Web Orders?

For those of us not in AZ or planning to visit in the next week or so, is there a web listing of things on sale? Can we place orders? I'm still looking for the tug boat crew put out by Walthers(?) / Merten? a number of years ago and you might have one on a dusty shelf. How about those JayBee conversion kits? etc. etc. etc.

Thanks. And good luck in your new venture.

Hmm

I was in Roy's once back in 1996.  My wife and I were visiting her uncle in Mesa and her uncle took us there as he was into large scale trains.  My memory of Roy's was that most of the stuff was large scale, but my memory may be confusing it with another place I was in around the same time.  

But let's not turn this into a doomsday scenario.  From Tim's letter, it sounds like this decision was based more on wanting to get out of being a business owner and have more time for himself and his family, rather than being forced to close.  Could be a bit of both, but it is what it is.  

Roy's

You will be missed

Tim,

I was just in your shop 2 weeks ago and chatted briefly with you. I visited your store since 1984 when I was a local. Since moving north I've been back at least once a year. I remember talking with you and Janice about great memories in Chama. Best of luck to you wherever your path may lead.

Best Regards,

Geoff Bunza

Roys has a lot more "N" than the other scales

I have been going to Roy's about once a week for years now.  The "N" scale isle looks smaller but in fact do to the size of "N" scale he has as much if not more "N" scale than HO and it over shadows O scale.

As I wondered

Clearly I was confusing the two places.  My memory ain't what it used to be.

Will miss RTW

I've been going to Roy's Train World since the late '70s, met Tim when he was still a teenager. I still get by as often as possible, though I live across the Phoenix metro area from the store location. It's always been a friendly place, with the best exclusive-train inventory in Arizona.

I'll miss the store a lot, there's something about the local train store experience that no website can match. Wishing Tim and his family the very best in the next chapter of their lives!

Final laps around the HO and O elevated tracks

Last laps around the HO and O elevated tracks at Roy's Train World in Mesa AZ.  The Mini "N" scale layout is built inside a big plastic box at kid level with buttons for kids to press to make the train run.   Has been in place inside the box for years with no track cleaning or derailments.  More than likely that is why no videos of the "N" scale layout.  The elevated G scale layout had the engine sold so we were unable to take a lap. The tHO crash at the end.

That looks like a great train shop

   Folks around there are surely gonna miss it. Good luck with you new endeavors Roy Jr and crew. .....DaveB

Roys's Closing

Such as shame to be losing another local train store!  I was just in there in December and bought all of the code 83 flex track he had. I'm from San Jose, CA and nobody in our area has had code 83 flex track for months. I had a nice conversation the them. I was really hoping to see them again when in the area!  Dave

This is not a quick decision

I talked with Tim about the train business 4 years ago and he said that he was thinking about retiring sometime soon.

I think, as he said, that his father's passing was the catalyst.

He and "Roy's" will be missed.

Eric, where did you get the announcement? I heard about the closing at Sahuaro Central on 3/15 but yours is the first printed information I've seen.

Store Closing

That's a pretty good run to stay in business for 40 years at Full MSRP. Our local shop was forced to offer 20% discount on everything so as to compete with online sales.

Bruce Petrarca I was told a

Bruce Petrarca

I was told a few days before that and then he sent me the E-Mail above. I do think he hinted about it before them too.   It is part the normal e-mail he sends out to customers.  From what I under stand from Tim and His wife is most if not all his kids and grand kids have moved out of state.  He would like to spend more time seeing them and it could be hard as a store owner.

  I think  this is also why, sounds like he has been working long hours too.  He is a Lionel repair site among other things and Tim was saying he some times did not get out of the store tell late after the shop closes.

I think Also after Roy died it hit a lot too.

As for the retail price,  That is set in so that stores and shops can make a profit too.  I hate that when people cry about a shop selling at retail.  One of the things I was told why Exactrail pulled all it's products from the store and went to sell from it's site only is too many shops were under cutting the retail price. So if you wonder were the shops are going you can not sell something less than retail and expect to make a profit.  It might go that far with other Companies too.  Retail is there for a shop to make a profit and stay in business.  What it sounds like is a few manufactures are only going to sell to a select group of retailers like Walters etc.  Some times too many pigs in the pen equals a lot of skinny pigs.

I will miss the shop do to the fact it is less than 2 miles from my house. If I need something I could call the store and Pete, Bob or Tim etc. would have it ready for me when I get there in about 5 minutes.

Verne Niner

I think at one point Tim told me about you.  You did "N" and had a few articles in the mags.  One was about something to do with rocks or Mormon rock or something like that. never did see the article.

I think the fact that he is a repair site too will hurt a lot of folks that can not fix stuff on their own.  I see snow birds all the time with boxes of stuff getting fixed by Tim. 

Google Maps inside Roy's Train World

Walk in the Door and you see Tim, Zephyr the cat before she/he died and Shay the other cat.

Look at all the Atlas "N" Scale track.  The Paint rack is Full too.  I See the SP Red and Grey I need!!!

too many shops were under cutting the retail price.

That means the suggested  retail price was too high then. Price should be determined by supply and demand in the free market and not set by someone not involved in the immediate transaction. Shops like MBKlein  do a good business selling stuff for fair prices that are usually below suggested retail price so it's possible to make money and give your customers a good deal.....DaveB

...

This shop is quite competitive, with a lot of good stuff at good prices.

Roys also has a really good secondhand business, it's fun going through the "fly by night" bins looking for goodies.

Where they have also done really well is in consignment sales, whereas "It's like a new store every week!" truly meant something here!

I will miss it.

I can understand if the owner wants to sell the shop and retire from Trains as a living, but it's going to be hard to replace this. 

Today was the last day

Today was the last day of normal store operation...Roy's will open next Friday and Saturday on a cash-only basis. I stopped by the store today, talked with Tim and Pete, and picked up a few items for future projects. Adios, Roy's!

Anyone interested is welcome to visit my blog, I posted a short piece on Roy's this afternoon.

http://sonoragrandeenterprises.com/esgrr/page36/page36.html

AzBaja

That probably was me, I published a fair amount when in N - N Scale Railroading and N Scale Magazines. Nothing on Mormon Rocks, though. Thanks for your posts on the store, it will be missed.

I'm spoiled

I have grown up with a hobby store with in minutes from my house.  So for Roy's Train World to be gone is a big deal for me.  It was a phone call away and a quick drive (4 miles) or as a kid a bike ride from Tempe. 

I'm going to stop in next week too for the cash only sales.  I'm still on the list for the sign on the inside of the front door.  Private Property No Trespassing.  You can see the sign in the Google photo above.  I do find it funny to see a private property no trespassing sign on the front door of a business.