Great Hobby Shops

[Ibflattop]

We went to Colorado on a vacation. Stopped into this Hobby shop in Denver called Caboose Hobbies. Got my stuff went to cash out and the guy behnd the counter asked if I needed a job. "Man, I am just out here on vacation. This guy dont know me from Adam!" I thought to myself, looked back over my shoulder at my wife. She was just rolling her eyes and looking up to the celing. I looked back at the gentilman and said "Yes, but it will be a long drive from Ft.Wayne Indiana each day that I work! " The wife kicked me in the leg, You fellas dont know what pointy shoes can do to change your answer quickly.
The second Best shop would have to be the Train Depot of Mickeyville ( Orlando) Fla.
When we are visiting down there, I always like to stop in and see what he has. I struck gold when I walked in one time and he had a Wabash 0-8-0 Mantua for $40 dollars. I took it up and he said, " Wabash, You do Wabash, you must be from somewhere up North? I said, "Yes, From Indiana"
He Replied, "I use to drive a truck thru Ft.Wayne, Indiana from Van Wert."
I told him that I lived in Ft.Wayne and we started to talk and talk about about the different railroads in the area.
The other Hobbyshop that I really enjoyed while I was in Florida was The Oaks Hobbyshop in Jasper. This was the First exit across the state line. It was a cool shop because along with the stuff Doc had. He also had a tremendous Layout that took up 3 large rooms in the back. I only got to see the layout twice when we went to Florida. The 3 time the shop was closed because Doc became ill. It was a good shop because he has a Buyers Club. For a fee like $ 12.00 dollars a year. You would recieve a monthy catolog of specials for that month. It always had good deals in it. I miss that hobbyshop.
Well I better put my LHS into the mix as well. Hobbyland of Ft.Wayne. If I dont, He will hunt me down and Kick my rump since I worked there in the past.
Hows about the Train Exchange of Kokamo Indiana, Jim always has a good seclection of cars when he is at a train show. He also is a good guy to deal with.
There is also a Hobbyshop that is suppose to be a good one in Goshen Indiana or a little south I think that deals in custom Monon and other Indiana roads. I think its called the Model Shop. Has any of the Indiana guys heard of this shop???? Kevin

[loathar]

Two good ones in Columbus Oh...The Train Station.Mostly HO and N
The Blue Caboose...Losts of Lionel but still a lot of HO. Good servise and freindly people in both. They're right down the srtreet from each other.

[slotracer]

Caboose hobbies is number one that I have ever been to. Allied in the LA area ranks right up there.
Less glamorous shops and smaller but decently stocked....

Kval in Buffalo

Parkville MO.....I don't recall the name of the store any longer but they had very good stock.

[RoyalOaker]

QUOTE: Originally posted by phisig03

I complained about the Riders Hobby in the Detroit area in the negative forum on this, now it's time to sing one of their stores praises!!

Matt,

I was just in a week ago at this Rider's. I have to admit that they have more in stock right now than I have seen them have for the past year. One bummer is that about a month ago I went in to get some RR Brown paint and they were out and I was just in last week for some Grimey black and they were out of that.

Great Lakes Hobby in Shelby still has more stock on hand and better prices, But the trip from Dearborn would be a killer. It's about a 40 minute drive from Royal Oak and the traffic is terrible.

[btransue]

I would have to agree with nbrodar regarding Lins-Junction in Lansdale PA. Great service and selection. Also it is only three miles from my house. [:)]

--
Brad

[bwftex]

Discount Model Trains - Addison (Dallas) TX, our LHS, good folks, good prices with a huge selection though kits have given way to more RTR.

Peach Creek Shops - Laurel, MD, my long distance LHS as far as I'm concerned - great service.

Caboose Hobbies - Denver, CO - What else needs to be said?

