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Post by dharris on Jul 13, 2016 16:53:11 GMT -8
I received a sale email from caboose hobbies in Denver saying it was a transition sale. Landlord selling the building.
Does anyone know further information on this?
Thank you
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Post by grahamline on Jul 13, 2016 17:13:28 GMT -8
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Post by rochan745am on Jul 13, 2016 17:20:03 GMT -8
I was just there a couple of hours ago and didn't see anything out of the ordinary. |
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Post by BEDT26 on Jul 13, 2016 18:16:01 GMT -8
I don't understand if they're going to close the business for good or move to another location or why don't they purchase the building.
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Post by mlehman on Jul 13, 2016 20:03:34 GMT -8
That's interesting. They could be in a better neighborhood for shipping out on the east side. It'd sure be nice to still have a showroom to visit when I'm in Denver, which is far too rarely to keep them in business sadly enough. I don't understand if they're going to close the business for good or move to another location or why don't they purchase the building. You gotta understand the 'hood. I have a friend that owns a condo in little more than walking distance of the store. His property has appreciated considerably since he bought it almost 20 years ago IIRC. It's gentrifying rapidly and any landlord in the area is probably looking at much higher end tenants than a train shop. And if you think about the cavernous interior, it would be ideal for one of the main growth industries in Colorado. Not saying that's directly related, but it is part of the spectacular economic performance Colorado is experiencing. Years ago, Sundance Publications was in an office a little farther north on the same street, nearer Union Station. I think they've been gone from there 10 years, maybe more and it was rather the same situation, lost our lease, etc. IIRC. Things change in big cities and property goes from being the cheap seats to prime cuts. |
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Post by loophog on Jul 14, 2016 0:23:25 GMT -8
I got the email too, found it confusing and nowhere did they say in the email or on their site about them closing or relocating. Maybe the building is just changing owners and they're staying as tenants. I was planning a visit to Denver and wanted to stop in later this year.
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Post by peoriaman on Jul 14, 2016 3:01:38 GMT -8
And if you think about the cavernous interior, it would be ideal for one of the main growth industries in Colorado. Install some sprinklers and plant grow-lamps and you can raise a lot of wacky tobaccy in there... It is Colorado after all. |
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Post by The Ferro Kid on Jul 14, 2016 3:42:41 GMT -8
Phraseology like "everything left" and "all sales are final," coupled with no mention of a move to another location, wouldn't seem to bode well for a continued storefront operation. Or maybe they're simply reducing their footprint (they had expanded into the second storefront way back when), or they're going mailorder only.
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Post by markfj on Jul 14, 2016 6:53:07 GMT -8
A quick check of their current inventory & pricing didn’t show may “deals” for me, but maybe others will find something of interest. I always thought Caboose Hobbies was a little pricey, and even with the 25% discount I think there prices are just about even with eBay and other online retailers.
If mlehman’s speculations about landlords looking for higher rent in the area are true, then this hobby shop is probably done for good.
Mark
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Post by Chet on Jul 14, 2016 7:50:31 GMT -8
From what everyone has brought up, I does look like they may be going out of business.
I have no hobby shops at all in my area in Montana and buy most everything on the internet, but whenever I happen to pass through Denver, I would always stop by. Even though their prices were usually higher than other places I could get what I needed, it was nice to be able to see first hand and in person items instead of looking at photos on the internet. I never left without making some kind of purchase.
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Post by mlehman on Jul 14, 2016 7:51:26 GMT -8
Phraseology like "everything left" and "all sales are final," coupled with no mention of a move to another location, wouldn't seem to bode well for a continued storefront operation. Or maybe they're simply reducing their footprint (they had expanded into the second storefront way back when), or they're going mailorder only. Lots of items in stock or on order with new stock expected. I rather doubt a full shutdown. The customer list and long-standing mail order ops suggest a possible conversion. A smaller showroom that is served also by a order/pickup window for the warehouse a la MB Klein's move a few years back seems like a potential model for some changes in this volatile real estate market. |
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Post by The Ferro Kid on Jul 14, 2016 10:03:22 GMT -8
The current buzz on the TrainOrders forum is that landlord yesterday gave Caboose 90 days notice to vacate due to sale of building.
