The Menards Red Owl Store has arrived ..with pictures

Thanks for the excellent pictures. I love the lighting on this model, it's really well done! I'd just have to pretend Red Owl expanded to the mid-Atlantic area at some point...

expecting mine Thursday,  its going to be a long 3 days !

THANKS! I want one!

At first I thought Sandy was your mechanical bull.  

And the Lennox Semi Trailers may be seeing a repaint !

I'm curious as to where the name "Red Owl" came from. Is there a back story to that? I'm from the south, so the red owl supermarket chain is new to me. I am not criticizing it at all. We have a chain of super markets down here called "Piggly Wiggly" which is an odd name also.

Nice!

tncentrr posted:

I'm curious as to where the name "Red Owl" came from. Is there a back story to that? I'm from the south, so the red owl supermarket chain is new to me. I am not criticizing it at all. We have a chain of super markets down here called "Piggly Wiggly" which is an odd name also.

Have (had) them here as well. Believe the Butera Grocery folks own the brand now.

TShearer posted:

At first I thought Sandy was your mechanical bull.  

And the Lennox Semi Trailers may be seeing a repaint !

 

Mmmm.. another idea....

Bob, great pictures as always! Glad to hear you have big hands! You know what they say!! LOL

Just fixed the red owl.had to take sign off due to how short  the wire was ,easy fix.here are more pictures.

hey Bob 

post a video,  i want to see those roof vents in action.   Ha !

Looks like another nice building from Menards. Thanks for the pics!

Gotta get one, and some of the construction die-cast which I love, but I'm waiting for the next deal, I'm spoiled!

CABINET BOB,

Thank you, for taking the time to post pictures of your new Red Owl Supermarket. Your new building looks great. I'm sure this new structure is going to find its way into many homes. Now, we just have to sit back and wait for the next new building from Menard's.

Interesting to see that Star Trek crewmember behind the counter. 

Well breezinup, at least the "crew member"isn't wearing a "red shirt"!      LOL!

 Very nice 

breezinup posted:

Interesting to see that Star Trek crewmember behind the counter. 

 

This building will be beeming to galaxy near you.  

I am liking it even more now.  The great interior, the lights, and just the overall realism.  I can just picture this exact building all over the Minnesota of my youth.  And I agree that it's nice to have a bright color.  It just pops.  So unique.

Menards - live long and prosper.

I have been looking at red owl threads but don't see a footprint dimensions.  Anyone have one and provide the base dimensions please.

17.5" wide, 8 5/8" deep.

milnyc posted:

17.5" wide, 8 5/8" deep.

Thanks. But now yikes too big for where I have envisioned it.  Have to stay with the IGA store.  Sorry Red Owl, zoning board won't grant a building permit.

rrman posted:

milnyc posted:

17.5" wide, 8 5/8" deep.

Thanks. But now yikes too big for where I have envisioned it.  Have to stay with the IGA store.  Sorry Red Owl, zoning board won't grant a building permit.

Yes, it is big. I have not yet placed it on the layout. I will be redoing my downtown soon.

tncentrr posted:

I'm curious as to where the name "Red Owl" came from. Is there a back story to that? I'm from the south, so the red owl supermarket chain is new to me. I am not criticizing it at all. We have a chain of super markets down here called "Piggly Wiggly" which is an odd name also.

It's also weird that there is no supermarket  chain that covers all 50 states. Everything is localized or regional. And two European store chains(now merged)own a lot of American stores.

Have been looking at this Model at my Local Menard's. Quite impressive. Looks very nice. Thanks for posting these photos. Now have to figure out how to get some cash together for one of these.

Hi Everyone,

Just an update on the Red Owl:

We are completely sold out of the Red Owl Store in our DC. However, they are still available at some Menards locations.

I will post some directions for those of you who would like to order one but are not near a Menards store.

-Mark the Menards Train Guy

Menards posted:

We are completely sold out of the Red Owl Store in our DC. However, they are still available at some Menards locations.

-Mark the Menards Train Guy

I have mine and only need one.....so being sold out is fine....but do you think another run is needed??? Thant's a good sign for Menard's and the hobby.....thx 

AMCDave posted:

Menards posted:

We are completely sold out of the Red Owl Store in our DC. However, they are still available at some Menards locations.

-Mark the Menards Train Guy

I have mine and only need one.....so being sold out is fine....but do you think another run is needed??? Thant's a good sign for Menard's and the hobby.....thx 

Ditto Dave, I knew this was going to be a hot item. It has appeal beyond train people. A lot of people can still remember Red Owl, so it has the added nostalgia factor. I fall into both categories so buying this was a no-brainer.

i ordered when they first went on line and received two bad one in a row and was afraid  they would sell out fast.  so i went to my local manards store and bought one off the shelf. i was able to test and check it out right in the store.  i am glad i did because they sold out a week later.  i am  glad i did as it is one of my favorite buildings.  i would have been sick if i lost out due to all the back and forth.  

