Our closes one is a little over 3000 miles away. Don
I count my blessings that I have access to several good LHS in central Ohio. Since the restrictions lifted I have visited and picked up several items at Robbie’s Hobbies and Moody St Trains. Both have a large selection of O gauge trains, with a good mix of new and used items. Robbies Hobbies also has a lot of toys, which makes it easy to talk my six year old son into coming with me. He likes trains too, so we make an outing of it. Nothing better than a weekend trip to the LHS with my son. I feel bad for those of you without access to an LHS.
Where are you Don?
@jpc posted:Where are you Don?
I can answer is that: Don is from Maui (Hawaii).
@tumbleweed56 posted:I count my blessings that I have access to several good LHS in central Ohio.
Nothing better than a weekend trip to the LHS with my son. I feel bad for those of you without access to an LHS.
I feel bad for me too, especially since we moved FROM Green, OH, just south of Akron & Cleveland. That area was loaded with both hobby shops and, especially, with train shows - LOVED the train shows!
And to your comment about a weekend trip with your son, I'm the same with my grandson!
George
My favorite LHS in Chicago was closed. He agreed to provide curb side pick up where’d put items in your trunk when you pulled up outside. He has tons of used stuff at great prices. I was ready to buy just for kicks, but his web site barely, and I mean barely, shows his actual inventory. That makes it hard to impulse buy. eBay prices seem unusually high for this time of year, so somebody must be buying trains.
Here the monthly train show AND Illinois Railroad Museum are closed until further notice. It’s been a difficult time to feed the addiction!
I don’t have a local “hobby shop”, per se, but I do have a local “train store” - Grzyboski’s. Usually, I just drive over when I am looking for something, but due to the Stay at Home orders that were in effect until recently, as I posted on the recent purchases thread, I decided to call and order some cars from them recently. Technically, I could have driven over and picked the cars up, but out of an over abundance of caution, I had them shipped to me - I much prefer the instant gratification!!! Did have a wonderful with Joe’s mother, Theresa - checked on how they were doing... I just saw that the store is back open, so I’ll have to plan a visit in the next couple of weeks...
@Apples55 posted:I don’t have a local “hobby shop”, per se, but I do have a local “train store” - Grzyboski’s. Usually, I just drive over when I am looking for something, but due to the Stay at Home orders that were in effect until recently, as I posted on the recent purchases thread, I decided to call and order some cars from them recently. Technically, I could have driven over and picked the cars up, but out of an over abundance of caution, I had them shipped to me - I much prefer the instant gratification!!! Did have a wonderful with Joe’s mother, Theresa - checked on how they were doing... I just saw that the store is back open, so I’ll have to plan a visit in the next couple of weeks...
Paul, I say Grzyboski's is your LHS, just a particular big one! LOL
Always enjoy your Forum contributions, Paul.
Arnold
I always loved looking at Grzyboski’s trains at the Monroeville (Pittsburgh) Greenberg shows. Always great service and great deals! They always made quite a trek to get to Monroeville.
Speaking of LHSs and train shows, I gotta go to the next York Train Show, whenever it happens, hopefully no later than the Spring of 2021, and however it happens: masks, social distancing, etc. If we wear masks, that's OK. Remember Zorro. LOL. And, we can pretend every day these days is Halloween. LOL. That's what I tell my 8 year old and 3 year old granddaughters.
Regarding York, first, I have not been to York since the mid-1990s, and I only went once. Secondly, near the York Show is a great LHS (not so local for me but local to the York Show), the Choo Choo Barn, a truly magnificent LHS with a World Class O Gauge layout. Thirdly, and most importantly, I gotta meet all you wonderful Forum members who will be at the next York Show.
We may have to wait a long time for this to happen, but when it does, we will have a grand time. The wait will make it even grander.
In the meantime, we are so blessed to have this Forum.
Arnold
I would certainly like to meet you, Arnold!
I will absolutely NOT visit my local hobby shop any more. All he does is badmouth Lionel and MTH.
