Hi,
Spoke to Caboose Hobbies today and they said, they are closed but would not elaborate on future plans other than to say that there will be an announcement on their website in the next week or two.
Until then, they are still taking preorders, Internet related orders and dealing with consignments at 303-777-7892.
This is only what they told me, if it helps!
Greg Elmassian said:
I would guess someone bout the business and is going internet sales only.
Interesting, since now they need to compete with the rest of the discount Internet people. Caboose Hobbies was not known for their discount prices.
We shall see, thanks, Al for noticing this.
Greg
Greg, my name is not Al. (http://largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-tongue-out.gif)
Sorry Steve, I see you mentioned a posting on facebook, I guess I filtered out your comment because I filter out Farcebook as a rule, ha ha…
I have updated my post to thank both you and Al.
I hang my head in shame… sniff sniff
AL McEvoy said:
So then what might be the impending “exciting news” that is now being announced on the Caboose Hobbies website home page?
What? Steve F. bought Caboose Hobbies?
I thought Kevin Strong did…he and I have spent enough money there!
Well, maybe if Yunz had spent more, they would not be closing. (http://largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-wink.gif)
'tweren’t me who bought it, but I’m told someone local did, and will revive the store. Whether that’s brick-and-mortar or just on-line from a warehouse, I don’t know. The current building–so I’ve also been told–will be torn down and a Chic-fil-a built in its place.
Later,
K
Could have been a great college fund for the kids, 
I like Chick Fil A but would rather shop for detail parts.
Great to see you and Mom in ME,
Tom
not to be nit picky, just accurate, “revive the store” means a real store. a warehouse that does internet sales is NOT a store, it’s a warehouse.
Like I said, very doubtful that if the original store could not make it with the original owners and the low rent, how are new owners going to do better with a higher rent in a tougher economy.
Internet sales I get, but then you are in tough competition, no more list price.
Greg
That’s kind of interesting.
http://www.caboosehobbies.com/catalog/index_brief.php
1_caboosehobbies by Forrest Wood, on Flickr
That’s the ad I saw several days ago.
Greg, it’s not a matter of “accuracy.” I simply do not draw a distinction between a brick-and-mortar store and internet store in this instance. “Revive the store” as I wrote it means the name “Caboose Hobbies” will live on as establishment from which you can purchase model trains; ie, a “store.” Since the new owner’s intentions were not communicated to me, I chose not to speculate on any definitive course of action–just to say the name will live on, and the ability to (at least) go online and buy what I need from them will continue.
No doubt a brick-and-mortar re-incarnation of Caboose would be phenomenal to have. Caboose was a “destination” store drawing locals and out-of-town visitors from all over the Denver metro area regardless of where they were staying. Whether a new store is downtown or out in the 'burbs, folks would still drive there to visit provided the inventory and experience are similar. That gives the new owner a greater deal of flexibility in looking for a suitable space. Whether that happens–again–was not communicated to me. At least owning the name “Caboose Hobbies” would give them a decided advantage over an upstart just trying to fill the void if they were.
Later,
K
Revive the “business name” I get… destination is changed from a store to a warehouse. Perhaps they will let you in the warehouse?
Please keep us posted, so when I am in Denver this year I can know whether to attempt a visit or not.
Thanks, Greg
Greg, no one knows at this point. We’re very much in the early stages of this transition, and even those close to what’s going on aren’t positive of anything more than what’s already transpired.
You’re certainly sour on the idea that they’d open up a brick-and-mortar location. I’m not so pessimistic. The name “Caboose Hobbies” has a lot of value in the Denver model railroad and railfan community. It’s as much a store as it is a meeting place. I’d go there on my lunch break just to socialize (and almost always walk out with a stick or two of styrene at the least). They’d have clinics there on the weekends or sometimes after hours during the week. The new owner is not only buying the business, but the mystique and community connection that goes with it. “Caboose Hobbies” has been THE model railroad destination in Denver since the 1930s. You can’t put a price on that kind of history of connection with your customers. You’re talking generations of customer loyalty. I can’t imagine for a moment the new owner doesn’t realize the value in that. If he didn’t plan on capitalizing on that legacy, I think he’d likely just make a deal for the remaining stock and sell it on ebay or similar rather than going through the legal hoops of buying the corporation.
Again–no one knows, perhaps not even the new owner, yet.
