Choo Choo Bob's Train Store - Family Fun Twin Cities

Address: Union Depot, 214 4th Street East, Unit 120, Saint Paul, MN, 55101
Upcoming Events: Jump to Choo Choo Bob’s Train Store Events

Website Choo Choo Bob’s Train Store
Phone (651) 420-1969
Mon & Fri 10am-1pm
Sat & Sun 10am-5pm

Once a staple of Saint Paul’s Merriam Park Neighborhood, Choo Choo Bob’s Train Store has changed owners and moved around a bit in the last several years. With a short stop in St. Louis Park from 2022 to 2024, it is now back in St. Paul, located inside Union Depot Train Station. After the transfer to new owners, the store transitioned from open play to pay-to-play and will continue with that model at its new location. The store will bring in a variety of family-friendly entertainment, including live music and the popular Storytime with Engineer Paul.

Doorway to Choo Choo Bob's Train Store at Union Depot Train Station — Choo Choo Bob’s is now in Union Depot

Cost to play at Choo Choo Bob’s Train Store

The store transitioned to a pay-to-play model in 2019. Kids can play with all the train tables plus participate in any in-store activities, such as story time and concerts. Admission is for the full day and families can come and go throughout the day.

Ages 1 -10 – $10
Twins – BOGO
Adults – $2
Babies under 1 year – FREE

Birthday parties at Choo Choo Bob’s

Train-tastic Birthday Parties are back and include a private train-themed party room where you can bring your own party foods, admission to the play space for up to 10 guests and a private play table. The store can be rented when not open. Find up-to-date information: Twin Cities Birthday Parties for Kids: Unique Spaces.

About Choo Choo Bob’s Train Store

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.

Meet Jennifer Moberg – Owner and Local Mom!

We love happy stories and we love locally-owned businesses! Having a local mom, who cherishes this community treasure as much as we do, is the best happy ending to the ownership transfer of Choo Choo Bob’s! Learn more in Gianna’s interview with owner, Jennifer Moberg.

Gianna’s review of Choo Choo Bob’s Train Store

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 Chuggington. 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.

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.
You can come and go all day. Once you’ve paid the admission fee, it is good for the day, so go out and enjoy Union Depot, have a picnic, explore Lower Town and then come back to play.
Explore Union Depot. Did you know that Union Depot is on the National Register of Historic Places? It is not just for catching a train or a bus.

Group of children playing life-size chess during a Games Galore Wednesday at Union Depot Train Station in Saint Paul. — Games Galore at Union Depot. Image courtesy Union Depot

This article was originally published by Gianna on April 4, 2013,
but it has been updated regularly

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. Original owner, 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!

Engineer Paul and Choo Choo Bob Owner Jennifer Moberg

More information

Subscribe to the the Choo Choo Bob Show Channel on YouTube.

Upcoming Family-Friendly Events

Storytime with Engineer Paul! - 04/03/2026 - 10:30 am - 11:15 am
Storytime with Engineer Paul! - 04/06/2026 - 10:30 am - 11:15 am

Fun Past Events We Hope to See Again

Events TBA

Please Note: FamilyFunTwinCities.com is an independent website run by Twin Cities families for Twin Cities families. We attempt to include the information we find most essential as parents. We make every effort to keep up with changes. However, we are not employed by or connected to this venue, and information sometimes changes without our knowledge. We recommend calling or checking the venue’s website for up-to-date information.

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Choo Choo Bob’s Train Store