My husband got an email yesterday that Trainworld was temporarily suspending all operations, including internet orders.
He works part-time for a small local hobby shop. As of yesterday they were still open, but were likely going to reduce hours. Internet orders were through the roof, and the owner is unsure of how to handle those going forward.
Is your favorite shop still open? Do you work for a hobby shop and maybe have a story to tell?
The closest Train shop to my area is Neely’s, an hour north in Altoona, PA. Can’t tell by their website, but they just openned their new store a year ago, and I imagine this will be hard on them.
Next closest is Mario’s Trains, and hour+ east of here. I trust their internet sales will keep them going, but hopefully their 2-showroom store can weather this crisis.
Not sure how the YORK cancellation will hurt some of the brick-and-mortar shops.
I would love to see some enterprising soul, take a chance and open up an all-scale train shop, in Cumberland, MD. We have the tourist railroad, and from conversations with the passengers, I would say 10-20% of male ridership has some interest in model railroading. Cumberland also has a new Railroad Museum (ran by our local chapter NRHS), that is at Canal Place. There is a large HO club, the Maryland & West Virginia folks at the Allegany fairgrounds, and a decent size O gauge group in uptown Frostburg.
If you throw in the guests from the Potomac Eagle (half hour south, in Romney), and the myriad of railfans who flock to Cumberland e-v-e-r-y weekend, this would be an area RIPE for such a venture.
Someone needs to buck the trend of the past 3 decades.
My local go-to hobby shop, Tiny Tim’s Toy’s and Trains, is still open for business at their regular hours, things are a little slow right now for obvious reasons but they’re holding their own and doing well.
http://www.trainandtoystore.com
Fife, I’ve got a suggestion for you. If it’s possible and you get someone to open an all-scale train shop in Cumberland see if you can attach it to your museum. Have it work this way, people come into the museum one way but EXIT into the train shop! The “Choo-Choo Barn” model railroad attraction in Strasburg PA does this, and it’s marketing genius! You see the model train display, “get the fever,” and then you’re plopped in the middle of a train store, the “Strasburg Train Shop” if I remember correctly. Diabolically brilliant! God knows how much money I spent, they got me good!
Due to the government all non essential businesses are closed in PA. Went to Hagarstown MD to a hobby shop over the weekend but that to is scheduled to close due to Marylands government now closing all non essential businesses. However I know of some hobby stores in Northern VA!
Pretty much everything around me is closed right now. Even the place I get parts for my motor scooter has closed up(they are in Cali), making it harder to keep my primary way to get around on the road. Still have to go out for food and necessary supplies when needed. Thankfully I stocked up on most everything I needed. Mike the Aspie
I was at the Strasburg Train Shop two weeks ago. It was Sunday morning and the Choo Choo Barn wasn’t open. It is adjacent but I recall nothing that could be a direct connection
There are “NO train HS” any place close to us. So no change.
What’s a Train Hobby Shop?
KRM: Same here.
Well, it has been awhile Banks, a good 20 years or more, so I’d have to assume things have changed.
But it was brilliant just the same!
This is coming our way later today. The governor signed a bill to close “non essential” businesses.
I’m not going to, or try, to make this political in any way, shape, or form, but push-backs are beginning in various parts of the country, for various reasons.
Just saying.
And I promise that’s as far as I’m going to go.
Most business’ were open till the governor locked us in at midnight. So nothing open in Michigan but what is considered essential. My wife found a decent suppy of groceries this morning, not all but enough, no TP of course.
No politics, please!
My husband talked to the hobby shop he works for. They’re getting tons of online orders, but the owner isn’t sure if he can allow employees in the store to help fill the orders.
Well, what do you know. On Army bases a barber shop is a necessity. Got my hair cut today at the PX at Carlisle Barracks, Also found everything I needed at the Commisary (grocery store) on post. Had a guard checking ID’s at the door and at the Toilet Paper. No hoarding permitted! Also picked up steak and BBQ briquets!
Major: Wish I were still in (got out in 1966) for the PX goodies. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SERVICE.
I have good news for fans of CTT–we are considered an essential business in Wisconsin and can continue! Most of us are working remotely with only a few in the building at a time (those packing up orders, etc.)
Well gee Rene, of course you’re an essential business!
All CTT readers know that!
Certainly essential in my eyes. This stuff is new to most of you but I’ve been living like this for 15 years. On average I only get out once a week and it’s usually tied in some way to a medical appointment. The only big change for me is I can’t go out for dinner. So my hobbies are 100% essential to my sanity. [;)]