Large Scale Central

Demise of Ridge Road -- Any insight?

General Discussion
#1

Do any readers know the Ridge Road management well enough to offer the “back story” as to their decision to close up shop. The staff’s first rate customer service, per so many of our positive comments, couldn’t have had anything to do with their decision to cease sales.

Is the market place now so diminished as to now leave it to TrainWorld and St. Aubins plus a number of much smaller mail-order businesses?

Maybe the answer to leaving the business of trains and toys is simple: Too few customers. Have the customers gone somewhere else or simply lost interest – or the need to purchase?

Do the same reasons explain TrainWorld’s apparent decision not to carry USA products?

Maybe there really are some answers to the continual curiosity of marketing large scale trains.

Wendell

#2

Peter and his wife simply wanted to retire, and have time to go touring on his motorized bicycle…nothing complicated about that…The shop was his second carreer…and now he simply wants to retire.

#3

Thanks, Fred.

The other questions are now unrelated - fortunately.

#4

My local train shop’s sales have decreased dramatically.
And that is all scales.

#5

John, that is because of the “Intranet” sales!! Small dealers, retailers, cannot compete with the will be generous and say the “Big” 10 internet dealers. You either go internet, go big, or get out!! If you just want to “retire” you sell your business, you don’t just close the doors, and sell off inventory!! You sell to the highest bidder who then takes the helm, and keeps it a goin!! Regal

#6
Jerry Hansen said:
John, that is because of the "Intranet" sales!!
The current economy with sharply rising food and fuel prices hasn't been involved?
#7
Forrest Scott Wood said:
Jerry Hansen said:
John, that is because of the "Intranet" sales!!
The current economy with sharply rising food and fuel prices hasn't been involved?
Or close to 25% unemployment if you count "unemployment" the way they used to before they changed the rules?
#8
Quote:
... If you just want to "retire" you sell your business, you don't just close the doors, and sell off inventory!
In Ridge Road Station's case, the store is located--literally--in Peter Mills' front yard. It's all his land, and it's my understanding that once the store closes, the building comes down. If there were someone interested in buying the name and inventory, then moving the business to a new location, I'm sure Peter would be willing to negotiate. But from what I've heard, the building coming down is the desired end, and mutually exclusive from simply selling the business to a new owner who would stay in the same location.

Later,

K

#9

I am real sorry to see them go. I did purchase a lot of train stuff including three live steamers plus other good deals. When one desires to retire , that is good and the way it should be. Just too bad someone couldn’t pick up the business but maybe they wanted to end it for good. Ridge Road, I’ll miss you…

TOF in Hawaii

#10

I hadn’t gotten the part about the building coming down, but everything else is true. According to the nice lady who answered my queries when I called a few weeks back, Peter wanted to retire and couldn’t stand the thought of the store being right there every day.

As Kevin said, I’m sure they’d at least hear-out an offer to buy the store if someone was so inclined.

#11

Like Barbara Streisand sings “Memories” !! That’s what we all will be singing eventually if not now!! Due to all the price increases and everything others have said other than what I posted. The Guberment will see that the reverse roll of “Robin Hood” who robbed the rich and gave to the poor" they will apply reverse fairy tales, and go with "lets rob from the poor and give to the already rich! My accountant friend of 40 yrs. + told me several years ago that “I am not living, I am just surviving” and every time we get even they take more from us, and then everything else goes up!! Gas will be $5.00 by memorial day if not sooner they are saying every day in the store things are higher, and smaller packages, and the only ones who don’t seem to care are of course the politicians, and people responsible for the price increases!! It’s a vicious cycle, I would not wish what has happened to my wife and I on my worst enemy, but just trying to cope with situations we are put into by the circumstances just “sucks” !! Easiest way to explain it. Regal

I think Mik has expressed some of or a lot of my opinions in his posts also!!

#12

Jerry Hansen said:
Like Barbara Streisand sings “Memories” !! !!

Dont mention THAT name, the only “memories” it brings back are those of musical torture and pain!!!

(http://blogs.amctv.com/horror-hacker/south-park-streisand-560.jpg)

#13

Vic, she sings better than 98% of the women on the radio. But if she’d had quit trying to act after “Hello Dolly” and “Funny Girl”, and stayed out of politics, I don’t think I would complain :stuck_out_tongue:

Speaking o’ which, does anybody else think Gubnerd Walker really needs to spend just one Friday as a substitute teacher in an inner city school?

#14

…or maybe a tenured school teacher could swap places with the governor for a day?

#15

or have their union bargain with their real employers, the citizens of Wisconsin…:wink:

#16

I don’t know the owners of RRS, but a friend who closed his business a few years ago, did as RRS so as not to sully his good business name and have that negative be associated with him.

My tuppence worth.

Bob C.

#17
Bob Cope said:
I don't know the owners of RRS, but a friend who closed his business a few years ago, did as RRS so as not to sully his good business name and have that negative be associated with him.

My tuppence worth.

Bob C.


That sure can happen. Bob Hartford is a perfect example. He’s still trying to recover after taking his business back.