So now it's strictly online with Lionel and MTH dealers for the newer stuff and eBay for older stuff.
@GeoPeg posted:...snip... On a related note, I moved to from NE Ohio to the Chattanooga area August of last year and haven't located a LHS just yet. I was surprised that in a town so filled with train history I couldn't find a train dealer. Any body know of one nearby? George
There used to be one in the same complex as the hotel just south of downtown (Chattanooga Choo-Choo, I think the complex is called; it is the former train station); when I was there a few years ago it was "closed for renovation". There were a couple of sleepers and a dining car out back (the former passenger platforms) that are part of the hotel. There was also a trolley and some trolley wire but it was not operational when I was there.
I'm a 15 minute drive from Nicolas Smith Trains in Broomall PA
Prior to our move in 2017 my Favorite LHS was Catoctin Mountain Trains and Hobby but Paul decided he had to retire and leave all of us locals on our own. Don't really have a LHS now, there is a place in Lewistown but they don't carry much. I need to check out the two shops in the Burgh the Mark mentioned along with Mercer Junction and of course a trip back to the Underground Railroad Shop in New Castle!
@OKHIKER posted:I would love to visit a local hobby shop but unfortunately here in South Jersey they are all "Gone With The Wind".
Holly Beach Train Depot in Wildwood is open.
@RJT posted:Prior to our move in 2017 my Favorite LHS was Catoctin Mountain Trains and Hobby but Paul decided he had to retire and leave all of us locals on our own. Don't really have a LHS now, there is a place in Lewistown but they don't carry much. I need to check out the two shops in the Burgh the Mark mentioned along with Mercer Junction and of course a trip back to the Underground Railroad Shop in New Castle!
Rick, Yes a day trip for you could include Mercer, New Castle, Zelienople, and Cranberry Township (not to be confused with Cranberry near Oil City) Actually, they are in a neat area all within the proximity of where Mercer, Lawrence, and Butler Counties join. On the way back to I-80, there is a small, under construction layout of which you have seen photographs here on these pages. 
I used to travel to Scranton for business many years ago - always looked for hobby shops (there was a real nice one in nearby Wilkes Barre). When traveling (before internet) I'd dial 1 800 4Lionel, enter the zip code, and a recording would run through a list of local hobby shops that sold Lionel. Ever try to write addresses down quickly in a phone booth (remember them??). No cell phones at that time.
Every hotel I stayed at in my business travels around the country wound up with phone books missing the pages listing hobby shops too.
Getting back to Scranton, before splitting to separate shops across the street from each other, I recall Grzyboskis and Scranton Hobbies sharing a store. If I recall correctly (it was about 30 years ago) Grzyboskis was in the back with PW Lionel and other O gauge trains and Scranton Hobbies was in the front with HO, etc. and general hobbies, I may have this reversed.
Anyone else remember this or is this memory the result of too many liquid lunches with clients?
@Lionelski posted:Getting back to Scranton, before splitting to separate shops across the street from each other, I recall Grzyboskis and Scranton Hobbies sharing a store. If I recall correctly (it was about 30 years ago) Grzyboskis was in the back with PW Lionel and other O gauge trains and Scranton Hobbies was in the front with HO, etc. and general hobbies, I may have this reversed.
Anyone else remember this or is this memory the result of too many liquid lunches with clients?
You’ve got it straight, John. Grzyboski’s was in the back - you had to walk up a step or two. Scranton Hobby moved across Lackawanna Avenue, about a half block away - they are still there (or I should say, they were there before all the closures). Grzyboski’s moved to their larger space in Moosic about 10 years ago. The old store reminded me of Madison Hardware in one way... every so often, I’d be looking for something and the late Joe G. would say he had it, but could I come back later - he had to send someone “to the warehouse” to get it!!!
