Mack, I too was born and raised in Cleveland. Back in the 1950s and early 60s, it was a thrill to travel downtown to see the Christmas toy departments at the department stores you mentioned (and the spectacular and huge Sterling Linder tree). May Company also had a fun toy department back then, and the Hobby House was train central downtown on Huron Road at E. 9th Street.
I especially liked going down to the department stores just after Christmas where a boy could spend his Christmas money from relatives and get trains and other neat stuff at closeout prices. Picked up a fabulous chemistry set that way using my mom's green stamps (which May Co. accepted).
My Lionel train set (1955) came from Jaye and Jaye Hobby on Lee Road at Euclid (I think). Oh, how I fondly remember the pre-Christmas atmosphere there on a frosty Cleveland night, going in the back to see the layout run and then deciding on what Lionel item I would point out to my Dad as a possible Christmas gift. What fun days those were.
Those were fun! I remember Nobby Hobby Shop at E103 and Union and also Sparks Hobby at E131 and Miles. No giant display layouts but fun just the same.
Halle Brothers in Cleveland had a huge Super O display in 1958. Wish I had pictures.
And just for the record, Jaye and Jaye was on Ivanhoe off Euclid.
One year Hobby House had a display layout in the store; a 10 x 11 foot layout with a circle each of O scale, s gauge, and HO.
I only wish when Christmas Story was shot in Cleveland that some of the indoor display layout had made it into the movie.
Regards,
Lou N
