint my first mini!!"— N A, Google review
Houston Hobby Shop Referrals
What We Don't Carry
(And Where We'd Send You)
No hobby store in Houston carries everything. We would rather point you to the right shop than send you home empty-handed.
Located at 2029 Southwest Fwy, G&G has been building Houston modelers since 1945 and is the oldest hobby shop in Texas. For scale aircraft, armor, ships, and trains, they are the definitive experts to see.
8th Dimension Comics & Games(The Heights) and Fat Ogre Games & Comics(The Woodlands) both pair strong comic walls with gaming space. Fat Ogre is also a solid north-side option for Warhammer players.
Asgard Games on S Shepherd Dr is a Montrose-area staple with near-daily events. If you live inside the Loop and want a close-to-home MTG night, they run a great room.
We do not stock these specific lines. For TCG singles, Lorcana, Yu-Gi-Oh!, and Digimon, a singles-focused card shop will serve you better for finding specific individual cards.
The paint wall, hobby supplies, wargaming terrain and a building designed for playing miniature games every night of the week.
Houston Hobby Store Directions
From Memorial to Katy to Baytown:
Hobbyists Drive to The Forge From All Over Houston
The Forge sits at 15123 Memorial Dr, Houston, TX 77079 in the Energy Corridor, minutes off I-10 and Eldridge Pkwy. This central placement puts most of west Houston within a 20 minute drive.
| Where You Live | Direction From The Forge | Drive Time |
|---|---|---|
| Energy Corridor, Memorial, Tealwood | Local You are already here | 5–10 mins |
| Memorial City, Bunker Hill Village, Hedwig Village, Spring Valley Village, Hunters Creek Village, Piney Point Village, Hilshire Village | East East on I-10 or Memorial Dr | 10–15 mins |
| Katy, Cinco Ranch | West West on I-10 | 15–25 mins |
| Bellaire, West University Place, Southside Place, Brays Oaks | S.East Southeast via Beltway 8 | 20–30 mins |
| Cypress, Jersey Village, Tomball, Waller, Brookshire | North North and west | 25–40 mins |
| Missouri City, Stafford, Pearland | South South via Beltway 8 | 30–45 mins |
| Baytown, Deer Park, Channelview, Sheldon, Crosby, Highlands, Galena Park, Jacinto City, Cloverleaf, Barrett, Morgan's Point, Shoreacres | Far East East across town | 35–55 mins |
Houston Game Store Hours & Location
Visit The Forge: Hours, Location and Your First Trip
15123 Memorial Dr, Houston, TX 77079. (at Memorial and Eldridge)
he Forge Hobbies & Games is open 7 days a week at 15123 Memorial Dr, Houston, TX 77079, at Memorial and Eldridge across from Fire Station 78. Call (832) 544-1786 or email theforgehouston@gmail.com with stock questions before you drive.
Founded on December 3, 2021 by owner Sam Stilley, The Forge grew from a west Houston game store into the hobby hub it is now. The store's heart owes much to the late Dallas Collett, our Forgemaster, whose kindness still shows up in reviews from first-time visitors.
New releases land every Saturday, Pokémon TCG plays Saturday nights at 6 PM with Professor Bryan, our certified Pokémon judge, and miniature games run Monday through Saturday. Browse what we play or our Warhammer page before your first visit.
Table of Service
"Wonderful shop and Dallas was very friendly and helpful. They have a great selection of miniature paints that I couldn't find in-person elsewhere. So glad I stopped by on my way through town." (Julien Banta, Google review)
"A super friendly and knowledgeable staff combined with every night being a game-themed play event, makes it really easy for almost anyone from a total novice to the hardened expert to have a community to play with." (The Flying Hun Archery and Leather, Google review)
Frequently Asked Questions Houston
Frequently Asked Questions
Consult the Master Codex for clarity on logistics, community, and the hobbyist's path within The Forge.
