Another Hardware Store/Train Shop Calls It Quits

Sorry to hear that.  Little pieces of Americana are becoming harder to find these days.  Looks like a neat place to visit.  I will have to stop by on one of the days I'm at the club.

-Greg

mike.caruso posted:

North Jersey Hardware Store Closing

Saw this in our local newspaper this morning.  For those of you who have visited or are familiar with the whereabouts of the NJ Hi-Railers layout, this store was about 15-20 minutes away.  An interesting place to visit.  Like the article says, you could buy a garden hose, duct tape, nails and screws ....or maybe a Lionel F3 ABA set, along with assorted rolling stock, track and accessories.

The place will always have a bit of a special memory for me.  Years ago, when I knew very few, if any, people in the hobby, I became interested in going to this thing called "York" that I was reading so much about here on the Forum.  In order to join the Eastern Division of TCA and attend you needed those couple of "sponsors."  So in all my naivete I brought the paperwork in during one of my lists and asked the owner if  he would sign for me!  LOL  He was a bit surprised, sort of looking like I had asked him to co-sign a mortgage for me, but he did hesitatingly agree, I later found a second person, and the rest is history.  

So thanks Ken, good luck in retirement.  Sorry to see a place like this go.  A link to the past where trains had a more prominent place in everyday life, and lots of small towns and neighborhoods had hardware stores and other small retail shops where kids of all ages could go and dream.

Is this theone on Union Blvd and Totowa Rd in Totowa, NJ?

Yes, that's the one.

mike.caruso posted:

Yes, that's the one.

What a shame, I use to go there for some parts anf just to look. the only one close for me is National Railroad Worx in Mhwah NJ.

Wishing the owner all the best in retirement, but … these things do stink.

Sorry to hear about the closing being a former Jersey boy.

Coincidently, went to Raleigh Hobbies the other day.   It is a combination of garden tractors and gardening supplies on one side and hobbies on the other.

sorry to hear, we in Northern and Central New York State have watched four hobby train shops close up in recent years.'

I attribute the closings to online sales. Many hobbyests I have spoken with purchase their trains and train goods online

for the ease and price. I also noticed along that same line at train shows that dealers have brought their prices way down

just to try and make some sales instead of carrying stock from show to show to show.

I try my best to make most of my purchases, which is not much these days,  from my LHS, Tom's Trains in Ardsley, NY. The owner, Tom, has been fair in all of his dealings with me.

It's so nice to visit a good LHS, not only for trains, but also scenery materials, train related supplies, etc. Arnold

That is part of the reason we should support our local train stores. They are staffed with people like us that love toy and model trains and help the rest of us in many ways pursue the hobby. The original post tells an excellent story about the owner of a train store helping a hobbyist in a way that did not involve buying anything. When ever we lose a train store, we lose all the support and help the staff can give the rest of us. If you can get the item you want locally, you should get the item locally. Think about it folks. On-line sales are cheaper, but there is a high cost to those low prices.

Sad to see this store closing, its just a few minutes away from me, bought some items there over the years. Friendly and helpful owner, always fun talking trains with him.  This will be the second store in my local area to close within the past 3 years.

Sorry to see this, having gone there it definitely was a throwback to a different era, that is for sure. Can't blame the guy for wanting to step down and take it easy, and like many family businesses there just wasn't anyone to take it over. There is a hardware store near me I am surprised doesn't sell trains, it is such a throwback that they actually still sell ashtrays......yah never know what you find there

RonH posted:

mike.caruso posted:

North Jersey Hardware Store Closing

Saw this in our local newspaper this morning.  For those of you who have visited or are familiar with the whereabouts of the NJ Hi-Railers layout, this store was about 15-20 minutes away.  An interesting place to visit.  Like the article says, you could buy a garden hose, duct tape, nails and screws ....or maybe a Lionel F3 ABA set, along with assorted rolling stock, track and accessories.

The place will always have a bit of a special memory for me.  Years ago, when I knew very few, if any, people in the hobby, I became interested in going to this thing called "York" that I was reading so much about here on the Forum.  In order to join the Eastern Division of TCA and attend you needed those couple of "sponsors."  So in all my naivete I brought the paperwork in during one of my lists and asked the owner if  he would sign for me!  LOL  He was a bit surprised, sort of looking like I had asked him to co-sign a mortgage for me, but he did hesitatingly agree, I later found a second person, and the rest is history.  

So thanks Ken, good luck in retirement.  Sorry to see a place like this go.  A link to the past where trains had a more prominent place in everyday life, and lots of small towns and neighborhoods had hardware stores and other small retail shops where kids of all ages could go and dream.

Is this theone on Union Blvd and Totowa Rd in Totowa, NJ?

 

Yes! I have to go now! This sucks! Even ogr did a story on the store and their personal layout some decades ago! This is how I found out about the place!