Lionel Kiddie City is an American toy store chain under the ownership of Lionel, LLC. If you grew up in Chicago or ever visited during the holiday season, Marshall Fields and its famous holiday window displays most likely have a special place in your heart. Playworld, A World of Toys. By the early 1980s, Lionel operated some 150 stores, under the names Toy City, Lionel Kiddie City, Lionel Play Town, Lionel Playworld, Lionel Toy Warehouse, and Lionel Toy Town. The Lionel Corporation, which owned dozens of stores by the name of Lionel Kiddie City and Playworld, was one of the most popular toy retailers in the country. Initially, the company specialized in electrical novelties, such as fans and lighting devices. In 1989 Robert I. Toussie L.P., a partnership of several retail executives, attempted to buy the company. In its segment "Who Made America?," PBS called Wanamaker's department stores "palaces of consumption that turned shopping into an event for ordinary people.". Company reviews. For a time it was the second-largest toy store chain in the United States. This is the toy and hobby aisle of a NYC drugstore in 1974, I can't tell you many cool toys I bought at a drug store. By the early 1980s, Lionel operated some 150 stores, under the names Lionel Kiddie City, Lionel Playworld, and Lionel Toy Warehouse. Was NY the only place to have non LIonel Playworlds? July 1993, Lionel Kiddie City & Playworld; Shop Lionel (Kiddie City/Playworld), toy capital of the world! Had that been the case, it was a short-lived greatness: Lionel's 1955 sales were some $23 million, while rival Marx's toy (more than just trains) sales were $50 million. So it's no surprise that some toy-store chains just didn't survive. At least that's what Dave Hammond of Hammond Tots & Toys is thinking. Also in 1922, Boucher bought out VoltAmp and started making what was known as the "Rolls-Royce" of standard gauge trains. In 1989, Robert I. Toussie L.P., a partnership of several retail executives, attempted to buy the company. Weiner refused to disclose the number of Lionel employees in Utah, to say why the stores are closing or even to report how long Lionel had had stores in Utah. Products; Get Started; Hobbyists; Find A Dealer; Lionel Store; Support; Facebook; YouTube; Instagram; Pinterest; Twitter; Subscribe to e-mails. Now, Lionel, LLC operates thousands and thousands of locations in all 50 states of the USA, the District of Columbia, and US territories under the names Lionel Toy City, Lionel Kiddie City, Lionel Playworld, Lionel Play Town, Lionel Toy Warehouse, and Lionel Toy Town. Toys "R" Us Toys "R" Us Babies "R" Us Build A Bear Workshop Learning Express Toys The Lego Store Toys "R" Us Kay Bee Toys Lionel Playworld The building had been vacant for ten years and was in a state of disrepair, according to Fire Chief Don Huber. Clemens, Michigan, limited production of Lionel trains as a new product line under MPC began. Before the shoe store was purchased by the larger corporation in 1963, it was a family-operated busines selling reasonably priced footwear as early as 1894. Follow Unfollow Block Report Inappropriate Share ENRIQUE Cook profile . Health & Medicine; . About; News; Contact . But after changing ownership multiple times, the chain folded and went out of business in the early 1980s. Also see Lionel Playworld Super Heroes Comics (DC, 1981 series). Over the years, the company based the displays on common themes like "The Night Before Christmas.". Lionel also introduced the so-called Lionel Wartime Freight Train, a detailed set of cut-and-fold models of Lionel trains printed on cardstock which was notoriously difficult to put together.[6]. Lionel Playworld Toy Store Commercial (1987) comments sorted by Best Top New Controversial Q&A Add a Comment Lionel Playworld was owned and operated by Lionel Corporation. [12] During Cohn's unsuccessful four year tenure, Lionel lost more than US$13 million. [13] Lionel began making a variety of scientifically oriented, hands-on educational toys, designated "Lionel-Porter." Let's Remember LIONEL No promotions or spam. The Lionel toy stores (doing business as Lionel Kiddie City, Lionel Playworld, and, until 1990, Lionel Toy Warehouse) were American toy store chains under the ownership of Lionel Corporation. Today the company has only about 300 locations and is concentrated in only a few northeastern markets. Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're on the go. Was formerly Hills/Ames. But whatever troubles plague Lionel didn't seem to concern cost-conscious shoppers Monday. [3] The company's devotees disagree over the date of incorporation, as the official paperwork gives a date of September 5, but the paperwork was not filed until September 22, more than two weeks later. Location: In Miami but, Inside the Resistance !! Ratings by category. The set included a blue Jersey Central Lines steam locomotive with a 2-4-2 wheel configuration and attached tender car. Get Free Standard U.S. [3] Unable to reach an agreement for reorganization with its creditors, on June 2, Lionel announced its intention to liquidate all of its stores and go out of business.[4]. The family-owned local firm suffered three slow years, but last year Christmas sales improved and 1991 looks even better, Hammond said. The brand rose to prominence in 1976 following a series of television commercials featuring Johnny Cash, himself a Lionel collector.[16]. The deluxe kits included an electric AC motor with a worm drive and reduction gearset that was powered from household power. Camelview 5 theater . Lionel had been a staple for a major toy retailer for as long as i could . Again, using this same cover (with the Playworld logo dropped in where the Elson's one appears here). When the company declared bankruptcy in 1975, it was the largest retailing bankruptcy of the year, according to the University of California Press. Was formerly Hills/Ames. Media Contact Company Name: Lionel Playworld Paypal Receipt No: 1198-1713-9169-4048 Name: Paul J. Conrad Address: 2477 Margaret Street Houston, TX 77087 Phone: 713 845 7878 Meanwhile, non-specialty discount stores expanded their toy sections and undercut the prices of specialty toy chains. Efforts to increase train set profitability and/or sales by cheaper manufacture (largely by replacing castings and folded sheet metal with unpainted injected-molded colored plastic) were largely unsuccessful; 1957 was Lionel's last profitable post-war year. On the national chain level, stores like Zany Brainy, Lionel Playworld, Natural Wonders, Learningsmith, Incredible Universe, Just For Feet and Filene's Basement were favorites of mine. Exterior lights and cheerful carnival music highlight the action. 1460 Chester Road, Yulee, FL - (opened May 9, 2013) - Has a Justice & Brothers section. I remember going almost every Saturday with my dad to Toys R Us and Playworld. [1] In 1992 Lionel attempted to reverse its fortunes by merging with the bankrupt Child World, the United States' #3 toy retailer, but was unable to secure financing. Copyright 2023 BOTW. Lionel entered financial troubles during the early 1980s recession and filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in February 1982. Meanwhile, non-specialty discount stores expanded their toy sections and undercut the prices of specialty toy chains. Lionel trains were manufactured from 1920 to 1929 in a factory at 605 21st Street in Irvington, New Jersey. Our park equipment has more rugged details and finishes that will help it stand up to heavy-duty use. Instead, the public approached store owners about buying trains, prompting Lionel to begin making toy trains for the general public. Also definitely not a Phoenix business , but the Gentle Strength co-op in Tempe on University . I know this is dead but my brother worked in that one when I was a kid, Im trying to find out too. By 2002 Malve had opened five shops across the Valley including . Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for 1982 PLAYWORLD / PLAYMATES WIND-UP CHOO-CHOO TRAIN at the best online prices at eBay! In its heyday, A&P had over 30,000 locations in the 1930s, and was one of the biggest, most successful businesses in the country. The interiors, while different, were also pulled from various DC comics from early 1981. The whole company closed in 1993 although I think this Lionel Playworld closed in the 80s. Finished assemblies also lacked the robust durability of its principal competition at the time, the Erector Set. [1] Lionel trains have been produced since 1900, and their trains drew admiration from model railroaders around the world for the solidity of their construction and the authenticity of their detail. For a time it was the second-largest toy store chain in the United States. [6], During the 1950s, Lionel outsold its closest competitor, American Flyer, by nearly 2:1, peaking in 1953. [19] After a string of unprofitable quarters, it filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on June 14, 1991. Was formerly a Kmart store. In the early 1970s Lionel bought Morsan Tents from founder Mort Jarashaw. 