Choo Choo Bob’s

Union Depot | St. Paul, MN

Immersive commercial retail design for Choo Choo Bob's at Union Depot in St. Paul, featuring a vibrant custom hand-painted train mural, interactive wooden play tables, integrated lounge seating, and the Bobville Freight House entrance.

The Creative Brief

Choo Choo Bob’s set out to reimagine their space within Union Depot as a destination for both play and retail—an environment where kids could explore, imagine, and interact while families shopped and gathered. The existing space had evolved over time, with a collection of meaningful pieces already in place, but lacked a cohesive layout and clear visual direction. The goal was to bring those elements together into a more intentional, engaging experience—one that felt immersive, functional, and welcoming for all ages.

The Results

We transformed the space into a fully immersive environment, centered around a custom, hand-painted landscape that brings movement, color, and story to the walls. Layered hills, playful forms, and dimensional, handcrafted trees create a sense of depth and discovery, turning the space into a backdrop for imagination. Existing elements were thoughtfully integrated into the new design, giving them renewed purpose within a cohesive visual narrative. The layout was refined to create clear zones for play and retail, improving flow while enhancing safety and usability for families. The result is a space that feels joyful, engaging, and full of character—a place where design and play intersect to create a memorable experience for both kids and adults. It’s a space designed for wonder—where every corner invites exploration and every detail adds to the story.

Before & After

Before commercial retail design: Original layout of the Choo Choo Bob's space showing a mix of purple and grey walls, unorganized train play tables, and assorted wall decorations prior to renovation.
After commercial retail design: Transformed Choo Choo Bob's play space by West Design, featuring a cohesive layout, organized seating, and a vibrant custom hand-painted rolling hills and sky mural.
After experiential retail design: Renovated Choo Choo Bob's play area by West Design showcasing a striking blue train car backdrop, warm orange walls, organized wooden play tables, and a neat row of vintage green seating.
Before experiential retail design: Original layout at Choo Choo Bob's showing a large custom blue train car structure surrounded by cluttered train tracks and mismatched decor.

The Final Walkthrough

  • Immersive commercial retail design for Choo Choo Bob's featuring a children's play area, train tables, and a realistic railroad crossing sign in St. Paul.
  • Experiential retail space design at Union Depot showcasing the Bobville Freight House entrance, train play tables, and integrated lounge seating.
  • Interactive retail display design featuring wooden dollhouses and a custom hand-painted tree mural for Choo Choo Bob's toy store.
  • Custom wooden train play table and vibrant hand-painted wall mural in the Choo Choo Bob's commercial space.
  • Colorful retail and play environment designed for Choo Choo Bob's, featuring a Bobville Lines train mural and custom play zones..
  • Toy train retail merchandising layout with tiered wooden display tables and a colorful Train Store entrance by West Design.
  • Outside the store window display featuring a large model train, incorporated into the commercial design of Choo Choo Bob's..
  • Vibrant retail merchandising display featuring tiered wooden tables with Choo Choo Bob's apparel, boxed toys, and a decorative railroad sign.
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