I know the hobby shop which was next to St. Peters Inside the Loop is now outside the loop.

But not too far from there, toward the Piacasso(SP?) Statue there was a LHS, but it was below street level. What was the name of it, and is it still open?

Thanks

Now called Chicagoland Hobby

http://www.chicagoland-hobby.com/history.htm

In May of 1972 Richard Bosak bought Hobby Service & Supply, located at 22 W. Madison in downtown Chicago. The name was changed within a couple of years to Downtown Hobby. In 1984, the business was moved to 6017 Northwest Hwy and again the name was changed, this time to ChicagoLand Hobby. Richard retired in 1993 and Greg Bosak, his son, has handled the operation of the business since then. Greg started part time in 1972 and has been full time since 1976.Our business is based on service. We work very hard at giving our customers the best service that we can. Greg and his experienced staff look forward to meeting and talking with new customers and building a relationship of trust, while providing excellent service and products.

Prior to being located on Madison St., Chicgoland Hobbby's predecessor, Hobby Service and Supply, was located upstairs from the Walgreens drug store at State and Randolph in the Loop, right across the street from Marshall Fields. Catty corner to that, on Randolph, was Vaughn's Seed Shop which had an extensive train department that featured mostly Marklin equipment along with european building kits and scenery items. So, if you include the train department on the 4th floor of Marshall Fields, you had three great train locations at a single street intersection in Chicago. Plus, the ladies behind the counter at the Walgreens soda fountain served up a killer chocolate shake.

Wow! You guys just filled in a nice little piece of history for me. As a little kid, I would travel to Chicago on the Monon Railroad from my Mitchell Indiana home to visit my grandfather. He would take me downtown to a train store up above a drug store at State and Randolph, and occasionally buy me a new car for my trains.

After college in 1969, I went back on occasion to visit my uncles and aunts in Chicago, but found that the train store I remembered was gone. One of my uncles steered me towards a train store on Madison. But on later visits, that store was gone too.

Fast forward to 2002, and the acquisition of O Gauge Railroading magazine and the Ameritowne building line. As a result of that, I visited one of our best stores called Chicagoland Hobby where I met Greg Bosak for the first time. Now I learn that his father Richard is the man I remember from the Madison St. store, and that the train store from my early childhood memories was the predecessor of that one! Neat thing, this OGR Forum. Thanks to AlanRail, jaypee, and DominicMazoch.

And while wer're on a history kick, my grandfather that I went to visit in Chicago was my Mother's dad, Carl F. Bledsoe. He is none other than the inventor and patent holder for the coaling station built all over the country by Ogle Construction Company. Grandpa Bledsoe eventually became the president of the company. A perfect replica of it is the one currently produced by Golden Gate Depot.

Jim Barrett

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Jim Barrett,

OK, thanks for the history. I've bought some stuff at the 22 madison location. In fact a story.

There was a red crane and boom car in the inside display window just calling out my nmae. Remember, I just came from Dodge City of the SW Ltd. (Super Chief/El Cap) But, I started in Houston on the Lone Star (Tx Chief), and transfered to the SW at Newton KS. Well, the Newton derick was sitting in front of the station. Well, as a teen, one gets very intered in MOW stuff that close to you.

So I was in Chicago waiting for the Panama Ltd, and just happened to start walking down Madison. Came to shop. Saw all those great O guage Lionels. oh, yes, that crane. And work caboose. Wanted it real bad. Bid not buy it. On Panama, I wanted to kick my caboose.....

Nex year, came in Chicago via the Empire Builder. OK, went to LHS. Crane and caboose still there. Put travelers checks down on it. Guys were great about wrappping it up. Rode with me back home to Houston via New Orleans. It is now a retired piece. Not selling it, but it brings back memories of Newton and the windy city!

Does ORG have a possible story here. Seems many peope have used the various versions of this shop, both in Chicago, and as travelers!