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Post by dharris on Jul 14, 2016 10:28:52 GMT -8
If in fact Caboose closes (versus moves) it will be a sad day for the hobby.
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Post by GP40P-2 on Jul 14, 2016 11:28:33 GMT -8
I have dealt with them for many years. It was great when Stapleton was still around. You could arrange a 4 hour layover in Denver, just long enough (in the old pre-TSA days) to make a trip out to Caboose before your next flight.
The fact that they are still taking pre-orders implies that they plan to be doing "something" in the future, and that they are calling it a "transition" implies that they don't necessarily know "what", yet.
Options are probably: mail order only; mail order heavy with a limited MB Klein type store; a full or downsized store else where in the Denver area; or a full or downsized store outside of Denver. I doubt being able to use the motto of "the worlds largest train store" will survive, but I would think that they will still be around in some form.
Unless the owners decide they want out, and this is a good time to do it.
Jim L
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Post by rails4dmv on Jul 14, 2016 11:46:17 GMT -8
A quick check of their current inventory & pricing didn’t show may “deals” for me, but maybe others will find something of interest. I always thought Caboose Hobbies was a little pricey, and even with the 25% discount I think there prices are just about even with eBay and other online retailers. If mlehman’s speculations about landlords looking for higher rent in the area are true, then this hobby shop is probably done for good. Mark Walthers current warehouse sale pricing seems to come out cheaper than Caboose prices, even with the added discount. From the few items I checked out, Caboose seemed to have raised their prices. |
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Post by mlehman on Jul 14, 2016 12:13:16 GMT -8
If they just got 90 days notice, then there's a lot of uncertainty on their end at the moment. Don't blame them if they don't have an exact plan and something better to call it than a transition. Just finding another suitable location and getting a lease signed for it is likely to take 30 days, so give them a few weeks to sort it out and I'll bet things will be clearer.
They've got stuff on order, back order, customers who want to place new orders, plus selling what they have on hand. A quick announcement was needed before the rumor mill bit them. And the lower pricing is a good way to test the waters for a full on conversion to mail order. You certainly reduce your shrinkage due to shoplifting that way, as well as have other advantages, but it just won't be the same, whatever it is, as the old "world's largest."
Depending on how much heat, water, etc plus store staff cost vs the % of sales between shoppers in-store vs mailorder, they may end up more profitable without a storefront. But then there's the vendors that require a storefront, which may require some sort of retail experience even if the economics aren't really there to do that otherwise.
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Hergy
Full Member
Posts: 117
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Post by Hergy on Jul 14, 2016 14:07:55 GMT -8
I was just there 2 days ago. I have been doing business with them since the 60's. I told my wife that things did not look good. Their parts wall (one of my favorite nooks) had many empty slots. The brass repair desk was gone and two or three cases that used to house brass were all gone. I think I have more brass than caboose. Very few sales people and none of the regulars that I have done business with for years. Nobody I talked to seemed to know what was going on. It was obvious something was in the wind. A few years ago they even stated carrying airplanes and tanks etc. I think that this drawdown has been underway longer than just the last few days. It was a very sad site indeed.
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Post by jbilbrey on Jul 14, 2016 14:46:43 GMT -8
If in fact Caboose closes (versus moves) it will be a sad day for the hobby. Agreed. I have placed orders with them a few times and had no issues with them. They had what I was looking for [their emphasis tend to be on western railroads but carry items for railroads all over the country] and their prices were reasonable. Going to their store was a whole other experience. Where I live, model railroad sections of hobby shops consist of couple isles in a HobbyTown with some of the newer releases and a few structure kits. Book sections are practically nonexistent. Needless to say, I was like a kid in a candy-store on my first visit to their store. I found their staff to be helpful when I had questions about merchandise, mostly where something was located in the store. Another time with a bunch of eastern railroad items, the guy behind the cash register looked at me and said, "You are not from around here, are you?" He then gave me directions to the regional bus terminal so that I could get a ride back to the hotel. Anyway, I hope they are able to transition to whatever new business model they hope to achieve following their relocation. I would hate to see the hobby to lose a major retailer like Caboose Hobbies. James Bilbrey LaVergne, TN |
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Post by riogrande on Jul 14, 2016 15:46:25 GMT -8
Caboose Hobbies has been an institution for a long time so I hope they can simply move locations and keep up their reputation as a great model train store!
