Any Decent MRR Shops in Miami?

[simon1966]

I have to be in the Miami area (Hialeah) for a couple of days, and will likely have an hour or two to myself. Are there any good LHS in Miami that are worth a visit?

Thanks

[AntonioFP45]

Hi Simon,

I'm sorry to say that Orange Blossom Hobbies seems to have "vanished!" This hobby shop was "incredible"! Seemed to have a lot of customers. There were also quite a few security cameras too.

You may have to do one of my numbers and either look at the shop listings in the back of MRR magazine, or look in the yellow pages when you get there. Hopefully someone can chime in with some better info as I'll be visiing my cousin in Miami during June.

[Anonymous]

Absolutely! Ready To Roll is in Opa Locka just off I-95. It's a little off the beaten path, but not too hard to find, and well worth it when you get there. It's in a warehouse/light industrial area, and other than the signage painted on the front of the building, it looks like all the other dingy buildings in the area. But once you get inside, it's as nice as any high end LHS's, just without the high rents that are paid for by high prices at those stores. The owner is Bill Lucas, and you can call for exact directions. Also Warrick Hobby Superstore in Ft. Lauderdale is less than 30 minutes north of you, just off I-595, and they have a huge train department. I hope that helps.

[AntonioFP45]

Hiram!

You're the man!

Thanks! This helps me as well. This area is familiar. By chance is it near the Tri-Rail commuter line?

Cheers!

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by AntonioFP45

Hi Simon,

I'm sorry to say that Orange Blossom Hobbies seems to have "vanished!" This hobby shop was "incredible"! Seemed to have a lot of customers. There were also quite a few security cameras too.

Yes, Orange Blossom Hobbies left a couple of years ago, much to the consternation of So. Fla. MRR's. I was told that the area had just gotten so bad that they were losing walk in business at a rate that they could not absorb. It was in an area that became a real ghetto over the last 20-25 years. I used to visit often, but I carry a firearm everywhere I go anyway. I'll tell you, toward the end, it was like going into Indian Country once you got off the Interstate to go there.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by AntonioFP45

Hiram!

You're the man!

Thanks! This helps me as well. This area is familiar. By chance is it near the Tri-Rail commuter line?

Cheers!

Yes, it is, but I do not know what Tri Rail station to tell you to get off at. That shouldn't be too hard to discover, though. And taxis are waiting at the stations to take you where you need to go.

[simon1966]

Thanks Guys, I will make an effort to got to Ready to Roll, sounds like I could spend my free time here without any trouble. Off to the airport in a couple of hours!

[simon1966]

Hiram, thanks for the advice. I managed to get some time to visit "Ready to Roll" this afternoon and had a wonderful hour or two browsing around. This really is an excellent train store in the best tradition of being packed to the roof with lots of stuff. In particular I enjoyed browsing some of the structure kits, many of them out of production. A reall goldmine of great stuff.

[Anonymous]

I'm glad I could help you. I cannot even begin to guess how many of my train buying dollars have gone across Bill's counter over the last ten years. Best regards.