I have been in the hobby 40 years and have meet a lot of train people from this area, there used to be so many train shops within a 50-60 miles radius of my location. Sadly most of them are gone today. Always great to meet fellow enthusiasts & find a new Hobby Shop!!
I'm in Eastlake, around 20 min west of Mike Wyatt. Been in the hobby since my deceased great grandpa and some uncle's set up a Christmas layout every year when our family lived in Texas. I just dug all those trains out of the garage attic last week which found some amazing stuff in good condition. The only Menards I've been to was in Angola, Indiana on my way to the S.S. Badger in Michigan which they didn't have any trains for sale unfortunately.
Hope u guys don't mind. I live in South East Michigan, I have to travel to Oberlin Ohio and points farther to all your area to see good Train stores.Even into the PA .
Seven Hills, about 5 miles south of downtown Cleveland.
JJAMES Cleveland Ohio here! Have to mention Trading Post Train shop ...Great crew there. I would love to see some pics of your new layout!
I'm in Bay Village, western suburb of Cleveland.
I am in Richfield Ohio, about 20 miles due south of downtown Cleveland. There's a new Menards just across the valley from me but I've yet to visit.
Lou N
John Rowlen posted:I am in Parma, Ohio. There is a new Menards being built on Brookpark Road, about one mile away. The Trading Post on Pearl Road was my main supplier of trains as a kid. Dad and I always enjoyed talking with Mr. Silver... and Ralph Brown.
Every Christmas and birthday there was a new addition to the Super-O layout. As I work on my Atlas O "Valley of Bridges" layout, I get a strange feeling that Dad is sitting there watching me work. He passed twenty-plus years ago, but his presence was there when I started building my layout. It is time for me to get back to work and finish what I stated.
Sincerely, John Rowlen
Ah yes; Silver at Trading Post. Mr Cambie Silverthorn. Got a lot of trains there too. I remember his 65 T-bird convertible with the Trading Post sign on the back.
I miss your dad and my weekly visits to his Studio. I still have the Lackawanna FM, the 746, and the GG1 he helped me find on my youthful budget.
Lou N
I'm in Milan. About an hour west of Cleveland.
Seems like Ohio is another Mecca for O Gauge like Pennsylvania is.
We are next door neighbors! :-)
Originally from Canton, Ohio and it will always be home! My intro to train shops was Schaffner's, and later on it was Trains &Things up in N. Canton, and Glen's Train Shop up in Akron. Pretty sure all are gone now, but they were all pretty cool in their own regard.
I will put a plug in for the Massillon Train Club, I've been able to visit a couple times on trips home to visit my parents, and they have a great layout and are a friendly bunch.
Glen's Train Shop became Aaron's City Trains but it is now closed.
Took me a few minutes to remember Engelharts in Massillon. They had pretty nice display layouts.
Aaron's was a nice shop - It was a completely different experience than Glen's in the same space. Made it there a few times and did some pre-orders with them when they were open.
It's been discussed on the forum before but Glen's was a one of a kind experience. I will never forget Robert's uncanny ability to know where nearly everything was in all those piles of brown shipping boxes all over the store.
John Rowlen posted:I am in Parma, Ohio. There is a new Menards being built on Brookpark Road, about one mile away. The Trading Post on Pearl Road was my main supplier of trains as a kid. Dad and I always enjoyed talking with Mr. Silver... and Ralph Brown.
Every Christmas and birthday there was a new addition to the Super-O layout. As I work on my Atlas O "Valley of Bridges" layout, I get a strange feeling that Dad is sitting there watching me work. He passed twenty-plus years ago, but his presence was there when I started building my layout. It is time for me to get back to work and finish what I stated.
Sincerely, John Rowlen
I've been waiting for a Menards! I'm in Parma as well! And thank God for Trading Post!
Mike,
That sounds like a plan to me!! I don't know of any private layouts near my location but I would be more than willing to "open" mine up. The Menard's is about 15 minutes from where I live. Of course Cornerfield Trains & Museum is not far, Mercer Junction in PA is worth your time if you have not been there yet? Great train store, well stocked and a great owner!!
There is a Eat n Park in front of Menard's and a Perkins directly across the street.
Jeff
paul 2 posted:I live in Cuyahoga Falls. Just north of Akron and maybe 30 miles south of Cleveland. I lucked out and have a Menards 2 miles from me now. My number one store to go too. Train related items I have yet to buy out of the store. All my buys have been through the website and shipped to the store free. Before they built the one close to me I was driving 35 miles south to shop at Menards...............Paul
Hey neighbor, I'm in Stow. Everytime I'm in there I always swing through, my oldest boy wanted to buy my wife the Starbucks store for our new layout! Have you been to Rail and Road hobby in North Hill yet? He's only there on Saturday but he's got some neat stuff.
I've met @rockstars1989 very good people, gave my boys some turnouts for our layout. :-)
Mike,
That sounds like a great idea! I live an hour away, as I said above when I mentioned the Warren Menards. I am semi-retired, right now not working, but when I do work, I am usually off Thursday and Friday. I agree Saturday or Sunday will probably catch the most people. I go to church on Sundays, but can be there by noon. This Thursday and Friday I'm booked moving my parents into a new personal care home, but I'm sure that is too soon to get the most folks lined up.
Keep in mind Saturday and Sunday, Nov 10, 11 is the Greenberg Show in Monroeville, Pennsylvania. I don't know how many of the eastern-most folks go, but I will go that Saturday.
Let me throw my location in here as well (Willoughby Hills). Rumor is they have started building the Menards in Mentor after talking about it for 2 years so now I won't have to drive over to Warren to pick up stuff. Of course if my "good friend" Paul would just pick up my orders at the one 2 miles from his home and bring it to our Tuesday night meetings that would help until the one in Mentor is complete.
I would agree that Northeast Ohio is a real great place to live if your into 3 rail model railroading. I know we have had some hobby shops close up but there are many active groups here and some of the nicest guys/ladies you could meet.
Bryan, I'll bet Paul would charge you a significant handling fee! 
I had to look up Willoughby Hills. I see you are up near the Lake near Kirtland. Handy for those shows!! 
