How a Cumming Airline Pilot Turned a Gundam Hobby Into a Growing Community Shop
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In a modest strip center along Atlanta Road in Cumming, a highly specialized hobby shop has quietly built a following among model builders and science-fiction fans from across the North Atlanta suburbs. The store, called The Gundam Place, focuses on plastic model kits based on the Japanese Gundam franchise — detailed robot figures that enthusiasts assemble piece by piece.
Behind the shop is David Leyva, a Forsyth County resident and commercial airline pilot who turned a lifelong interest in model building into a niche business.
A Hobby That Started in Tokyo
The idea for the store traces back to a trip Leyva took to Tokyo. During that visit he encountered a detailed robot model from the Gundam universe, a Japanese science-fiction franchise that has produced television series, films, novels, and a vast line of collectible model kits.
For Leyva, who had grown up building military aircraft models, the experience was immediately compelling. The Gundam kits combined the careful assembly of traditional model building with the imaginative design of futuristic machines.
The models are known for their mechanical complexity. Builders start with plastic frames and gradually assemble articulated arms, legs, panels, and internal components until the finished figure resembles a fully engineered robot.
Building a Community Around Model Kits
Years later, Leyva decided to turn that interest into a business. The result was The Gundam Place, a retail shop that sells Gundam model kits and related supplies while also functioning as a gathering space for hobbyists.
Inside the store, customers often sit together at long tables assembling models during group building sessions. These meetups allow both beginners and experienced builders to work on projects while sharing techniques and advice.
The shop now carries dozens of different kits and has developed a loyal customer base across metro Atlanta. Some visitors discover the store online, while others hear about it through the Gundam building community and travel to Cumming specifically to visit the shop.
A Specialized Retail Niche in South Forsyth
Specialty hobby stores have become increasingly rare as online retail has expanded. But highly focused shops like The Gundam Place have continued to find audiences by offering both products and a physical place for enthusiasts to gather.
For many customers, the appeal goes beyond buying model kits. The shop provides a space where builders can meet others who share the same interest in engineering, design, and science-fiction culture.
Phone: (706) 534-2774
580 Atlanta Rd, Suite 202-B, Cumming Georgia 30040
Retail Store Hours
Tuesday – Friday: 12pm – 7pm
Saturday: 10am – 7pm
Sunday : 1pm – 6pm
Monday: closed
The story was originally reported by the Forsyth Herald.
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