I am going through Charlotte NC next week on business and need to know if there are any good o-gauge / lionel / mth type train stores nearby.
Any suggestions are appreciated.
Thank you.
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Charlotte is a dead zone for the hobby in terms of hobby shops. I live about thirty minutes South of it. The last shop closed some time ago. However, in Spencer NC, there is a hobby shop located close to the NC Transportation Museum.
David,
The only thing left in Charlotte and Pineville are the Hobbie Town USA stores.
They have a very limited selection of Lionel items in stock. Most of the train items in both stores are more for the HO and N scale crowd.
I've heard of a train store in Locust,NC but I've never been there to see what all they have in stock. At one time there where 3 good store in the Charlotte area that carried trains. You'll be better to search on Google for Charlotte Area Hobby Shops just to save you the time and money.
I moved from Charlotte in 2003.....but still have family there. It's the only major city I travel to on a regular basis that has no REAL hobby shops. All of the shops I'd go to on a regular basis are gone. Charlotte Electric Train, Whistle Stop Hobbies, Modelers Hobby, Trains LTD LLC, Science and Hobbies, Deb's model car and Hobby, Toy Circus (worked there and we carried good trains because of that!) and going way back Johnny's toy and Hobby a great store in it's day. ALL gone now replaced by two franchised shops that have little if any trains or anything else.
PS....hope you;re well Sean!!!!
I will have to put my vote in for the train loft in Winston-Salem. Yes, Jeff's prices are usually MSRP, however he offers excellent customer service and he knows his stuff about o-gauge. He has tons of premier steam and diesel on display in the store and more rolling stock than you can shake a stick at. Jeff has been in the business for at least 20 years. I honestly dont think there is an o-gauge store in NC that can compete with the Train Loft as far as the number of items on display in the store. I like the Little Choo Choo shop in Salisbury, but they have virtually nothing in the store to look at. And, like I said earlier, Jeff will give you great service after the sale......try getting that with your on-line dealers with the super low prices!
David,
if you get up to Greensboro stop into Greensboro Electric Trains. Nice selection of Lionel and MTH. Mike is a good guy and will work with you on the price.
Dave
