Dave's Hobby Shop is located in the Historic District of Van Buren, Arkansas, just west of the Arkansas & Missouri Railroad Depot. We are at 600 Main Street, right on the corner at 6th & Main in what is known as the Anheuser Busch Building.

The building is on the National Historic Register and according to sources, was built in 1892. It is said to be one of the last remaining Anheuser Busch Ice House left standing. A year long endeavor of rehabilitating the interior is finished and over the next years (2006/2007 and on) a concentrated effort will be made to return the outside to original condition. The outside still maintains the last known A and Eagle emblem of the Anheuser Ice Houses on the front and large letters spelling out "Anheuser Busch" are on the 6th street side of the building. The front entry way is adorned with Anheuser Busch tiles. Upstairs has original doors and transoms and beautiful woodwork. Visible, but not working of course, is the original tube wiring and sockets, along with the original breaker boxes. Downstairs finds a magnificent vintage 1843 front and back bar in mint condition which was kept as part of the building along with a large safe.

Great efforts were taken to ensure that no materially damaging construction was done as Dave's Hobby Shop was placed into operation in the building. All wood work was done by hand by the owners and all cases and fixtures custom fitted to the floor plan. All walls, ceilings and floors were maintained in the condition found or revitalized as needed. The lights in the building are all energy efficient florescent bulbs and fixtures except for 6 small incandescence specialty applications. Specialized lighting was used to high light the magnificent ceiling and floors. A gentle mix of old and new blends the atmosphere very nicely. The building is a center piece building in Van Buren, Arkansas.

This website will be one of continual change and updates as the building is brought into a original state by the owners.

This is how things looked in June of 2004 just after we moved in to renovate.
Windows are papered so tools wouldn't be seen and stolen when left unattended.
Rumours galore ! Telemarketing, gambling, all types of things going on behind that paper !
One year was spent cleaning and renovating and we opened the doors September 2005

• View the interior, September 2005
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• The Anheuser Busch Building exterior as found in May 2004
• The Anheuser Busch Building interior as found in May 2004
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• The Anheuser Busch Building after a short rehabilitation by Oct 2005
• The Anheuser Busch Building outside as rehabilitation starts
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• What is a Anheuser Busch Ice House ?
• Occupants and uses of the Anheuser Busch Ice House over the years
• Ghosts, shadows and other strange stuff in the Ice House !
• Drawings, Maps and Pictures of the Anheuser Busch Building
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• Main Street Van Buren Pictures

View the LIVE Main Street video camera

ENJOY !