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.
oh boy…
Greg, you wrote in your post, “Explain why you cannot understand this please. Keep it simple and to the point.”
So I did. I explained that I agree with you that it would be unlikely for Caboose to re-open downtown where the rents have gotten prohibitively high, but the cheaper suburbs are most certainly a viable option.
Then, after I post my response to your request for explanation, you express exasperation that I “won’t stop.”
You. Asked. Me. To. Explain.
Later,
K
So both of you are speculating, in other words, making educated guesses, and then getting short with each other because you 2 didn’t guess exactly the same.
Hey, I have an idea! Why don’t we just sit back, relax, have a beverage, and see what actually happens.
I’m closing this thread, its gotten out of hand, and generated a crapload of back end messages to me to ban all involved. Babysitting adults is not the reason I run this site.