Cedar Grove Model Train Store Will Honor Late Owner With Temporary Reopening

CEDAR GROVE, NJ — It’s rare that someone puts their full heart and soul into a local business these days, which is one reason why Al Puntasecca of Tony's Train Town in Cedar Grove should be remembered, locals say.

On Tuesday, Sept. 6, National Railroad Worx will partner with Tony's Train Town staff to hold a temporary “Grand Re-Opening” in order to liquidate the store’s stock following Puntasecca’s recent passing.

“As many of you are familiar, Al Puntasecca has been a Cedar Grove business owner for the past 34 years, having opened Tony's Train Town in 1979,” the store writes on its website. “Al had put his heart and soul into this store, and we are honored to help the Puntasecca family reopen this location in Cedar Grove to liquidate stock in the store.”

For more information about the temporary reopening, click here, email info@tonystraintown.com, or call (201) 934-5454.

The Cedar Grove Chamber of Commerce honored Puntasecca in 2011 as its Business Honoree of the Year, writing:

“In 1979 Cedar Grove became the home of what was to become an outstanding asset to not only the community of Cedar Grove but to anyone who has come to Tony’s Train Town to either purchase a set of trains, secure replacement parts for an existing set, or repair a much loved train set.”

The chamber continued:

“Al Puntasecca of Tony’s Train Town has been in business for the past 33 years. Starting in 1979 in a location behind Foodtown, his move in 1985 to a larger space in 452 Pompton Avenue was short-lived due to a fire in the apartments above the store. And still in 1985 he moved to the present location at 575 Pompton Avenue where the store continues to prosper to this day. Over the years the shop enlarged as more and more floor space became available and the needs of the store expanded. Al is proud of his reputation in the industry due to not only the products that are available, but also the service that is provided… Al is most proud of the train tables and custom layouts that also part of the store’s service. With the motto “We sell the best, and service the rest” it is no wonder that Al of Tony’s Train Town has become a Cedar Grove institution that continues to put Cedar Grove on the map.”

Puntasecca was once a construction engineer who got tired of working outside so he turned his passion into a business, naming his model train shop after his son Tony.

“Model trains have been a hobby of mine all my life,” he told Patch in a 2012 interview. “I worked outside for 40 years and I wanted to get out of the cold so I turned my hobby into a business.”

Read the full Patch interview with Puntasecca here.

Send local news tips, photos and press releases to eric.kiefer@patch.com