P&D Hobby Shop Liquidation Sale

Sorry to read. Good people.

@Andrew Steiner posted:

I may not always have been the regular customer at P&D Hobby Shop in Fraser, MI, but this is another victim of online shopping and the post pandemic ...

Actually it's more a victim of the driving force (Pat) passing on.

There's a lot of this happening lately in our hobby.

In each case the same question comes up: Who's going to take over?

Thanks for the many, many good years Pat.  We miss you.

Mike

@Mellow Hudson Mike posted:

Actually it's more a victim of the driving force (Pat) passing on.

There's a lot of this happening lately in our hobby.

In each case the same question comes up: Who's going to take over?

Thanks for the many, many good years Pat.  We miss you.

Mike

Ouch. You have a point. I don't know what hobby shop owners do outside of their business other than have families to spend time with.

Speaking of families, I do recall that Empire Hobbies was run by an excellent family who treated me like I was one of their family, and their names were Ken, Jake, and Sandy. It turns out that Ken and Sandy retired from managing and owning the store, and Jake must have went on to finish school, meaning that poor Empire Hobbies closed in the summer of 2019. It was a great place when I started going there at 18 years old.

I only got to P &D twice, wanted to get there much more, but it was a long drag to the area and around Detroit.  With changes and downsizing of Chicago O scale stores, there was nothing else in the Midwest.  So now, what can be considered a source for O scale and parts?  I haven't even heard of one in the North East...Sorry this is happening..

The adult children tried to keep it open, they say P&D will still offer parts online after the store closes.

@colorado hirailer posted:

I only got to P &D twice, wanted to get there much more, but it was a long drag to the area and around Detroit.  With changes and downsizing of Chicago O scale stores, there was nothing else in the Midwest.  So now, what can be considered a source for O scale and parts?  I haven't even heard of one in the North East...Sorry this is happening..

Charles Ro in Malden, Mass and Northeast Trains in Peabody, Mass, both have brick and mortar stores (as well as on-line sales) in the North East and are well stocked.

There are several other stores scattered about in New England.

@Richie C. posted:

Charles Ro in Malden, Mass and Northeast Trains in Peabody, Mass, both have brick and mortar stores (as well as on-line sales) in the North East and are well stocked.

There are several other stores scattered about in New England.

Charles Ro, though, does not sell parts.

@colorado hirailer posted:

I only got to P &D twice, wanted to get there much more, but it was a long drag to the area and around Detroit.  With changes and downsizing of Chicago O scale stores, there was nothing else in the Midwest.  So now, what can be considered a source for O scale and parts?  I haven't even heard of one in the North East...Sorry this is happening..

I've been to the Berwyn Train Store in the Chicago area with my dad, not to mention Zitnik's Trains in Pinellas Park, FL, Depot Town & Hobby in Cleveland, OH, another one in Youngstown, OH, and two or three stores in Pennsylvania.

This is always a problem with a family business.  Sometimes there are no relatives to leave the business to.  Often the kids and other relatives want to pursue their own life dreams which might not include their parent's dreams.  I wish everyone at P&D well.  NH Joe

P & D Parts order placed today for some super detail parts and P48 wheelsets, fingers crossed.  Email says order in process so hopefully I get all I need.  P&D and Des Plaines were my "go to" for super detailing supplies and with the deaths of Pat and Ron I feel like a huge hole has emerged in the hobby.  I started shopping at both of those stores in the late 80's.  Glad Des Plaines is still going, GREAT store!!

Placed an internet order Wednesday and it shipped yesterday.

Also, called to make an adjustment to that order and it was promptly handled before shipping, of course.

Same excellent service as always.

Guys,  Do not forget Caboose Stop Hobbies in Cedar Falls, IA.

Dick

I stated "O scale", for parts and all the bits and pieces a modeler needs.  Very few stores want to sell anything but big ticket Big Boys.  One Chicago shop converted over from scale to "tinplate", but l don't have to go to Chicago for "tinplate".  So where do l now go for the dwindled supply of O scale parts and details?

@colorado hirailer posted:

So where do l now go for the dwindled supply of O scale parts and details?

To shows and meets,, direct from manufacturer, and then online from the manufacturer or eBay where they have a store set up.  The number of physical shops that actually stock O scale parts and details is round about nearly nil.