People
Monday, December 21, 2015
Akron train store could be pulling out of the station one last time
After 50 years, Aaron's City Trains -- formerly Glen's Train Store -- may be closing
by WKSU's KABIR BHATIA |
Reporter
Kabir Bhatia | | |
 | | Kevin Miller says the customers at Aaron's City Trains range from children through to people in their 70s. | | Courtesy of KABIR BHATIA |
A well-known Akron model train store is having a going-out-of-business sale, even as its owner hopes a buyer will take over and keep moving full-speed-ahead. WKSU's Kabir Bhatia reports. |
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Glen's Train Store opened more than 50 years ago, and was taken over in 2010 by Aaron Hoey, who re-named it Aaron's City Trains. Hoey re-organized the interior of the cinderblock building on Grant Street -- just south of the University of Akron campus -- and installed a large O-gauge layout.
But now, Hoey is relocating to the West Coast to look after his other business ventures. Kevin Miller is one of the store's three employees and says it’s much different today than when it was Glen’s Train Store.
“Glen never unpacked anything, and he had boxes on top of boxes. And you had little aisle ways you could walk down. But the funny thing about Glen was, if you asked him where something was, he knew exactly what location it was in and he could get it out.”
Miller adds that interest in the hobby still cuts across ages.
“We get a lot of kids come in [and] a lot of younger guys who are just starting out in the hobby. But it’s fun when the kids come in and they see this stuff and their eyes light up. It’s fun to have them blow the whistle and play with them and talk to them about trains.
"All ages are into the hobby. I’m in my ‘40s and doing the hobby for a while. We got guys in their 60s and 70s and guys in their 20s that are coming in here that are buying.”
Aaron's City Trains expects to stay put until early next year. But the store remains profitable, and Miller hopes a buyer will be found before that. |
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