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Reply to "Jaye and Jaye Train Store in Cleveland"

Lou N posted:
Dave Warburton posted:

Yes, J&J moved to Euclid at some point but I have no idea when.  It was located off Lakeshore Blvd. in or next to the old Shoregate Shopping Center, I believe. There was a Bob’s Big Boy nearby, too (probably ex-Manners?). 

As I mentioned before, it was a shadow of its former self train-wise and most of the floor space was devoted to bicycles. I bought a Lionel C&NW FM Trainmaster from them when I visited sometime in the late 80’s. 

I fondly remember the original store on Euclid Avenue at Lee Road (?) with its backroom Lionel layout. Magical before the holidays back in the 50’s!

Dave,

You reminded me of two other shops in the vicinity.  One was on Mayfield at I-271; Golden Gate Plaza as I recall.  Forgot the name; mostly HO.  It was run by Bob Kuppe and Paul McCoy.  Sadly diabetes took them both.  

The other shop was DiVinnies Hardware on Lee at Scottsdale.  They had great Lionel prices.  The thing I remember most was it was the only place I ever saw a Kusan display layout.  

Some comments of interest for the Cleveland people.  There was a local train themed TV show hosted by Captain Penney (Ron Penfound).  The usual 50's era cartoons.  He had guest performers including a magician named Tricky Harry.  I was told by the show's director (Earl Keyes who was also local celebrity Mr Jingaling), Tricky Harry was truly "Tricky" as the Shaker Heights Police found him at DiVinnies one night at 2am. 

More than you wanted to know.

Lou N

Interesting info, Lou!  I grew up in Shaker Heights not that far from Lee and Scottsdale and never knew about Divinnies. I frequented the hobby shop on Kinsman (later Chagrin Blvd.) near Lee Road for models and such but I don’t think they carried any Lionel. 

As an adult, I moved to the West Side (Strongsville) and shopped for trains at Hinch’s Hobby in Strongsville, later in Parma on Broadview Road, but mostly at The Trading Post with Jim Berilla and occasionally at The Hobby House in downtown Cleveland. 

I gather that with Jim’s passing there isn’t much left in the way of train shops in Cleveland anymore. Sad. 

Watched Capt. Penney growing up, too. He dressed as a train engineer for his noontime show. Jim Berilla had the Lionel set he had used as a prop. Capt. Penney had a “Brakeman” who was one of the cameramen, I believe.

Such happy memories of it all . We left Cleveland for SoCal ten years ago and are very happy out here. Especially in the winter.  

 

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