I'm not sure why Al chose not to utilize the Internet to promote the store. Perhaps it would have been too huge of a time sink between he and Betsy. I guess that's a business gamble you are either willing or not willing to make.
I'm glad that Depot Train & Hobby and Stewart's Hobbies (Willoughby) will still be around.
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
This is sad but you could see it coming. I used to frequent Wings hobby shop but the past few years I have been going to Depot Trains. Freindly satff there and a pretty good inventory, they also do repairs. If they don't have it they will get it quickly.
Well, they're definitely not helping themselves move what's left in the store by only being open Mon-Tues-Thurs-Fri for the remainder of their time. A pity, since I could usually find at least one book to buy, and a few detail parts from the display case. Not surprised that they're closing, though-- the store already wasn't looking like its former self when I stopped in after the Berea show last October.
I was in Cleveland yesterday and had planned to make a last visit, but seeing that they're no longer open on Saturdays, that shot that idea down. Ended up out at Stewart's Hobby in Willoughby, instead. Found one of the elusive Rapido Trains Swift reefers, and a few other things I'd been looking for.
-Fritz Milhaupt, Publications Editor, Pere Marquette Historical Society, Inc.http://www.pmhistsoc.org
I been to that shop wasn't too impress..
I was kinda spook by their constent watching me like I was a common shoplifter..Never did like that kind of treatment.
I did buy five bottles of paint,three packs of KDs and IIRC some ABS plastic "H" beams.
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
If you read all the comments you see a pattern of bad ownership. Seen it over and over and experienced it personally many times. Most people who run these shops do not know most of their customers but treat them like they do. I ran my life very lean for a number of years and did not buy much at the local hobby shops, then things turned around big time and they still treated me like I was there to look, their mistake, I bought a lot online (see I had sold my business for a lot and now had cash).
Too bad. I grew up going to Wings. I had Wings for the HO and my dad and I would go to Akron to Als for his Lionel. Most of my Super powered Athearn, blue box kits and Bowser kits came from Wings in the seventies. Everytime I go back there I always stop in. It has been more than 5 years since I have been there.
Pete
I pray every day I break even, Cause I can really use the money!
I started with nothing and still have most of it left!
Ah, that's too bad but not a real surprise. Al has the best selection of resource material I've ever seen in a hobby store. It's practically a library on one side of the store.
Although I know Al will enjoy retirement, Wings will be missed.
Hello my friend set this to me. This seems to be the new weekly topic witch shop is closing now.
http://www.cleveland.com/business/index.ssf/2014/03/lakewoods_wings_hobby_shop_clo.html
I have been there a few times its a bit of a ride for me so I did not go to much. But it seem like a good all aroud shop. I know a few of you that go to the train show in Berea in Oct would stop in there. Well you have till May. Have a nice day Frank