Choo Choo Bob’s to close St. Louis Park location, reopen at St. Paul’s Union Depot

The popular train-themed store will close its current location March 24 before returning to St. Paul, where it had operated until 2020.

The Minnesota Star Tribune
March 19, 2024 at 6:23PM
Bob Medcraft, the real Choo Choo Bob, prepared the trains for the track during the filming of an episode of The Choo Choo Bob Show in St Paul Min., Wednesday August 15, 2012.
Bob Medcraft, the real Choo Choo Bob, prepared trains for the track during the filming of an episode of the Choo Choo Bob Show in St. Paul in 2012. (Kyndell Harkness/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Choo Choo Bob’s Train Store, the popular train-themed train store and play space, will close its location in St. Louis Park and move back to St. Paul, opening a new location in St. Paul’s Union Depot this spring.

The Ramsey County Regional Railroad Authority approved the store’s Union Depot lease agreement Tuesday.

“I think this is cool,” said Regional Railroad Authority Chairman Rafael Ortega, a longtime Union Depot advocate who represents downtown St. Paul on the Ramsey County Board.

Long located in St. Paul, Choo Choo Bob’s closed its Marshall Avenue location in 2020. It later reopened in the Shops at West End in St. Louis Park.

The St. Louis Park store’s last day is March 24, according to its website. The opening of the Union Depot store is slated for May 3. Choo Choo Bob’s is booking birthday parties and other private events at its new location.

about the writer

about the writer

Greta Kaul

Reporter

Greta Kaul is the Star Tribune’s built environment reporter.

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