That being the case, seems like they should simply move the merchandise rather than liquidate much of it?
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Post by fiend540 on Jul 14, 2016 15:50:15 GMT -8
Caboose Hobbies has been an institution for a long time so I hope they can simply move locations and keep up their reputation as a great model train store! That being the case, seems like they should simply move the merchandise rather than liquidate much of it? Well, you still need money for the move/loss of sales due to the move, I'd suppose a sale is one way to get it. I'm going to make the short drive over this weekend, I do hope they can keep a retail store, it's always cool to walk through all the merchandise, I almost always walked away buying something that I didn't plan on getting when I went there. |
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Post by riogrande on Jul 14, 2016 15:57:41 GMT -8
That or it will help cut costs not having to move as much merchandise.
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Post by valenciajim on Jul 15, 2016 8:47:01 GMT -8
Something does not make sense. Typically a landlord gives the tenant a 90 day notice to vacate the premises when there is a month to month lease arrangement. Very few commercial leases are month to month. So my guess is when Caboose Hobbies lease came up for renewal the old owner wanted to have monthly lease so that he could capture the maximum value on sale of the property. The owners of Caboose Hobbies should have had some idea that this might happen. Thus it does not make sense that all of a sudden one day they were surprised that they had to vacate the premises.
The Roundhouse Train Store in North Hollywood, California closed down in May because that is when their lease expired. Their landlord would not let them out of their lease, so they kept the store open for several months with minimal inventory. The owner and a couple of retired friends worked for essentially no salary during that time, just shooting the bull at the shop.
When I was in Maryland last April, I wanted to stop by M.B. Klein thinking that it was close to downtown Baltimore, but it was quite a ways off the beaten track and my wife did not want to take a detour. The moral of the story is that rent in traditional retail locations is too high to operate a model train store. If Caboose Hobbies decides to carry on, I suspect the store will be in a different location and will look a lot different.
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Post by edwardsutorik on Jul 15, 2016 9:42:06 GMT -8
"Real" model railroad shops don't need walk-ins. They're nice, of course. But these shops are really destination stores. As such, they don't HAVE to be in traditional retail locations. Like malls.
My local is in an industrial park. Walk-ins? Maybe the aggregate drivers passing by.
But "real" model railroaders will search for a "real" shop.
If I was setting up a shop, I would look for an out-of-the-way building that was neatly kept up and didn't have surroundings that stressed my customers. If that means across the street from a refinery, I don't think that's going to keep customers away. At least, OUR kind of customers.
Ed
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Post by autocoach on Jul 15, 2016 10:26:58 GMT -8
"Real" model railroad shops don't need walk-ins. They're nice, of course. But these shops are really destination stores. As such, they don't HAVE to be in traditional retail locations. Like malls. My local is in an industrial park. Walk-ins? Maybe the aggregate drivers passing by. But "real" model railroaders will search for a "real" shop. If I was setting up a shop, I would look for an out-of-the-way building that was neatly kept up and didn't have surroundings that stressed my customers. If that means across the street from a refinery, I don't think that's going to keep customers away. At least, OUR kind of customers. Ed A trains only store across from a refinery is my LHS. Seems to have survived very well with a recent change in ownership. Lets hope Caboose Hobbies does find a good sized industrial location. Problem will be competition from local Colorado urban agriculture enterprises. ken |
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Post by Judge Doom on Jul 15, 2016 14:25:55 GMT -8
On the other hand, you don't want to make it too inconvenient to get to. If it's out in an industrial wasteland that you have to drive out of your way to, that has poor or no transit, or the store's a chore to get to, why shop there at all? Just order from someone online in the comfort of your own home.
