Hours may be flexible during this opening time. Call ahead to avoid disappointment.
Details:
After closing the location in Saint Paul’s Merriam Park Neighborhood, Choo Choo Bob’s Train Store has recently re-opened in St. Louis Park. The store originally opened in October of 2005 and was run by Choo Choo Bob himself, Bob Medcraft. Bob moved on to other things in 2019. The train store recently re-opened under new ownership, but still features story times with Engineer Paul. Our review and images below feature the original location, but we expect the model to be essentially the same at the new location. We will update more as the new store progresses.
In the meantime, we highly recommend following the store on Facebook for updates. We have a link at the bottom of this page.
Choo Choo Bob is a staple in our home since a friend of mine introduced me to this perfect little toy shop for families who love trains. And our family loves trains. Even though my boys love trains more than my girls, they all look forward to hanging out at Choo Choo Bob’s.
In the words of Bob Medcraft, “Choo Choo Bob’s is a toy store that features trains”.
He says this because some toy stores say they are train stores because they have a little Thomas and a little Brio or Chugginton. Other train stores are definitely not toy stores, have not ever been toy stores, and will never be a toy store built for a young train enthusiast.
Choo Choo Bob’s bridges the gap for train lovers of little hands and big hearts. Behind the desk made to look like an engine (coolest desk ever), scale model railroad cars are displayed. The history of trains in Minnesota and throughout the United States is recorded in books available for purchase. I honestly didn’t know there was so much to know.
What I noticed after further review.
model railroad displays (at the children’s level). More than just one. There were at least three on display if not more than that.
seven train tables in the back of the store with set ups for the youngest train lovers to use.
rentable and nostalgic party rooms. These party rooms replicate the Choo Choo Bob Train Show clubhouse and stations located in TV land’s Bobville. They add to the decor of the play areas.
shelves and shelves of railroad accessories, railroad toys, a tv monitor with a train video playing.
Choo Choo Bob’s Train Store was not designed to be the end all be all of model railroading. They readily admit this themselves. This is the perfect place to come and introduce an imagination to the joy of trains. This is the place to come for a beginner model train set. This is the place to come to play.
Choo Choo Bob’s Train Store was designed as a playland. It’s a playland for moms and kids, dads and kids, grandpas and kids, and grandmas and kids. Being able to enjoy the Choo Choo Bob’s experience together is what makes it special.
4 Highlights of Choo Choo Bob’s Train Store
The store is not particularly huge, and every inch of space is used effectively. The front of the store is used for the big-hands train lovers, and the back two thirds are used for the little-hands/big-hearts train lovers. I am starting to enjoy small stores that welcome little ones.
You can rent the train station party rooms for birthday parties. The birthday parties include a goodie bag, a wooden train craft, use of the room for 2 hours, gourmet train cake from a local bakery, all the necessary table supplies (and clean up crew), and beverages.
Engineer Paul and the rest of the staff. Engineer Paul has become a local celebrity and is one of the most loveable reasons to go to Choo Choo Bob’s. What I love most about his story is that he was a retired grandpa looking for something to do, saw that Choo Choo Bob’s was going to open, applied for a job, and asked to wear an engineer uniform to work when he was offered a job. And now, he has been thrown into the world of TV production playing Engineer Paul on the Choo Choo Bob Train Show. You can meet Engineer Paul himself sometimes when you go into the store.
Individual pieces of wooden track are for sale. This may not be unique, but it’s helpful.
The Choo Choo Bob Show
You can experience Choo Choo Bob without leaving your living room (and you should). I have alluded to the Choo Choo Bob Show more than once. Bob Medcraft is first and foremost a TV/video producer. He has worked on music videos for bands like the Goo Goo Dolls. He’s good and he knows what he is doing. With that said, he is a dad who has two boys of his own and knows what can interest an entire family. The Choo Choo Bob Show is written for everyone in your family to enjoy. It’s kind of like a a young, crazy Mr. Rogers meets Train World. Only Choo Choo Bob is entirely goofier than Mr. Rogers. And the young man who plays Choo Choo Bob has earned thousands of Brownie Points from me for singing Happy Birthday to my son on his birthday in front of a big crowd, remembering his name and his age (his name is super unique), and recognizing us later that day!
