Train enthusiasts, have some spare time? Visit Holly Beach Train Depot, located at 4712 Pacific Ave., Wildwood. It’s owned and operated by train fanatic Larry Lillo, a retired captain with the Wildwood Fire Department, who became interested in model trains as a child. Attending a 1993 model train show inspired him to begin collecting and eventually to open a retail location.
“That train show really got me enthused about model trains,” said Lillo. “I started buying trains and finally ran out of room at home and decided to open this store. At that time, there had been no train shop in Wildwood for over 30 years.”
Holly Beach Train Depot is named after the original train station, which was located one block west of the store. Holly Beach City, the original name for the center of Five Mile Beach, was consolidated with the Borough of Wildwood in 1912. The store has a huge inventory of model trains of different types and gauges. Lillo also manufactures custom train accessories, including signs, buildings and trucks.
An expanded website has brought customers from across the globe, with Lillo shipping to England, Japan, Canada and throughout the US, with the largest selection anywhere in South Jersey, plus custom accessories.
Lillo has been living and working on Pacific Avenue for 60 years, beginning his business career with a shoeshine stand during the 1950’s. He opened his first retail store, a crib rental shop, in 1971. He has seen the ebb and flow of Pacific Avenue over the years but has seen progress recently.
Visit their website at hollybeachtraindepot.com or call 609-522-2379.
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