New Placentia store is on track to become a train enthusiast destination

Don Napolitano, 74, of Brea, was introduced to what would become a lifelong passion at 11 years old when his parents bought him a Lionel steam locomotive freight train set.

Now he’s making a business out of what he loves: Napolitano has opened Annabelle’s Collectibles, offering all manner of goods for model railroad enthusiasts both new and veteran.

At the front of the store is a full train set with multiple electric powered trains positioned around a constructed town. Horns blow, conductors holler, smoke billows and a distinct “chugga chugga” resounds, all at a press of a button and the turn of a dial as the trains begin to move.

Opened in February, the shop is one of a handful of stores in Orange County authorized to carry goods from Lionel, which historically has been one of the biggest model railroad companies, credited with popularizing the electric model train in America. The instantly recognizable orange boxes of Lionel goods can often fetch a premium price with collectors, Napolitano said.

Throughout Annabelle’s, enthusiasts can shop for trees, people, structures, tracks or other miniatures to spruce up their own railroad scenes. The store also carries a selection of art and books by local residents, including a collection of novels by Napolitano himself.

Ask Napolitano about the origin of the Annabelle name, and you might be pointed to her “office” in the back, replete with kibble and a doggie bed. The three-year-old collie is the store’s mascot, and often greets customers at the door and walks with them as they browse.

Model railroads are a highly customizable hobby, Napolitano said. Prices for sets range from $95 to $5,000; selections range from starter trains for children to high-end sets for avid collectors.

For many people, the appeal of railroad building will be something that leaps out when they go hands-on with the trains, Napolitano said. Especially with children, seeing their first trains can be a start of a hobby that lasts a lifetime, he said.

“There has to be a spark there, something that they like,” Napolitano said. “If I can get them to play with the trains and see everything there is to choose from – get that spark going – then we’ve got them.”

***New Anaheim business offers digital mail service

Freedom Mailbox, a digital mailbox service with a new location in Anaheim, offers small business owners a chance to simplify their mail management while upping their professional appearance.

First opened in Santa Ana in 2016, Freedom Mailbox opened its second location in Anaheim four months ago.

A purely digital service, Freedom Mailbox offers two main perks: a mailing address and mail management. Owner Tim Paulino said the mailing address can be especially appealing to young businesses and those run from home, to give a more professional appearance while avoiding having a home address spread around.

On the mail management side, the service starts by having customers give the company the right to handle their mail. From there, Freedom Mailbox will collect and upload pictures of each piece of mail to an online service. Customers can see the mail online or have it mailed to their home.

Scanning in the mail takes less than 24 hours and allows customers to read their mail, in full, from most internet-enabled devices, Paulino said.

Paulino said most customers sign up for the separate mailing address, but later find convenience in going hands-off with their mail.

Pricing depends on how much mail must be managed.

Moving forward, Paulino said the company is looking to expand into Irvine. The company is also pursuing new methods that will speed up the uploading of mail, he said.

Send north Orange County business news and tips to jwinslow@scng.com.