Non-Toy Gifts: Blog Guest: Choo Choo Bob's Train Store

Here at Non-Toy Gifts, we are so excited to have Gianna Kordatzky to do a guest post for us. Gianna is a mother of four and also actively blogging at Family Fun Twin Cities. It is such a great blog with great resources for family of things to do (cultural, educational, and fun) here in the Twin Cities area. We stumbled upon their site while searching for Choo Choo Bob's Train Store and we had so much fun celebrating our kids' birthday there and thought would love to hear others' experiences at Choo Choo Bob's too. So, with no further due...here is Gianna...

My name is Gianna Kordatzky. I am part of the co-founding team of Family Fun Twin Cities. Marv and Stef asked if we would share with you about our love for Choo Choo Bob's Train Store. We were thrilled to oblige. Marv and Stef, thanks for having me.

The first time I stepped into Choo Choo Bob's Train Store, I was overwhelmed by a magical trainland. The shop gobbled us up, and my kids and I froze openmouthed at the wonder in front of us. We hadn't even stepped off the landing at this point. Little did we know what awaited us in the depths of Choo Choo Bob's Train Store.

The store is brightly painted in orange and blue and yellow, and trains line the walls. The checkout desk is vintage railroad memorabilia. A sky painted on the ceiling with fat, puffy clouds and two "train stations" in the back of the store animate this railway destination. You are not walking into a store. You are walking into adventure.

With multiple model train layouts in the front of the store and a plethora of play train tables in the back, your inner child will come out as you watch your tiny engineers at work. Choo Choo Bob's is full of trains whether it be toy trains or model trains. Bob Medcraft--one of the two Bobs that own Choo Choo Bob's Train Store--wanted the store to be first a toy shop and then a train store. He hadn't found a train store that let kids enjoy trains.

This store really brings together train lovers of all ages. And we love that! In the bitter cold of Minnesota winters, families can bring their kids to come play for an hour or so. There are benches for parents to relax on.

Choo Choo Bob's also offers awesome birthday parties. For just $150, you get to use one of the their two train station party rooms for two hours. Cake and juice and party favors are included. Plus all the train play you can want.

I can't forget to mention Storytime with Engineer Paul. It's so fun and worth it. Engineer Paul is one of the main characters on The Choo Choo Bob Show. At Storytime kids can play with the real Engineer Paul, listen to stories and sing songs.