jim pastorius posted:I would wager half the hobby shops closed because the owners were older and the other half weren't very good business people and lost out.
Where I live, I believe the majority of them that closed were exactly this. The owner of one, specifically, was desperately looking for someone to buy him out but it never happened (one guy tried but didn't have the money to back the purchase and had to give it back). I'm 100% sure that guy would be happier if the store was still open. I know I sure would, as I spent a lot of money in there during my layout build!
A couple I know that folded were horribly run, as if they were clubhouses and couldn't be bothered by customers. Frankly, I'm glad those closed because they deserved it.
The ones that still exist in the general region and sell trains are the better ones that have more than the same guy working there every day. No clubhouse mindset at any of them!
