Model Railroading > .

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Edited 4 time(s). Last edit at 04/19/20 22:50 by F40PHR231.

Very impressive. I'd have to estimate a massive amount of capital and dollars were invested here. Most train shops are mom and pop jobs, just trying to make rent and hope for another quarter.

Thanks for sharing!

Impressive. It's kind of a Disney style hobby shop and yes, I imagine a huge amount of capitol invested. Hope they can keep it going. There is definitely inspiration for customers there.

Cheers, Jim Fitch

SPDRGWfan Wrote:
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> Impressive. It's kind of a Disney style hobby
> shop and yes, I imagine a huge amount of capitol
> invested. Hope they can keep it going. There is
> definitely inspiration for customers there.
>
> Cheers, Jim Fitch

Amazing. As a retailer though, to keep interest in a hobby like this you need to go the extra mile these days to 'sell the product' to a maximized audience. A shop with nothing but rows of boxes will only appeal to geeky old men, one of which I'm rapidly becoming...

My kids loved the Train Shoppe, still need to take my dad one of these days when he comes to visit. It is very nicely done, a rather unique setup.

Nathan

Heaven!

Javier Cervantes
Castle Rock , CO

What sort of retail stock is on hand for the geeky old men?
A similar attraction in western Ohio has a great display but a so-so hobby shop -- more souvenirs than model railroad stuff. I used to make a semi-monthly trek from eastern Idaho down to Keith's Hobbies in Salt Lake, back when the Narrow Gauge & Short Line Gazette was a new thing.
Here I see children's entertainment, which is fine, but not necessarily a path to scale model railroading.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/16/17 15:44 by grahamline.

That place looks awesome! My kids would go nuts.

exhaustED Wrote:
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As a retailer though, to keep interest in
> a hobby like this you need to go the extra mile
> these days to 'sell the product' to a maximized
> audience. A shop with nothing but rows of boxes
> will only appeal to geeky old men, one of which
> I'm rapidly becoming...

exhaustED,

Most hobby shop owners can barely capitalize full shelves, let alone set up a Disneyland of displays. Haven't you heard the saying, the best way to have a small fortune is to take a large fortune and start a model train shop? Apparently someone in SLC had a very large fortune!

Cheers, Jim Fitch

SPDRGWfan Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> exhaustED Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> As a retailer though, to keep interest in
> > a hobby like this you need to go the extra mile
> > these days to 'sell the product' to a maximized
> > audience. A shop with nothing but rows of boxes
> > will only appeal to geeky old men, one of which
> > I'm rapidly becoming...
>
> exhaustED,
>
> Most hobby shop owners can barely capitalize full
> shelves, let alone set up a Disneyland of
> displays. Haven't you heard the saying, the best
> way to have a small fortune is to take a large
> fortune and start a model train shop? Apparently
> someone in SLC had a very large fortune!
>
> Cheers, Jim Fitch

I hear what you're saying but in order to get people of middle age or younger to make the effort to go to a shop, that shop needs something of genuine interest - otherwise it's far easier/cheaper to get the laptop out and just order something online and wait for it to arrive.

exhaustED Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> but in order to get
> people of middle age or younger to make the effort
> to go to a shop, that shop needs something of
> genuine interest - otherwise it's far
> easier/cheaper to get the laptop out and just
> order something online and wait for it to arrive.

Yes, exactly, and that is what most are doing these days. It isn't just hobby shops closing down due to online sales, it's Sears, Kmart, Macy's, Sports Authority, and others all in the news today.

Kudo's to this shop in SLC, but very few Joe Schmoe's have the scratch to build a shop like that which is made to inspire and hopefully pay for the investment. It's a mean trick these days!

This is as close to a local hobby shop as I have, it is a "must stop at" almost every time we go east. A big key to their success is birthday parties, there have been times we've been in the shop and there are two or three birthday parties in progress in those back rooms. Fantastic selection of both new and used equipment, they tend to turn things quickly. I love the place, thanks for giving it the recognition it deserves!

Jeff Moore
Elko, NV

How long has this shop been around?? I don 't remember them when I last visited SLC in 2011.

Rob

OregonOldGuy Wrote:
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> How long has this shop been around?? I don 't
> remember them when I last visited SLC in 2011.
>
> Rob

It used to be over on 900 East, but it's been at the new spot for a few years now.

Nathan

The Train Shoppe has been around since 1965, under various owners

Not only do they have the layouts, but they do amazing service and buy and sell collections.
They're a great bunch there. If you need to order something, I highly recommend them!