Caboose

[Dave V]

If you think that's harsh, you should read some of the comments responding to Caboose's posts on the ISE FB thread.   

Sad fact is, the store seemed to be in trouble from the day it re-opened.  I was there on day one and even the 3-hour waiting line of customers buying things was due to the credit card system at the registers malfunctioning, and that few items had actual prices on them or on the shelf pegs.   That sort of thing went on for months, and the website was virtually unusable for a very long time as well.  My experience with ordering future product consisted of waiting for a very long time and the product never actually appearing, even after other places had filled their advance orders for the same items.

Not a recipe for success even under the best conditions.

Ed

I was there too!  I remember how freaking awful check-out was.  But at least on the first day they had much of the old Caboose Hobbies stock.  I bought a bunch of HOn3 track and stuff that day.

[Point353]

With all our technology, why isn't someone working on a time machine for one more hours-long visit to the old Caboose?

You've been to the time machine - it's Red Caboose in New York City.

[wcfn100]

You've been to the time machine - it's Red Caboose in New York City.

That might be too far back.

Jason

[John]

We kind of saw the same thing with MBK --- nice downtown Baltimore location with a great atmosphere then they moved to Cockeysville with a smaller store front -- then eventually the webstore took over completely .. at least they are still in biz

[dougnelson]

You've been to the time machine - it's Red Caboose in New York City.

That is true, but the dust gets ever thicker.

I remember as a teenager, that space was occupied by Model Railroad Equipment Corporation.

[Point353]

That is true, but the dust gets ever thicker.
I remember as a teenager, that space was occupied by Model Railroad Equipment Corporation.

I remember Model Railroad Equipment Co as a pre-teenager.
That's where we went (along with Madison Hardware) after FAO Schwarz stopped selling Arnold Rapido trains and switched to LGB.
(I also remember when Carmen Webster appeared on the TV show To Tell The Truth.)

[dougnelson]

I had a crazy dream about the Red Caboose in NYC last night.  It was cleaned up, expanded, and "modernized".  It had it's own food court and was connected to an underground shopping mall.  Steve (is that his name?) was still there, but no sign of the cat.

[Mark5]

Now that pic is old school! 

[wcfn100]

That pic is also a lie.  There's no way you can carry a bag that big through the store.  Must have been staged. 

Jason

[Rossford Yard]

There is something about wandering around those old school stores.  By contrast, for some reason, I bought the newest Walther's catalog.....no real excitement thumbing through those pages.

Sometimes, I get excited on EBay or retail site, I guess its when I find some long "needed" rare item not seen other places, live or on the net.

Such is the life of one who refuses in most cases to "pre-order."

[sixpakpop]

Steve (is that his name?) was still there, but no sign of the cat.

 

Allan is his name. And I remember when Red Caboose was across 45th St up on the 4th floor.

[Point353]

And I remember when Red Caboose was across 45th St up on the 4th floor.

Do you also remember the elevator?

[nickelplate759]

Gosh yes!  And the dust.  And the old trains with no prices.  I asked for a price (on a ConCor N-scale Bangor and Aroostook boxcar if I recall) and he first checked his catalogs to see if was current production - when it wasn't he made up some ridiculous price which I declined to pay.

[John]

I asked the following on Ken Paterson's blogcast
James Regier responded .. thanks for the response ..


8 hours ago
Ken -- can you do an update on the status of Caboose hobby shop in Colorado?
JRegier80
JRegier80
5 hours ago
Unfortunately, they have folded.  They are in the process of closing and settling accounts the best they can.
1

[sixpakpop]

Do you also remember the elevator?

Only way I knew of to get in there.