@Mike Wyatt posted:I have given Lionel starter sets (PRR Flyer Sets) to both of my sons, and the grandson and the granddaughters all look forward to setting up the trains at Christmas every year. Saturday, my youngest son took the grandson to Menard's after I told him that would be a good place to go for some accessories. He (my son) was somewhat shocked when I said that Menard's had anything at all. He ended up buying some Christmas village themed buildings.
But Menard's had no FastTrack to make a bigger "layout", only tubular track, and a few HO and Lionel sets. There are no local hobby shops I could send them to. So, my wife and I drove about an hour to take them some new but leftover FastTrack. IF he ever wanted to buy some more then he will find that Menard's has no train stuff at all- other than at Christmas.
If/when the LHS loss is total, then hobbyists (like us) will need retailers (a) that have stock year-round, and (b) that has a relatively high level of quality product available. You can't do those types of purchases all online- Menard's or anyone else- the shipping will kill you financially. (Maybe "ship to store".) But that reality would likely kill the hobby.
In the past, the two main Lionel retailer types selling trains (other than sets year-round) were local hardware stores, and local hobby shops .
Menard's is unique in that they are in the train business at all. The other "big box" stores like Lowes and Home Depot have nothing at all in the way of trains. Is there enough market to support Menard's moving into that role? It would have to be profitable, and a good use of retail space, all year.
But to fill that market, Menard's will either have to expand their own product line, or (easier) move into being a supplier of Lionel stuff on a year-round basis. They will have to be "in" or "out" of supplying Lionel products- but not if they only have tubular track, and lightweight, inexpensive cars.
Menard's is a privately owned company, no stock holders, just the family so they can do what they want with no one to second guess them.
Dick