Moreover, if you're operating an LHS that's also into Thomas & Friends (or even RC cars, model cars, construction toys/models and Warhammer figures, like I see many hobby shops dealing with alongside trains) there's a lot of walk-in business to be had by having a store in a mall or other ideal, high-traffic retail location. You'll get the hardcore guys seeking you out in the industrial park, but you won't get the casual browsers that have the potential for becoming return customers and generating more sales.
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Post by valenciajim on Jul 15, 2016 20:38:02 GMT -8
Moreover, if you're operating an LHS that's also into Thomas & Friends (or even RC cars, model cars, construction toys/models and Warhammer figures, like I see many hobby shops dealing with alongside trains) there's a lot of walk-in business to be had by having a store in a mall or other ideal, high-traffic retail location. You'll get the hardcore guys seeking you out in the industrial park, but you won't get the casual browsers that have the potential for becoming return customers and generating more sales. Caboose Hobbies sells only Model Train merchandise. They have a lot of cool layouts, etc. in their store. I am not sure that their current location is a high traffic retail location. While it is centrally located, it is not all that easy to get to. I am pretty sure that they could find a good industrial location near the beltway that surrounds Denver. The beltway is pretty much accessible to everyone. Retail space in a mall or another high traffic retail location is likely to be too expensive for a hobby shop. |
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Post by fiend540 on Jul 16, 2016 10:52:45 GMT -8
I made the 5 mile drive over today, picked up a crap ton of detail parts, a genesis PC&F boxcar in Frisco, a Atlas 60' Conrail boxcar and a Athearn Conrail Caboose for ~$100. They had some pretty solid in store only deals on 20 or so locomotives that were pretty tempting but I managed to not buy one. The two employees I talked to made it seem like the intent is definitely to stay open and move to another location, however you could sense the nervousness in their tone. I really hope they can find a location that lets them remain in business, and selfishly I hope it's on the Southern side of the city.
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Post by grahamline on Jul 16, 2016 11:24:23 GMT -8
My favorite train shop is between a Baskin Robbins and an art supply store, with an Asian restaurant anchoring the strip mall. Location counts if a shop can afford it.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 16, 2016 13:25:15 GMT -8
On the other hand, you don't want to make it too inconvenient to get to. If it's out in an industrial wasteland that you have to drive out of your way to, that has poor or no transit, or the store's a chore to get to, why shop there at all? Just order from someone online in the comfort of your own home. Moreover, if you're operating an LHS that's also into Thomas & Friends (or even RC cars, model cars, construction toys/models and Warhammer figures, like I see many hobby shops dealing with alongside trains) there's a lot of walk-in business to be had by having a store in a mall or other ideal, high-traffic retail location. You'll get the hardcore guys seeking you out in the industrial park, but you won't get the casual browsers that have the potential for becoming return customers and generating more sales. Who remembers the Scotch Tape Store skit from SNL? snltranscripts.jt.org/78/78bscotch.phtml... Walker: How's business for you? Good, eh? Floyd Hunger: [enthusiastic] Aw, it's terrific! This mall's a great location, you know. They did a good market survey on it. We've been doing really, really, um-- [suddenly notices Walker and Jenny look downcast] really, well, you know. [tries to be reassuring] It - it's gonna pick up, this business'll pick up. Jenny: [tries to look on the bright side] Ah, we - we've only been here for two months and it's, uh, just gonna take us a little longer to get established. Walker: [lighting his pipe] Yeah, you know, when you're working with a brand new, fresh idea, it's always a little harder. You know, um, most people are used to buying their - their tape when they go to the supermarket or drug store, you know. What we've got to do is turn their thinking around so they make a special trip down here to the Scotch Boutique when they want, uh, tape. Floyd Hunger: Uh, look, uh, you know, you've probably thought of this but have you ever considered adding, uh, other prod-- you know, products like, uh, paper clips, uh, stationery, you know, things like that? .... |
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Post by nebrzephyr on Jul 17, 2016 7:18:31 GMT -8
Assuming Caboose doesn't close down 100%, it will be interesting to see if they have a small "store front". I assume Horizon still has the policy of dealer requirement to have a "brick and mortar" location to sell Athearn.
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