Hobbyshop recommanded wanted (midwest)

When I go to OKC in 2 weeks I'll stop by Whistlestop Hobbies on the NW side of OKC.  A nice older trains-only shop with some new and used Lionel.

Chuck, are you looking for a Lionel dealer that sells new Lionel?  There is a good shop here in St. Louis but they are exclusively used: prewar, postwar, and modern.

Train Town

Berwyn Trains is a Forum sponser, located on old Route 66 on the SW side of Chicago.   John

I shop at Chicagoland Hobby (in Chicago) & Berwyn’s Toy Trains & Model’s (in Berwyn IL) on a regular basis.

I also stop in at America’s Best Hobbies (Itasca IL) when in their neighborhood.

To paraphrase Will Rodgers:

I’ve never visited a hobby shop that I didn’t like !!!

CB&Q Bill

If you're going to be just outside of Chicago in northwest Indiana, check out the "I Love Toy Trains" store in Michigan City, Indiana.  Lionel Heaven.

Also in the Chicago area is Des Plaines Hobbies, near ORD.

-John

I'll 3rd Berwyns. I'd put them on the top of your Chicago list.

It's by far the largest and most organized store.

Thank you gentlemen for your suggestions! Will check them out.

Chuck all good selections listed above and don't overlook Des Plaines for more of a modelers shop.

Hard to beat Americas Best in terms of volume, most in the Chicago area for sure, both new and used. Berwyn also good and Tom is a nice guy.

Charlie

When I was in St. Louis last year chasing the Big Boy with some of my club friends, we visited the following shops (and we found stuff to buy in each of them):

Mark Twain Hobby Center
2793 West Clay Street
St. Charles MO  63301

Switch Stand
9120 Lackland Road
Saint Louis, MO  63114

Train Town LLC
9832 Manchester Road
St. Louis, MO  63119

Schaefer Hobby Shop
11659 Gravois Road
St. Louis, MO  63126

Rodney's Trains & Toys
9622 Gravois Road
St. Louis, MO  63123

We visited all but one in one day, and I suspect that if done in the right order, all could be visited in a day.

Andy

Here is my list of Chicago area hobby shops (with phone numbers); most have some O gauge equipment:

America's Best Toys and Trains

865 Maplewood Dr.  Itasca, IL  60143

630-467-1102

Berwyn's Toys and Trains

7025 W. Ogden Ave.  Berwyn, IL  60402

708-484-4384

Chicagoland Hobby

6017 N Northwest Hwy.  Chicago, IL  60631

773-775-4848

Choo-Choo Works Hobbies (mostly older equipment, mostly used)

9555 W Lincoln Hwy (US 30)  Frankfort, IL  60423

815-464-3314

(Just east of La Grange Rd, on south side of street.)

Denny's Trains and Things (call ahead to make sure he is there)

116 S. Main St.  Oswego, IL  60453

630-554-6964

Des Plaines Hobby

1524 N. Lee (Mannheim) Ave.  Des Plaines, IL  60018-1517

847-297-2118

Lombard Hobbies (Little to no O gauge)

524 E. St Charles Pl.  Lombard, IL   60148

630-620-1084

Walt's Hobby Shop

2207 Plainfield Rd.  Crest Hill, IL 60403

815-741-0043