Its great to see that there are lots more good ones than we ever hear about bad ones.
Bruce

[Soo Line fan]

Even thought I live real close to the Riders in Madison Hgts Michigan, I rarely go there. They never have anything I want, maybe a magazine or a paintbrush. I like P & D Hobby Shop In Frazer Michigan on 13mile and Groesbeck. They are the biggest store I know of and have stuff that Great Lakes does not carry, like detail parts and NWSL wheel sets. They are carrying a lot of the Athearn kits, as well as.

Jim

[DigitalGriffin]

Peach creek shops in Laurel for modeling supplies and trains. I buy exclusively from them. The only thing I really don't get from them are specialty parts and models they are not likely to sell.

[jhugart]

Scale Model Supplies in Saint Paul, MN (on Lexington just south of University) is in the basement, and has a lot of stuff for different scales.

The Hub Hobby Center in Roseville, MN (near highway 36 and Rice street, turn off east behind the McDonald's north of 36) has a nice selection, too. It also has some Thomas the Tank Engine layouts for the kids to play with while dad goes looking for stuff.

There are other Hub hobby centers in the Twin Cities, but I don't know them.

An honorable mention goes to Choo-Choo Bob's on Marshall near Cleveland in Saint Paul (if you go to the Amtrak station in the midway area, and head south, that street becomes Cleveland after it crosses University, and Marshall is south of I-94). More family-oriented, just train stuff, but has the tables, will host birthday parties, and a selection of modelling things in different scales.

[RedGrey62]

Couple of small shops I'd recommend.

Scale Rail and Trainman's Trainmaster in Omaha. Frank at Scale Rail only carries HO but he's pretty knowledgeable and has a decent assortment of kits, lots of detail parts and conversation is always lively.

Ron at Trainman's has a pretty good selection, even stuf that may be hard to find now. I've never known him to actually charge the price on the box. Mostly HO and N, but he carries S, O, and G as well. Also some interesting stuff from other hobbies like RC planes and such.

Of course I will add my plug for Caboose Hobbies in Denver as well. Once a year I get to go, even my wife doesn't mind going in there!

Rick

[RoyalOaker]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Soo Line fan

Even thought I live real close to the Riders in Madison Hgts Michigan, I rarely go there. They never have anything I want, maybe a magazine or a paintbrush. I like P & D Hobby Shop In Frazer Michigan on 13mile and Groesbeck. They are the biggest store I know of and have stuff that Great Lakes does not carry, like detail parts and NWSL wheel sets. They are carrying a lot of the Athearn kits, as well as.

Jim

Jim,

I really have to go check that place out.

[Don Gibson]

I've lived in Metro LA, Chicago, Denver, Milwaukie, now Portland, and visited shops in NY, SF, SD, and my two hands-down-best were CABOOSE HOBBIES (Denver), and GILBERTS in Gettysburg. It was actually hard to NOT find things I had wanted and been looking for for years. Best of all, they're still in business.

Selection! ... Selection!

[mlehman]

I'd include two shops that have already been mentioned, Caboose Hobbies in Denver, CO and Hawkins in Lafayette. There're great if you're close enough to visit.

However, I can highly recommend J&L Hobby & Trains in Buckner, Missouri, near Kansas City. John is a awesome dealer with personal service second to NONE, whether you're a walk-in customer or via mail order.

The website isn't much:
http://pws.prserv.net/jltrain/index.htm

But John sends out regular emails on what's arriving and what's coming up that you may want to order. He is strictly a low-pressure salesman and caters to customer needs in a way you may have thought extinct. He also offers a substantial discount on nearly everything. I simply can't say enough about what a great shop this is.

If you do visit, he carries an extensive stock. If you want to order something, he is totally reliable and won't let your order slip through the cracks.
Mike Lehman
Urbana, IL

[Anonymous]

I'll also make a special honorary nomination for the late Bobbye Hall's Hobby House that was located on Bryan Street, near downtown Dallas. It's been closed for a number of years, but for a long time it was THE train store in Dallas, run by the Grande Dame of Model Railroading.

[DALCruiser]

The Train Shop in Santa Clara CA is my pick for a great LHS. I have not been disappointed with my shopping at this Trains only LHS. They carry all scales and great service. The owners are starting to get up into a potential "Retirement" age and I hope one of the younger staff buys them out and continues the same great selection and service these two brothers have given over the many years they have been in business.

