Diane Poole
Craig Giattina of Grant's Tools and Hobby Shop
Craig Giattina displays a pickleball paddle.
Grant’s Tools & Hobby Shop in Trussville began with a simple goal: helping a young boy learn how to fix what he breaks. Grant started racing go-karts at age 5, and repairing RC cars became an ideal way for him to learn hands-on problem solving. As his interest grew, his parents, Craig and Peggy Giattina, realized Trussville needed a local place to buy parts and learn the hobby — without driving across town. Their solution became a full-fledged business serving hobbyists of all ages.
The shop specializes in remote-control cars, crawlers, planes, boats, motorcycles and seasonal items like model rockets. RC cars remain the top sellers, with fast “basher” cars popular in the summer and crawlers in the fall. The store carries disc golf gear, pickleball equipment, puzzles, models, trains and a full array of specialty tools — an area strengthened by Craig’s 25 years’ experience as a mechanic and tool-truck operator.
Service is a cornerstone of the business. The Giattinas repair hobby-grade products, honor warranties, special order parts and go out of their way to give beginners honest guidance about what they truly need. They also match online pricing when possible — something Craig says is essential in the fight to keep small, local hobby shops alive.
Grant’s Tools & Hobby Shop stays engaged in the community through Chamber involvement and local merchant events. Most importantly, the family strives to offer a warm, welcoming space. “We want people to feel like family,” Craig said. “Come in, hang out and support your local hobby shop.”
