Where can you buy Li-Ions locally?

[Jossh]

I went to Battery Mart yesterday and asked for a couple of 14500 size 3.7V Li-Ions with the protection circuit. They asked me what I was using them for. I guess I wasn't specific enough about the type of battery I was looking for so I told them that they were for a homemade e-cig box mod. The dude told me that they probably didn't carry batteries for those...WTF? Turned out that he was right, they didn't have any protected 14500's.
I came home and ordered the bateries off Amazon, but I'm curious. Has anyone had any luck buying these type of batteries at a local brick-and-mortar store?

 

[Bozzlite]

Although there are many places on-line to buy Li-Ion batteries, I have never seen them in a brick and mortar.

 

[oplholik]

The only place that might be possible, if you can find such a place, is a shop that sells the higher end flashlights that these batts are used in. Might try calling a security guard service and asking if they know of a B&m that has 3.7v batts. Good luck.

Although those batts may not be protected.

 

[Switched]

The avg store does not carry what we need unless it is a ecig supply store.

 

[HawkeyeFLA]

Someone mentioned hobby shops that carry RC cars. Next time I am in downtown Orlando I plan to check out the big one there to see what they might have. Of course it's also my camera store, so I will leave depressed because of all the fun camera stuff I can't afford right now.