Dave

[bwftex]

QUOTE: Originally posted by jnkbritz

I'll also make a special honorary nomination for the late Bobbye Hall's Hobby House that was located on Bryan Street, near downtown Dallas. It's been closed for a number of years, but for a long time it was THE train store in Dallas, run by the Grande Dame of Model Railroading.

I'll second that. I still miss Bobbye Hall's. At one time it was a Narrow Gauge Heaven. If you had a question about narrow gauge model or prototype more than likely Steel Carver had the answer. If I was buying a brass model or a tube of glue I was treated well. I will always remember a day I went in there looking for some decals for an RGS C-19 and I couldn’t find them. I asked Mrs. Hall if she had some and she said she was sure she did. She spent 45 minutes to an hour searching for those things. She just keep looking and looking and looking. It was almost painful. After a while I told her not to worry about it and that Id get them the next time I was in. She said “no I’ll find them for you. You want to finish your model when you go home not next month”. And find them she did. I was there just before Mrs. Hall closed the store to stock up on some things. It was a real bummer knowing it was the last stop. After so many years Hall’s had actually become part of the hobby to me. The world truly changed that day. Bruce

[rockisland4309]

I'll nominate my favorite hobby shops to this topic.

1. www.Firsthobby.com in Decatur, IL. Great prices and good customer service.
2. Discount Model Trains in Addison, TX. Great selection and good prices.
3. Doc's Caboose in Kansas City, MO. Whatever model you want, Doc will order it and you'll get it. Great customer service too.
4. The Original Whistle Stop in Pasadena, CA. They're a little pricey but, I'm able to find models there which might be out of stock at other hobby shops.

[rockisland4309]

I'll nominate my favorite hobby shops to this topic.

1. www.Firsthobby.com in Decatur, IL. Great prices and good customer service.
2. Discount Model Trains in Addison, TX. Great selection and good prices.
3. Doc's Caboose in Kansas City, MO. Whatever model you want, Doc will order it and you'll get it. Great customer service too.
4. The Original Whistle Stop in Pasadena, CA. They're a little pricey but, I'm able to find models there which might be out of stock at other hobby shops.

[lesterperry]

I wold like to throw in a new one witch is just beginning to open. In fact yo probably should call before visiting as he is still operating out of his house while he builds his shop next to house. F&N Hobbies 1460 Blackbird forest Rd Clayton De. 302-653- Wait e mail me for number.
Les

[andrechapelon]

QUOTE: Originally posted by DALCruiser

The Train Shop in Santa Clara CA is my pick for a great LHS. I have not been disappointed with my shopping at this Trains only LHS. They carry all scales and great service. The owners are starting to get up into a potential "Retirement" age and I hope one of the younger staff buys them out and continues the same great selection and service these two brothers have given over the many years they have been in business.

Dave

Brothers?

Vern and Dennis Cole are a father and son team.

Other than that, you're quite right about The Train Shop.

Andre

[egmurphy]

If you're in the Houston, TX area, the best shop (imho) is Papa Ben's Train Place. He has Z to G, good sized shop. Lot's of N scale stuff (owner is an N scaler, who has been written up in MRR). Knowledgeable and helpful staff. Small discount off msrp. Will order stuff he doesn't have and gets it rather quickly. The "Houston 'NCrowd Club" has their modules and holds their meetings upstairs.

Second choice would be the Houston Roundhouse. Selection a bit more limited, especially in N, but still a good sized train shop. Service may not be as good (smaller staff).

Both places are trains only. Guys in Houston are lucky to have a few good choices.

Regards

Ed

[mokenarr]

Been going to Roys Train World in Mesa Az. for 25 years or so, best little train shop in Arizona. Folks are freindly and knowledible, lots of N gauge stuff ( something close to my heart) Only bad thing is trying to get out of there sometimes, the gab sessions seem to last forever.