Big_Boy_4005 posted:

Ditto Dave, I knew this was going to be a hot item. It has appeal beyond train people. A lot of people can still remember Red Owl, so it has the added nostalgia factor. I fall into both categories so buying this was a no-brainer.

I am sure Mark/Menard's knows this.........

But I feel another reason for the sell out is the building design. It is very much a Mid-Century Modern design. Brick storefronts are a dime a dozen......It's time for new and different designs.  The Red Owl is proof. More MCM, Jet Age and Deco buildings are needed.......and I'll buy them all. Thx

milnyc posted:

rrman posted:

milnyc posted:

17.5" wide, 8 5/8" deep.

Thanks. But now yikes too big for where I have envisioned it.  Have to stay with the IGA store.  Sorry Red Owl, zoning board won't grant a building permit.

Yes, it is big. I have not yet placed it on the layout. I will be redoing my downtown soon.

How many towns wish they could reconfigure themselves just by moving building to new locations like we modelers can!. Of course real towns demolish and build new but if there is an iconic one, well pretty much stuck.

Just like Cedar Rapids tore down a magnificent Union Station to replace it with, ready, .....

a utilitarian 1970s parking garage.  Ugly eyesore still there though added screens to hide concrete walls....sort of..

Out with the old in with the new??

What an awesome building. I don't think anyone is surprised these are selling out fast. 

Another run would be great. How about a Piggly Wiggly for the next batch???!!!

AMCDave posted:

I am sure Mark/Menard's knows this.........

But I feel another reason for the sell out is the building design. It is very much a Mid-Century Modern design. Brick storefronts are a dime a dozen......It's time for new and different designs.  The Red Owl is proof. More MCM, Jet Age and Deco buildings are needed.......and I'll buy them all. Thx

I certainly agree with you about the abundant supply of brick buildings and the need for a much broader selection of more modern buildings as you suggest. I think the newer styles would all be big hits. I have only modern diesels, I do actually like the brick buildings, which I have a few of, but I sure think a mix of more modern ones is desperately needed.

Edit: Mark, with these selling out so quickly maybe larger production runs would be good for Menards and the consumers, a win-win so to speak. I know it's hard to estimate how wellsomething will sell, but Menards seems to be on roll here.

I had never heard of Red Owl, nor was l in a Squiggly-Wiggly although my grandmother mentioned shopping in them in Louisville, Ky, where we shopped A&P (both gone). I want a model of the Safeway as was in Durango where the narrow gauge crossed 550 north of downtown. I think Kroger now owns Safeway, and only remember Walmart in Durango in recent years?

rrman posted:

milnyc posted:

17.5" wide, 8 5/8" deep.

Thanks. But now yikes too big for where I have envisioned it.  Have to stay with the IGA store.  Sorry Red Owl, zoning board won't grant a building permit.

Well the urban planner has figured out how a Red Owl store will fit in to NewTown.  She said the IGA unfortunately will be demolished and the hardware store jacked up and moved about 100 scale feet to make room.

So stopped by Menards and picked up their display model (last one, had two Saturday). Unfortunately the roof vents no longer turned and Red Owl sign was non functional.  The manager and I negotiated "Pawn Stars" style, reaching a fair agreeable price for both sides. For the moment the store will be dark until we are sure this is the place, then I will connect power.  Like that you can connect under store so no unsightly cord sticking up.

Menards posted:

Hi Everyone,

Just an update on the Red Owl:

We are completely sold out of the Red Owl Store in our DC. However, they are still available at some Menards locations.

I will post some directions for those of you who would like to order one but are not near a Menards store.

-Mark the Menards Train Guy

SO, when will the "second run" be mavailable?  Come o n - ya gotta do it.  Thanks  

What a great looking piece!  Specially with Spock at the check stand!

Mark, et al:

In the Midwest (Illinois) during my boyhood in the 1950s, there were no RED OWL stores nearby; rather, Piggly Wiggly and A&P stores. Both were edged out by Safeway and Kroger.  Make a Piggly Wiggly and/or an A&P model and I'll buy one if available online. I now live in central Arkansas, and the nearest Menards store is in Missouri. Since Arkansas is home to Walmart, I don't expect a Menards store opening hereabouts in my lifetime.

Carry on, regardless ...

Mike
(ritrainguy)