When you’re in Denver, give 'em a call yourself. If you’ve got cash in hand, I can’t imagine they’d turn you away from the door.
Later,
K
Nope, not sour, just realistic. Everyone, including me, an occasional visitor would love to see it in a “store” setting again. Other than a few other places, clearly one of the largest and most stocked I have been in. It was great visiting them.
But realistically, someone opening a store that large for trains only in this day and age, in a town that could not support it, I believe the chances are slim to none.
Don’t confuse a realistic attitude with a pessimistic attitude. Painting a rosy picture now is also unrealistic.
You also don’t have tell me the history, or how popular it was, I’m older than you and knew about it long before you were born. (http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-cool.gif)
So no one is confused, I surely hope the name does not die, and I’ll be visiting the area soon, so hopefully you will keep up the progress reports.
Greg
Your argument seems based on the notion that Denver “could not support” the store. Upon what are you basing that? I don’t see that as being the case at all. I’ve been in Caboose almost weekly for the past 14 years. (It’s right down the street from my office.) I’ve seen the ebbs and flows reflected on the shelves. Are they raking in money hand-over-fist? Not by a long shot. More like “working hard to stay above water.” But what specialty store isn’t in this day and age? There seemed to be good turnover of stock on the shelves, at least the things I looked at and purchased regularly. The parking lot (small though it is) was always full, and I can’t think of a time I was in there when someone wasn’t filling a basket for an on-line order (which was reportedly about half their business). I’m not privy to “the books,” but I’ve seen–and worked for–hobby shops that were in dire straits. I would not put Caboose in that category.
Characterize my view however you wish to; I think I have a pretty good sense of what’s happening in my own back yard. Does it mean we’ll actually see a revived brick-and-mortar Caboose Hobbies on the order of what was at 500 S. Broadway? Again–no one knows. But I think your characterization of Denver not being able to support such an effort is far off the mark. The new owner bought the business because he saw it as valuable and viable. Why the expectation, then, that he wouldn’t have a go? Denver’s a train-lovin’ town!
I would also offer that there are two brick-and-mortar train-only shops in Colorado Springs, about an hour south.
http://www.customrailwaysupply.com/
https://www.sunbirdtrainmart.com/
Not nearly as large, mind you, but hanging in there none-the-less. (It’s been a long while since I’ve visited them.)
Later,
K
I’ve stated this before, several times, the fact that the original business was clearly in a large building, and an old building, and low rent cost.
Re-establishing the SAME business in the same area would need to be more costly, and it looks as though all the inventory was sold.
This is not clear and understandable?
Explain why you cannot understand this please. Keep it simple and to the point.
Greg
Deep breath everybody
I have some guesses:
1 - Caboose Hobbies becomes a mail order center whereby orders are taken and they are drop -shipped from the mfg. or distributor – which I think both are diminishing in number. I further guess that to compete with TRAINWORLD would be tough.
OR
2 - Caboose Hobbies does the email and has a small warehouse that is open X times per week or month for those who want to see and buy the products that they choose to have on hand as “specials.” They may carry enough scales to warrant a small building.
In part, number 2 is what BridgeMasters in Southern Calif. has implemented. Of course, the trains they have are ones purchased from estates and shops that have closed. So they need the warehouse anyway.
Greg wrote: “Re-establishing the SAME business in the same area would need to be more costly…”
Greg, from my earlier post:
"Whether a new store is downtown or out in the 'burbs, folks would still drive there to visit provided the inventory and experience are similar. That gives the new owner a greater deal of flexibility in looking for a suitable space."
I would be surprised to see anything happen within Denver limits–maybe up north by the Forney museum and stock show complex, but even that’s getting expensive. I think if anything is to happen, it will almost certainly be out in the suburbs. That’s why the brand is so important to the process. The name “Caboose Hobbies” is the draw. Folks aren’t going to drive out of their way to go to “George’s Train Emporium” because there’s no legacy attached to the name. Folks will drive out of their way to go to “Caboose Hobbies.”
Greg, consider your upcoming trip to Denver. Are you going to care where Caboose is located, or are you just going to type the address into the GPS and follow the directions no matter where it takes you? The challenge for the new owner will be to make the experience inside the store the same experience customers had become used to, so folks will make the drive on their subsequent visits as well.
Later,
K
Jeeze Kevin, please give it a rest. You just won’t stop. I had enough of you on MLS. Please don’t ruin LSC for me.