My (somewhat) local shop was Carr's Hobbies in Duluth MN. It's now gone and Jack Carr himself has sadly passed, but I'm glad I had the chance to support his business and hang around in a real old-school hobby shop. The place was a museum as well as a business, with a Standard Gauge State Set in a plexiglass box hanging from the ceiling and railroad memorabilia everywhere. Everyone from aero and ship modelers and a huge inventory from O to N scale. The website is maintained as a commemoration by Mr. Mark Olson - http://carrshobbies.com/ RIP Jack.
Photo credit: Mark Olson/Carr's Hobbies.
@Mark Boyce posted:Rick, Yes a day trip for you could include Mercer, New Castle, Zelienople, and Cranberry Township (not to be confused with Cranberry near Oil City) Actually, they are in a neat area all within the proximity of where Mercer, Lawrence, and Butler Counties join. On the way back to I-80, there is a small, under construction layout of which you have seen photographs here on these pages.
Mark: are you extending an invitation? If so when I do make that little trip I may take you up on that invitation and like to extend one to you when you like to ride my way. Perhaps we can meet at one of those shops one day?
@Mark Boyce posted:Rick, Yes a day trip for you could include Mercer, New Castle, Zelienople, and Cranberry Township (not to be confused with Cranberry near Oil City) Actually, they are in a neat area all within the proximity of where Mercer, Lawrence, and Butler Counties join. On the way back to I-80, there is a small, under construction layout of which you have seen photographs here on these pages.
@RJT posted:Mark: are you extending an invitation? If so when I do make that little trip I may take you up on that invitation and like to extend one to you when you like to ride my way. Perhaps we can meet at one of those shops one day?
Yes Rick, that is an invitation. 
I like your idea to meet at one of these shops sometime. 
Lebanon County PA went to the yellow phase on a Friday and on Saturday I dropped over one hundred dollars at Druade’s Derailment in Lebanon. It felt good to do that. Plus, I lowered my mask, when no one was nearby, just to enjoy the unique scent of the shop. It was excellent therapy.
@Tranquil Hollow RR posted:Lebanon County PA went to the yellow phase on a Friday and on Saturday I dropped over one hundred dollars at Druade’s Derailment in Lebanon. It felt good to do that. Plus, I lowered my mask, when no one was nearby, just to enjoy the unique scent of the shop. It was excellent therapy.
When for the first time in my life I began living in communities without a single hobby shop in 1984, I created a new routine: hobby shop hopping.
It’s kind of like bar hopping on a Friday night, but for a train enthusiast.
Essentially, I jumped in the car, drove about 45 minutes to one shop, then another 15 minutes or so to the next shop and usually at least one more shop — occasionally two — after that. There were six Twin Cities shops worth visiting in those years, so it was a bit like going to a swap meet, in that respect.
But all but two of those shops are gone now.
Since 1996, I have lived in a city with a local hobby shop and had as many as five other choices, all in the Milwaukee area, over time. But those numbers have dwindled to three. I’m a realist. I know the numbers will continue to slide.
But, to me, a visit to a hobby shop has always been something more than merely going online to buy a product. It simply isn’t the same, and I will miss that element if ever it disappears.
Stores in Jersey just opened this week. Closest to me is Alloway, and it is about an hour from here. It is a very small store, so I understand they will be limiting entry.
Much closer to home is a small toy store, and they have really struggled through this. After enduring the lockdown, fierce storms early this month fried the transformer outside the store, which in turn blew out their entire electrical system, and caused a fire. This is a long way of saying that instead of buying new stuff, I have been trying to send a little cash towards the various fundraisers to help Farpoint Toys.
Still, I can’t wait to get back to train stores and shows, I really miss it. Bought a couple things on line early, but that just isn’t as much fun.
I've never been much of a train show person. Mostly due to commitments in other parts of my life (both school and sports I played). I have gone to a few but only when I'm in the area for something else. I don't actively seek them out because of the door fee; in the past I have been more of a browser than a buyer and there aren't enough operating layouts for me to be willing to pay the door fee. Now that I have graduated college and have a full time job starting soon, I'll have some more disposable income to buy the trains I want. Since I will be more of a buyer now, I might go to more shows on the hunt for better deals.
