Dispatch Junction, the last and well known train store in Rochester burned down last night. Well know for his vintage Lionel and s gauge trains often good buys on used G gauge could be had. It is the latest in a series of model train store closings in upper NY. The store in Batavia closed and went to ‘shows only’ last Dec. In march the model train store in Transit (Buffalo)closed. In early May the model train store in Utica closed. Last week there was an ad for going out of business sale in the Albany area. Although none were big g scale retailers, they represent the decline in the model train hobby as a whole. About the only real train store left in upper NY is Lantz’s Hobby.
A sign of the time, not allot of extra money around for peopole to spend on hobbies! How ever they seem to want to buy BIG boats and trucks! Interesting!
Paul
thomas prevost said:
…Although none were big g scale retailers, they represent the decline in the model train hobby as a whole. …
i don’t believe that.
the hobby is as strong, as it can be.
i think, thanks to diminuishing purchasing power the purchases in hobbies are going down.
people make do with what they have, or DIY it.
ow that’s sad, its on thing to shut the doors and go to shows or online services, its entirely another to have it go up in smoke. That said I sure hope it doesn’t turn out that the fire was intentionally set to collect insurance money…
Bummer. I went there many times when I lived in Rochester. They were located in a railroad station with the Conrail (later CSX) mainline right outside for great ambiance (and wall shaking) while shopping there. They never had a ton of G scale when I visited, but then Ridge Road Station was about 45 minutes west of them, so little incentive for them to really get too involved in that scale.
I’ve not read anything about whether they plan to rebuild and reopen. Their web page just says they’re down for maintenance as they assess damage from a fire. (Kind of an understatement…) I do hope they can reopen, but the old depot will be impossible to replace.
Later,
K
I hope they had insurance… I think it would be great for them to rebuilt the station, in it’s orignal form…
Kevin,
It was one hellva fire. Old wood warehouse building full of styrene stock. It was reported flames could be seen 2 miles away and smoke for 7. I have not talked with Stan, but, other club members have reported that he most likely will not rebuild. Inventory was a total loss. His store/market was mostly vintage Lionel and S gauge cars and engines. It would take him years to rebuild that inventory large enough to draw in large numbers of customers.
Again, it is a shame not only for the industry, but he was increasing his inventory of used G scale stock.
E. Paul Austin said:
How ever they seem to want to buy BIG boats and trucks! Interesting!
Paul
Yeah, they do. But the banks will finance boats and truck! 
Bob C.
Bob, I dunno. I financed part of my railroad. Visa was very helpful in doing that for me.