Well Clinchcross Model Trains in Fletcher,NC has been sold and the current owner's last day will be next Saturday.
I went today with my mother to say our goodbyes to the owner as well as see what he had left. I picked up a 4 car set of B&O streamliners and the stores Atlas SD-35 in CSX paint that has run on the layout since I have been going there as well as my first ever resin kit (man that thing looks complicated)
The owner still plans to be in business but the cost of overhead to operate his store is just too high compared to the profits that he is making , the fact he has to drive for over an hour to get to his store is a major factor.
I have had many good times talking with the owner and horse trading with him as well as learning about the current state of Model Railroading and what a "Real " Model train is compared to a "Toy" Train.
He has already sold the store layout. I will sorta miss seeing my many weathered cars I traded to the owner over the past months running on that little dogbone of track in that small shop and all the great little things he would get in that you just cant seem to find anymore.
I had many firsts in my Model railroad thanks to Clinchcross, and I am thankful for all the help and support he gave as I no doubt contributed to his profit regularly with my purchases as they went from blus bow locos up to my current Atlas, Stewart, IHC and P2K roster over the past year or so.
If he does as he is thinking he will do he will begin following the Train show circuit and selling via email orders as well so I have not lost him totally, but I will miss the little shop in Smiley's Flea Market even though you couldn't cuss a cat in there if more than 5 or 6 customers came in.
He says that the new owner will be reopening the shop a short distance from it's current location. I hope that the new store will be as friendly as Clinchcross has been. The only other model train shop in the area is owned by people who could care less about the trains, they are concerned more about the RC items and the guns they sell.
Here is to yet another "Fallen Flag" Train shop. Clicncross Model trains, a nice friendly store that always seemed to have the unique items you never thought you would need and was always friendly and willing to just sit and gab about trains.
Wes, I wish you luck no matter what you finally decide to do with Clinchcross and I hope she will stay alive.
I went today with my mother to say our goodbyes to the owner as well as see what he had left. I picked up a 4 car set of B&O streamliners and the stores Atlas SD-35 in CSX paint that has run on the layout since I have been going there as well as my first ever resin kit (man that thing looks complicated)
The owner still plans to be in business but the cost of overhead to operate his store is just too high compared to the profits that he is making , the fact he has to drive for over an hour to get to his store is a major factor.
I have had many good times talking with the owner and horse trading with him as well as learning about the current state of Model Railroading and what a "Real " Model train is compared to a "Toy" Train.
He has already sold the store layout. I will sorta miss seeing my many weathered cars I traded to the owner over the past months running on that little dogbone of track in that small shop and all the great little things he would get in that you just cant seem to find anymore.
I had many firsts in my Model railroad thanks to Clinchcross, and I am thankful for all the help and support he gave as I no doubt contributed to his profit regularly with my purchases as they went from blus bow locos up to my current Atlas, Stewart, IHC and P2K roster over the past year or so.
If he does as he is thinking he will do he will begin following the Train show circuit and selling via email orders as well so I have not lost him totally, but I will miss the little shop in Smiley's Flea Market even though you couldn't cuss a cat in there if more than 5 or 6 customers came in.
He says that the new owner will be reopening the shop a short distance from it's current location. I hope that the new store will be as friendly as Clinchcross has been. The only other model train shop in the area is owned by people who could care less about the trains, they are concerned more about the RC items and the guns they sell.
Here is to yet another "Fallen Flag" Train shop. Clicncross Model trains, a nice friendly store that always seemed to have the unique items you never thought you would need and was always friendly and willing to just sit and gab about trains.
Wes, I wish you luck no matter what you finally decide to do with Clinchcross and I hope she will stay alive.