I was wondering why Roy's Train World in Mesa wasn't advertising in MRR anymore, so I went to their website to find that they've closed after 40 years. Apparently, Roy's son was no longer interested in running the business, so all is gone. He did take the cats home with him though, which, was one of the reasons I didn't got there that often. The place smelled of cat litter and you'd reach for something on a shelf only to find a cat laying on it. :o Still, it's a pity to see the store closing. But then there's one that just opened, Obie's in Apache Junction, which is probably a good ten more miles to go, or about a 70 mile drive from our house. Now you know the other reason I don't get to go that way very often.

From what I understand, Roy's was a family business, didn't really do the mail order or internet store thing. I don't think they were interested in selling the business outside the family.

I haven't been to Obie's, but sometimes I am in that direction and next time I am in that area with free time, I think I will stop by. It would be nice if they had a website.

nachoman Wrote:From what I understand, Roy's was a family business, didn't really do the mail order or internet store thing. I don't think they were interested in selling the business outside the family.

I haven't been to Obie's, but sometimes I am in that direction and next time I am in that area with free time, I think I will stop by. It would be nice if they had a website.

Would you expect that maybe Roy's sold all their inventory to Obie's? One closed, and a short time later, the other opened. I really don't get to that side of town anymore, but I'll stop by Obie's the next time I'm even close to there. Maybe it'll be a good time to go out to the Miner's Camp Restaurant at the same time.

Well, I don't want to make a special trip out there unless I know what kind of store it is. But perhaps one day I will be on my way to the lake, on my way to the Globe area or the Arboretum, and will stop by and report back. Since my modeling is mostly in a scale/era that isn't too popular, I'm usually just looking for basic supplies, and the Hobby Bench on 19th avenue suits well for most of that. The HOn3 stuff I typically pick up at Coronado which is about halfway between home and work. Everything else I wouldn't even expect the best hobby shop to stock (especially at a good price) so that I mail order.

Last time I went out to Arizona, back in 2005(it was a somber visit. My mom had passed away), but, to keep my father's spirit up we took the trip(you'll like this), from Apache Junction where my father lived, to Roy's in Mesa. My father(whose name was Roy by the way) had visited it a couple of time, mostly to look though and buy railfan videos(He would sit for hours and watch them). I walked out of there with a pack of KD#5's and a Athearn BB box car.

My father passed away in 2011. He did have an extensive library. They were missing when I went out to take care of his business.

Its always sad to hear of a family business closing.

eightyeightfan1 Wrote:Last time I went out to Arizona, back in 2005(it was a somber visit. My mom had passed away), but, to keep my father's spirit up we took the trip(you'll like this), from Apache Junction where my father lived, to Roy's in Mesa. My father(whose name was Roy by the way) had visited it a couple of time, mostly to look though and buy railfan videos(He would sit for hours and watch them). I walked out of there with a pack of KD#5's and a Athearn BB box car.

My father passed away in 2011. He did have an extensive library. They were missing when I went out to take care of his business.

Its always sad to hear of a family business closing.

Yeah Ed, I remember when you came out back then.

According to the website, the son has been running the business for the past 15 years, and I guess he just got tired of the grind.

That's too bad about Roy's Trains ....was there in the 90's several times on trips to Scottsdale . There was also Gerry's Trains , Coronado ( I think ) and one other that escapes me . Gerry's was a little different in that it was cash only .

T