'Stranger Things'' new season features a slew of iconic stores that no longer exist. By 1998, however, Venator Group Inc. announced it was closing 467 Kinney Shoes stores because of plummeting sales and profits, according to the Associated Press. Grant "25 Cent Store" opened in 1906 in Massachusetts and expanded to nearly 1,100 locations around the country. Susan Datz Edelman, who handles investor . In the years following World War II, veteran Eugene Ferkauf founded the American department store chain E. J. Korvette in New York in 1953. Day 14 of the 25 Days of a Ghostly ChristmasMiss Playworld so much!! Other 1981 comics repackaged by DC Comics for Elson's Gift and News shops (typically in hotels and transportation hubs). Whether this was an accidental misreading of Mrklin's 2 gauge specifications or an intentional incompatibility is unclear, but Lionel marketed the non-standard track as "The Standard of the World," and soon adopted the name in catalogs as Standard Gauge and trademarked the name. Was formerly a Kmart store. Copyright 2023 American Retro Apparel. The national toy-store chain, Lionel Playworld, will soon close its four Utah stores in Salt Lake City, Midvale, Provo and Ogden. Lynels also carry Bows with them that fire a range of . By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. For a time it was the second-largest toy store chain in the United States. [6] Many diesel, electric, and steam engines made after 1950 had Lionel's Magne-Traction, which made the wheels magnetic to grip the track better. Did anyone outside of Florida have Lionel Playworld? Indicates that the user entered a raw comic with a grade of 9.6. Visa. Press J to jump to the feed. Lionel ran into financial trouble during the early . Additionally, Lionel criticised the durability of competitors' products in ads targeted at parents.[6]. Indeed.com estimated this salary based on data from 1 employees, users and past and present job ads. For a time it was the second-largest toy store chain in the United States. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. Email acain@businessinsider.com. For a time it was the second-largest toy store chain in the United States. After several successive unprofitable quarters, it filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on June 14, 1991. In 1975, Lionel introduced a 75th anniversary freight set that consisted of their U36B diesel engine and rolling stock that included images of catalog covers and logos from Lionel's past. I wished my kids had the chance to experience this amazing toy store!great memories fo. Merrill and Nadene Dahlstrom had hoped that Lionel's clearance would ring up savings for them at the cash register. In 1925, American Flyer jumped into the standard gauge market; and by 1926, Dorfan started making their own standard gauge trains as well. Dec 31, 2013 - Pictures of seventies and Eighties toy and department stores volume 6 1970's Lionel resumed producing toy trains in late 1945, replacing their original product line with less-colourful, but more realistic, trains and concentrating exclusively on O-gauge trains. In 1969, they sold their model train lines to General Mills, but continued to operate until 1993 as a holding company for their toy stores. jimmii. Cowen hoped the public's fascination with railroads and electricity would draw attention to other goods for sale. After the spinoff, TJX Companies was made up of Hit or Miss, T.J. Maxx, Chadwick's of Boston, and the defunct Zayre Corp. which renamed itself as TJX Cos. Meta Pay Locations Primary 1000 Buffalo Road Lewisburg, PA 17837, US Get directions Employees at Playworld Inc. . While Lionel i believe was in decline as a whole at this point, TRU entering into the Colorado Springs market did not help any for their business. For a time it was the second-largest toy store chain in the United States. I was just remembering all the places I bought toys at. The USPTO has given the LIONEL PLAYWORLD trademark a serial number of 73123040. It is distinctly known as the second-largest toy store chain in the United States. During the pre-war era, Lionel competed with Ives Manufacturing Company, Boucher Manufacturing Company, Dorfan, Louis Marx and Company and American Flyer. The early 1990s saw the withdraw from business of the Lionel Playworld Toy store just down the street from the TRU location. Lionel Playworld was across the street from Zayres on 87th ave and Coral Way I remember it well. [6], The 19461956 decade was Lionel's Golden Age. Lionel also began to offer trains in a wider variety of road names and colors and with improved graphics that were not previously available