End of an Era in Milwaukee Jerry's Hobby Closing 03-31-07

[dknelson]

It sure was nice when I lived in Bay View to have a hobby shop that was not just "local" but truly a neighborhood hobby shop.  

Dave Nelson 

[kschmidt]

An Era of Model Railroading will end at the end of March.  Jerry's Bay View Hobby Shop on the southside of Milwaukee will be closing on March 31, 2007.  Jerry has been in hobby for over 50 years.  Jerry worked at Casanova's in their train department and then in mid-1970's he opened his own shop in Bay View.  I remember going to Jerry's when I was in grade school just up the street.  Now today 03-24-07 I went there to wish Jerry well in his retirement.  Of course the Hobby shop was Jerry's second job, his other job(which had health insurance) was at McDonalds across the street.  Jerry would work at McDonalds in the early morning and then walk over to open up the store at 10am. 

Jerry's always had a great selection of all scales, plus models, slot cars and model rocketry.  But his selection of N Scale Micro-Trains was one of the best.  Plus he almost always had back issues of magazines that others didn't.  And of course there were the magazines with the names torn off the front for sale cheap.  Always had to keep an eye open for new consignment stuff that Jerry would get in also. 

When I stopped in today purchases over $100 were getting 40% off.  At least 6 people were picking over the N-Scale Micro-Trains cars, of which there were still hundreds left.  So if you live in Milwaukee, try and get over and wish Jerry the best, if you have been to Milwaukee and visited Jerry's share some stories.  Below are some photos of Jerry's Bay View Hobby Shop taken 03-24-2007.  Enjoy and Jerry Best Wishes for a long and well deserved retirement. 

Exterior shot from across Kinnickinnic Ave

Looking north across Potter Ave

That's Jerry in corner of the shot, working like hard as always

All the N Scale

Maybe Gone, but not Forgotten

Keith Schmidt