Where the shoppers are: The strip shopping center from Menards

This new shopping venue for your train town looks perfect for a modern layout. The colors are pleasing, the businesses straight-forward, and the color scheme easy on the eyes.

The 279-4846 O gauge Strip Shopping center, $79.99

 Remember the days when to shop, you went to the mall? The mall was the main destination of most Americans. But times (and habits) have changed, perhaps due to consumer whims, or simply the battle to find a parking spot and hike into the mall.

The antidote for this has become the strip shopping center. Probably within a few miles of you, there may be one or more groups of newly built retail spots with anywhere from one to five or six stores beneath its roof. They tend to be small shops, the sort you can get into and out of quickly. Far easier to navigate than a super store, you also won’t need to try and remember if you parked on the Sears side or the Montgomery Wards side!

The O gauge Strip Mall Shopping Center has a contemporary design, with one key shop having the prime billing and smaller stores situated on either side. The building measures 21 by 5 ¾ inches and has a nice compact footprint that will make placement fairy easy on a city street or by a mainline straightaway.

The windows are a modern style as well, and the overhang and columns that support the façade look good.

The main business here is a Dollar Store. To its left are the Chicago Burger Co., and a candy shop. On the other side are a cabinet shop and an appliance dealer. There are pretty realistic for supplying the needs of your train town population.

The building is exceptionally well lit, with 54 LEDs.

The interiors of the businesses are cardstock photos. The angles all looked good and for the most part, the perspective angles were spot on. This adds an extra element of realism to the scene.

The building features customers, a coin-op horse, and a famous canine out for a walk. Up top, the tarpaper roof has three heating/air conditioning units mounted.

For lighting, you need a Menards 4.5 volt power supply, Menards SKU 279-4061, 279-4062, or 279-4050. All are available separately. Order online at www.Menards.com/Trains and select free shipment to your local Menards store.

The sidewalks and foreground are well illuminated. The interiors are cardstock photos.

The first stop is the Chicago Burger Co., for a burger, fries, and a milkshake!

After dinner, be sure to stop by the Candy Shop to get all your snack needs fulfilled.

Oh yeah, this is why you swung by in the first pace. You need a pair of socks, some Bromo Seltzer, and a can of motor oil!

And so long as you're here, the wife has been reminding you that Formica was cool in the 60s but not the 2020s, so you'll better begin to get some refinishing ideas.

And the washing machine is making a funny sound. I wonder if they sell parts!

The Dollar Store and companion business are at the ready to fuel the commerce of your town!