AlanRail:

Is the LHS lcated near any CTA heavy real or METRA commute service?

quote:

Originally posted by Jim Barrett:
Fast forward to 2002, and the acquisition of O Gauge Railroading magazine and the Ameritowne building line. As a result of that, I visited one of our best stores called Chicagoland Hobby where I met Greg Bosak for the first time. Now I learn that his father Richard is the man I remember from the Madison St. store, and that the train store from my early childhood memories was the predecessor of that one!

Jim,
Rich Bosak worked at the All-Nation Hobby Shop at 220 W. Madison St. for quite a few years before he had Downtown Hobby. That's where I originally know him from. I'm sure the All-Nation was one of those shops you visited as a young lad.
Too bad I was still in HO back then, I'd love to have a couple of those Walthers O gauge North Shore Line car kits they routinely had in stock.

What a neat thread.

Thanks to all, including my partner Jim, for this fascinating piece of Chicago hobby history.

Ed Boyle

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Ed Boyle,

Chicagoland Hobby is located along the C&NW Metra line.
Although I'm not certain of the stops as I usually go there by car.

http://www.chicagoland-hobby.com/pictures/map.png

I well remember frequenting Hobby Service and Supply when it was located upstairs on Randolph across the street from Marshall Fields. I believe the building was called the Globe Building. That was in the 60s, and when my friend and I went downtown, Hobby Service and Supply and the 4th floor of Marshall Fields (where the train and toy dept. was located) were always on the itinerary.

Cheers!
Keith

If you go to Chicagoland hobbies may I recommend Super Dawg's hotdogs for lunch or dinner! Its just North and East of Chicagoland hobbies.
Now that I think of it if Miller signs made a copy of Mr. and Mrs. Super Dawg I would have get one.
http://www.superdawg.com/

Franktrain

I'm fairly sure the stop is called 'Norwood Park' but I would have to admit I have never gotten off at the Norwood Park stop. Follow that NW Highway up to Park Ridge and I live down the street from JD Kadd's.

The METRA stop is Norwood Park. Its in real nice park-like setting just a long block from Chicagoland Hobbies.

And if it helps any, there is a tremendous doll shop about 100' from the train shop.

Michael is correct, it is the Norwood Park station.

Marshall Fields! The Chicago Foley's! MF:Chicago::Foley's;Houston Both Borged in Macy's.

OK, the hobby web site has a problem. I go to the homepage, and click on the ATSF Yellowbonnet. I get the homepage back, with curser over the Yellowbonnet.

BTW, is the Yellowbonnet WBB?

On a side note, I felt compelled to look up the patent awarded to Mr. Barrett's grandfather (#1867547). Great stuff!

last Saturday, Me and a buddy went up to Chicago to do some railfaning, and we went out to Chicagoland hobby...By train!

What you do is get on a Metra (UP) Northwest line train, at Ogilve Transportation Center, and ride to the Norwood Park stop. After you get off the train, walk about 2 blocks back towards the city. Chicagoland Hobby will be on the North Side of the road.

The way we did it was we caught the 1:30 Train out of OTC (It was a weekday, mind) with a 1:52 arrival at Norwood Park. That Left us about an hor to browse, before the next train in, which came at 2:57.

On Saturday, you could possibly catch a 12:30 train out of OTC, with a 12:52 arrival at Norwood. That would leave about 2 hours, until the next train inbound comes, at 2:57. That timing would work on Sunday too.

Hope that helps,

Zach

quote:

Originally posted by franktrain:
If you go to Chicagoland hobbies may I recommend Super Dawg's hotdogs for lunch or dinner! Its just North and East of Chicagoland hobbies.
Now that I think of it if Miller signs made a copy of Mr. and Mrs. Super Dawg I would have get one.
http://www.superdawg.com/

Franktrain

I would kill for a Superdawg right about now! That was the first date for my wife and me.