The Forge stocks Citadel, Vallejo, Army Painter, AK Interactive, Pro Acryl and Two Thin Coats (wave 1). A few exceptions apply: we do not stock Vallejo Model Color, Model Air, Game Air or Mecha Color, and we skip AK Interactive's Wargames Series and Real Color lines. Call (832) 544-1786 to confirm a specific color before you drive across Houston for it.
Yes. The Forge has an open paint station where you can sit down and paint during store hours. Bring your own models and paints, or grab what you need off the wall. Staff and regulars are around to help with technique questions, and paint-and-take workshops run regularly for painters who want guided sessions. Booking for workshops goes through Square.
Yes. We stock Warhammer 40K, Age of Sigmar, Kill Team, Necromunda, Horus Heresy and The Old World, with new releases every Saturday. Current-production Games Workshop kits can usually be ordered if they are not on the shelf, though we cannot guarantee availability when Games Workshop is out of stock, and expert kits are not available. Our Warhammer page lists the current play schedule.
No. The Forge focuses on tabletop miniatures, so we do not carry plastic scale model kits or Gunpla model kits. We do carry the Gundam TCG as sealed product. For scale models, trains and Gunpla, G&G Model Shop at 2029 Southwest Fwy has served Houston since 1945 and is the store we recommend.
No. We sell sealed product, not singles. That covers MTG, Pokémon TCG, One Piece TCG, Gundam TCG, Flesh and Blood and Riftbound, alongside Dragon Shield and Ultra Pro sleeves, deck boxes, playmats, binders and dice. For trading, our Discord community connects Houston players who buy, sell and trade with each other.
Yes. The Forge is built beginner-first, with a Learning Center, learn-to-play sessions and one-on-one staff-led demos at the front table. Demos use small store demo sets for most games and are booked through Square. Real reviews back this up: new painters regularly mention getting their first-mini tips from our staff.
New releases hit shelves every Saturday. That covers Games Workshop releases, new TCG sets and board games. Saturday is also our biggest day, with doors open 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM and Pokémon TCG at 6 PM with Professor Bryan, our certified Pokémon judge. Arrive early on big release weekends.
We are at 15123 Memorial Dr, Houston, TX 77079, at Memorial and Eldridge across from Fire Station 78. Hours: Monday 12:00 PM to 11:00 PM, Tuesday through Thursday 12:00 PM to 10:00 PM, Friday 12:00 PM to 11:00 PM, Saturday 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM, and Sunday 12:00 PM to 8:00 PM. Phone: (832) 544-1786.
All bookings and tickets go through Square. That includes paint-and-take workshops, one-on-one demos and our two private RPG rooms, which can be booked up to 4 weeks ahead. Open-play tables are first come, first served and cannot be reserved. Start from our events and booking page and you will land on the right Square link.
Contact the Forgemasters for deeper inquiries at (832) 544-1786
Words of the Gamer
Connect with Gamers:
Join Our Online Community
Join The Forge's vibrant gaming community on Facebook and Discord, the go-to online hubs for Houston's gaming enthusiasts! Our conversation never ends – connect with fellow gamers, stay informed about the latest events at our hobby store, and share your epic gaming moments. Whether you're seeking advice, looking for a gaming group in Houston, or just wanting to chat about your favorite games, our digital doors are always open. Engage with our active online community, a place where passion for gaming thrives.
Your Next Paint Session Starts at The Forge
Come stand in front of the paint wall and pick your next project. Citadel, Vallejo, Army Painter, AK Interactive, Pro Acryl and Two Thin Coats are stocked and waiting at 15123 Memorial Dr, Houston, TX 77079, with a paint station, mountains of free-to-use in-store terrain and events 7 nights a week.
Call (832) 544-1786 · Book a Workshop or Demo · Or just walk in. We are open 7 days a week.
“Great staff, easily one of if not the best store in all of Houston in regards to miniature paint selections.”— Elijah Higginbotham, Google review