Jaye and Jaye Train Store in Cleveland

In the 1990s I stopped in a train store around 200th street north of I90 in Euclid.  It was a stand alone brick building in a more residential area.  Could have been them?  It was mostly HO and N.  

I'd check with a local chamber of commerce or historic society....even Google it (images).  I've pulled up some nice pics of local past businesses that way.

I was there about a year before they closed......a few 027 sets and low end items were all that was left....only time I was there so I don't know what to compare it to.....

Yes, I'm from Euclid, Ohio actually. And, I remember J&J as a kid and begging my mom to take me there. Got her to take me once. After all, I was one of five kids and it wasn't easy getting us all in the car. It was a great store at the time. I'm guessing it was in the 1960s. Thanks for the memories.

I’m not sure if @Lou N has more info.

I can remember my grandparents taking me there in the early 1980s.  I remember lots of then red and white Lionel boxes everywhere.  I left with a few 0-27 items...and my first ever catalogs:  the 1982 Collector and Traditional Catalogs, which I'm pretty sure I practically stared a hole through.

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 Warburton posted:

I got my original Lionel set from Jaye and Jaye (“Pappy Jaye’s) in East Cleveland for Christmas, 1955. It was my go-to shop from then on, including HO trains later on. I moved away and don’t know when they closed ((they actually moved to Euclid, Ohio at some point and became principally a bicycle shop with trains as a secondary interest). 

Anyhow, I was wondering if any forum members have a recollection of the place, maybe even a photo or two? For old time’s sake

Hi Dave,

Jaye and Jaye was on Ivanhoe Road in East Cleveland (for those not familiar with the area, East Cleveland is a separate and distinct city, not part of Cleveland proper).  They started out as Cleveland Cycle.  Look at the dealer listings in the manual that comes with early 50's era Lionel sets and you will see them.  I remember the second store but not where it was at.  They had operating layouts in back.  The one I remember most had a twin motored Santa Fe single A unit pulling up a substantial grade.  The unique feature was that someone built a roadway with a slot and chain that pulled O gauge size cars around the layout.

I got some immediate postwar tin 027 passenger cars at the old store. Two bucks each!

I was not a regular customer there, but spent my time and Dad's money at Riedel's Railroadana on Babbitt Road in Euclid, right next to the NYC 4 track main thru town and across from the Addressograph Multigraph Corporation.  I have a friend that has some 8mm films of the place and I have offered to have them put on DVD at my expense.

Lou N

VistaDomeScott posted:

In the 1990s I stopped in a train store around 200th street north of I90 in Euclid.  It was a stand alone brick building in a more residential area.  Could have been them?  It was mostly HO and N.  

Hey Scott,

I believe you are thinking of Baron's Trains at 898 East 222 Street in Euclid.  Lots of HO.

Lou N

Jim R. posted:

I’m not sure if @Lou N has more info.

Thanks Jim; got you covered 

Lou N

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

I'm fairly certain that my only visit to Jaye & Jaye was during their going-out-of-business auction in the early to mid-1990's. I bought all the case-boxed catalogs going back to the 1960's.

I recently had a chance to visit the Lionel parts hoard that came from the store. Nice to know that it still exists.

TRW

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.  

Lou N posted:

Dave Warburton posted:

I got my original Lionel set from Jaye and Jaye (“Pappy Jaye’s) in East Cleveland for Christmas, 1955. It was my go-to shop from then on, including HO trains later on. I moved away and don’t know when they closed ((they actually moved to Euclid, Ohio at some point and became principally a bicycle shop with trains as a secondary interest). 

Anyhow, I was wondering if any forum members have a recollection of the place, maybe even a photo or two? For old time’s sake

Hi Dave,

Jaye and Jaye was on Ivanhoe Road in East Cleveland (for those not familiar with the area, East Cleveland is a separate and distinct city, not part of Cleveland proper).  They started out as Cleveland Cycle.  Look at the dealer listings in the manual that comes with early 50's era Lionel sets and you will see them.  I remember the second store but not where it was at.  They had operating layouts in back.  The one I remember most had a twin motored Santa Fe single A unit pulling up a substantial grade.  The unique feature was that someone built a roadway with a slot and chain that pulled O gauge size cars around the layout.

I got some immediate postwar tin 027 passenger cars at the old store. Two bucks each!

I was not a regular customer there, but spent my time and Dad's money at Riedel's Railroadana on Babbitt Road in Euclid, right next to the NYC 4 track main thru town and across from the Addressograph Multigraph Corporation.  I have a friend that has some 8mm films of the place and I have offered to have them put on DVD at my expense.

Lou N

My dad worked for the Anchor Rubber Company way out on Euclid Ave. near AM. Picker X-Ray was next to his plant. Thirty years at Anchor. 

J and J moved to Shoregate Shopping Center in Euclid at some point. Cycles and Lionel, still. I visited there in the late 80’s. 

Lot of CLE East Siders here.  Thanks for the trip down memory lane!!

Berkshire President posted:

Lot of CLE East Siders here.  Thanks for the trip down memory lane!!

My pleasure. Seems like yesterday, but was so long ago!  

Berkshire President posted:

Lot of CLE East Siders here.  Thanks for the trip down memory lane!!

Yes, East 103rd Street.  We would walk around the corner to Union Avenue to Nobby Hobby Shop owned by Frank and Amelia Andrisek.  Right next to Stutz's Barber Shop, headquarters of Shonder Birns.

Lou N

Dave Warburton posted:

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.

I used to go to Hinch's for my copy of OGR.  Another one that died too young.

Captain Penney's "brakeman", the voice in the background, was called Mr Nickelsworth.  That was also the previously mentioned Earl Keyes/Mr Jingaling.  He was the director of the show.

Lou N

I have attempted to visit some Cleveland area shops...not lately, and some were then gone.  In early 1960's l drove around northern Kentucky raiding small town drug stores, Western Autos, hardware stores, etc. for 1/25th auto kits, then popular.  Wish l had hunted trains.  Much later, l discovered the Bay and sold the car model collection to a Pa. college prof. The train thought was verified when l found a few plastic NOS Marx sets in a Western Auto that was closing, that too, too many years ago, but long after the auto kit safari.  Missed opportunities..