Not sure on the spelling, but does anyone remember Despenses Castle of Toys in the Chicago area? It was an actual castle. Before that, it was a toy store. I've still got a bunch of original Lionel boxes with Despenses price tags on them. I seem to remember the train department took up half the store, but that could be selective memory.

quote:

Not sure on the spelling, but does anyone remember Despenses Castle of Toys in the Chicago area? It was an actual castle. Before that, it was a toy store. I've still got a bunch of original Lionel boxes with Despenses price tags on them. I seem to remember the train department took up half the store, but that could be selective memory.

Dispensa's was a toy store in Oak Brook in a building built to resemble a castle, complete with a drawbridge entryway. It had a large train section during the Lionel MPC era. I still have a Lionel Coke set purchased there. It was torn down years ago, and replaced with a high rise office tower.

I worked downtown many years ago, and purchased a few MPC era Lionel cars from Downtown Hobby when they were in the lower concourse near what was 1 First National Plaza (not sure what corporate name is on the building now). I was out of the hobby for many years, and when I got active again I located Chicagoland Hobby, and have been there frequently. I was pleasantly surprised to hear of the connection to the old Downtown Hobby.

For anyone in the area, or coming to the area, Chicagoland is an excellent shop, in inventory, knowledge, and friendly staff.

quote:

Dispensa's was a toy store in Oak Brook

Actually it was Oak Brook Terrace.

"Come to Dispensa's castle of toys, Oak Brook Terrace, Illinois"

quote:

A perfect replica

Gotta love those stairs! One day I hope to get into IL and visit these shops.

Chicagoland Hobby is where I purchased my first O gauge items when I decided to get back into it in about 2003. It's a great store with good people in it. We are really lucky in Chicago to have so many truly great hobby shops. Having lived in the boonies where there aren't any makes you appreciate them even more.

Art

Does anyone remember the slot car track that was crammed into the hobby shop above Walgreens on State & Randolph?
It was the late 60s and my Dad owned two newspaper stands on Randolph & Dearborn and I remember going to the store above Walgreens to race my slot cars after working at the newsstand....
Man that was a LONG time ago.....

I remember Dispensa's in Oakbrook Terrace.....there was an amusement park surrounding it, I think it was called Dispensa's Kiddie Kingdom. I know there was the scrambler there and a little pond where you could drive RC Boats.

Good times!

Mike

Chicagoland Hpbby was where I made my very first MTH purchase in 1998. It was the BNSF Coalporter hopper, and being a 100% Lionel guy I felt so guilty for making the purchase. But Chicagoland Hobby had it on sale and I gave in, man what did it do to me!!!

When I lived in Milwaukee and attended Marquette for grad school I always was buzzing down to Chicago. Every single time a trip included Chicagoland Hobby, and the day after pay day made it even more sweet. But here I am in the Washington, D.C. area and I have quite a few pieces of items with their price stickers attached.

Man..I miss the upper midwest.

Eagle

Great thread! My dad worked in downtown Chicago and I used to love the days he'd come home with packages from some magical store in the city that seemed to have everything! Our mom would drive us up to the train station and we'd pick dad up with his box or bag of cool Lionel stuff. We never went to the downtown location. We had to use our imagination as to what it was like but, it seems like it would have lived up to my imagination.

Then there is Dispenses Kiddie Kingdom! What a cool place that was. You guys have done a great job of describing how it was. You can keep Toys R Us or any other big box toy store. Dispenses was the coolest toy store ever. Castle, draw bridge, more toys than a Sears Christmas Catalog. I remember my dad taking us there to pick up the Lionel Chicago and Alton passenger set in the early '80s. Each trip there was always too short. I can still see that HUGE wall of Lionel trains. I'm drooling all over again!

Once they closed the store and amusement park I am sure the train gods where watching and got even. If you remember, the office tower they built there (on hollowed train ground) did not receive an occupency permit for over a year once it was completed due to structural issues.