As for my LHS, Nicholas Smith Trains (right outside Philadelphia) is about 10 minutes away from my house and I go about once a month (before the pandemic). Currently it's open with reduced hours and mask is required.
As much as I want to go and look around, I'm trying to be courteous to both the staff and other shoppers who might feel more comfortable when there are less people in the store. I don't think it would be right to go and look around without buying anything given that stores in the area are trying to reduce foot traffic.
That said, I have a MTH 2020V1 preorder due in July that I am picking up from them in person. When that is ready to be picked up, I will definitely spend some time roaming the isles.
Living in the western suburbs of Chicago, lucky to have three LHS all under 30 minutes, and a large monthly show. Not sure when the show will start up, never go in the summer, so hopefully it will be back in October.
Mark I will work on that happening but will not be until mid to late July some time. Wife and I are hitting the road for a week.
@Tranquil Hollow RR posted:Lebanon County PA went to the yellow phase on a Friday and on Saturday I dropped over one hundred dollars at Druade’s Derailment in Lebanon. It felt good to do that. Plus, I lowered my mask, when no one was nearby, just to enjoy the unique scent of the shop. It was excellent therapy.
Spring Carlisle Car Show is on..started yesterday. Potentially 100K people in one place. I think a lot of folks will be watching to see how that plays out.
@RJT posted:Mark I will work on that happening but will not be until mid to late July some time. Wife and I are hitting the road for a week.
That’s quite alright. Whenever it works out. We aren’t going anywhere!
@G-Man24 posted:Spring Carlisle Car Show is on..started yesterday. Potentially 100K people in one place. I think a lot of folks will be watching to see how that plays out.
Yes, but the state is suing them for violating the 250 person limit.
The last of the seasons shows would have wrapped up by now. The disappointment in imagining the potential bargains missed only makes this cruel social experiment harder to take.
Thank goodness for my LHS, George's Trains. Even when my monthly visits were curtailed I was still able to order over the phone and pickup curbside. The phone conversations alone felt extra special given that the talk was all about trains. They reopened on a limited basis 2 weeks ago and I've already hit the store twice. This year marks my 50th since I first visited Georges when they were in downtown Toronto. It was nice of them to move nearer to my home.
Bruce
I’m glad you can get back in touch with George’s! 50 years is impressive!
We would be having a Greenberg show in Monroeville Pennsylvania right after the 4th. That show has the least vendors of the three annual shows in recent years. Still I go to see the layouts and the friends I have made.
1.1/2 hrs. north of me up in yankee territory are some good ones. just as well it saves me money.
The Model Railroad Shop in Piscataway, NJ first opened in 1933 and is one of the oldest continually operated hobby shops in the world. I'm fortunate to have it as my "LHS". The store reopened Monday and I'm planning a Father's Day weekend visit there tomorrow.
Bob
Attachments
CNJ 3676 - What an wonderfully intriguing looking shop! It seems to beckon one to come in and explore the store. For some reason it brings to mind the movie 'It's a Wonderful Life.' Things were a lot simpler back in those days many years ago.
Great pic!
Just curious...over in Sykesville Maryland there used to be a great train store (yeah 10 yrs ago) called Purkeys Toy Trains. Does anyone know why they closed or perhaps moved?
PH1975,
Thanks. The Model Railroad Shop is like a time warp and quite representative of a time when good, well stocked hobby shops were rather plentiful. The store stocks a generous selection of equipment in multiple scales along with scenery supplies, books and modeling tools. It's a real gem.
Bob
@redjimmy1955 posted:Just curious...over in Sykesville Maryland there used to be a great train store (yeah 10 yrs ago) called Purkeys Toy Trains. Does anyone know why they closed or perhaps moved?
Here you go.
http://www.sykesvilleonline.com/toy-trains-going/
I used to drop in at Purkey's now and then when I commuted down I-70. One memory I have is he hosted a K-Line event there and I got a great deal on B&O Mikado with TMCC. Still have it but it's currently boxed up in "storage."