during the postwar period. Location Chandler, AZ (It's kind of like Tatooine) Feb 22, 2021 . In 1991, it sold its trademarks to Lionel Trains, Inc. for $10 million and eventually went out of business in 1993. "Remembering the former LIONEL PLAYWORLD location, Westgate & Military, Palm Beach, Florida. I grew up in Long Island, NY. Ferkauf's business model of selling high volumes of products at deep discounts 10% to 40% below other conventional stores with quick turnover can still be seen in today's retail landscape with big businesses like Walmart and Costco, according to the New York Times. The Woolworth corporation sold everything from dishcloths to stationary for less than 10 cents. The new line of trains included the Blue Streak Freight, an entry-level O-27 gauge train set produced by Lionel. One year later, Lionel began production of their famous Santa Fe F3. While innovative, the lack of general purpose beam members with enough holes limited the adaptability of the set to complex constructions. The advent of e-commerce and changing consumer preferences have ensured that the business is as twisty and full of pitfalls as a game of "Chutes and Ladders. The federal status of this trademark filing is EXPIRED as of Monday, November 16, 1998. By the early 1980s, Lionel operated 150 stores, under the names Lionel Kiddie City, Lionel Playworld, and Lionel Toy Warehouse (rebranded as Lionel Kiddie City in 1990). I used to not eat lunch at school some weeks and ride . What is Taoyuan Zipcode Format? The factory was destroyed by a fire on April 5, 2004. The Lionel toy stores (doing business as Lionel Kiddie City, Lionel Playworld, and, until 1990, Lionel Toy Warehouse) were American toy store chains under the ownership of Lionel Corp. Kiddie City Toy Stores were started in the 1960s. Plenty of toy stores have been relegated to the proverbial retail attic over the years. PayPal Venator Group Inc. ultimately changed its name to Foot Locker Inc. in 2001. Ernst Law Group: California Brain Injury Resources, Lisa Murray, Marriage and Family Therapist. [2] By February 1993 Lionel had closed all but 29 stores in six states, concentrating on the markets of Philadelphia, central New Jersey, Baltimore, Washington, D.C., Cleveland, Ohio and south Florida. From 1969 until 1993, the Lionel Corporation operated a chain of toy stores under the names Kiddie City, Playworld, and Toy Warehouse. . Child World said the merger was its . Each comic has the same cover art, but the background colors and the three-issue interiors are different for each book. Lionel sold the product die tooling for its struggling train line and leased the rights to the Lionel brand name to the cereal company General Mills. Tons of great salary information on Indeed.com Kiddie City Toy Stores were started in the 1960s. Our team verifies every business, product, and service before it gets listed in our directory and offers everyone the peace of mind that the products and services theyre looking for have been stamped as the Best of the Web. Location. Kiddie City Toy Stores were started in the 1960s. Was a Bradlees. The Lionel trademarks were purchased by Richard Kughn, a real estate magnate who had bought the Lionel model train line from General Mills in 1986. Grant was another popular discount chain in the early and mid-20th century. Within a few years, he also added an in-store restaurant and elevators. Lionel Kiddie City was an American toy store chain under the ownership of Lionel Corp.. Kiddie City Toy Stores were started in the 1960s. Lionel's fierce ad campaigning took a toll on Ives, which filed bankruptcy in 1928. By 1991, the chain grew to 100 stores and was the fourth-largest toy retailer in the country, but once again ran into trouble due to a combination of factors. [verification needed] Lionel, which filed for Chapter 11 in June 1991, operates a chain of toy stores under the names Lionel Playworld, Lionel Kiddie City and Lionel Toy Warehouse. After reducing to 55 stores, it emerged from bankruptcy in September 1985. Location Illinois. In 1986, Lionel was sold again, this time to toy train collector and real estate developer Richard P. Kughn of Detroit, Michigan; it became Lionel Trains Inc (LTI). Find salaries. [2] In 2006, Lionel's electric train became the first electric toy inducted into the National Toy Hall of Fame. from 1950 to 1951, Lionel produced the 736 Berkshire, which was basically a 726 with Magne-Traction. ", Read more: 'Stranger Things'' new season features a slew of iconic stores that no longer exist. Lionel Playworld is a very popular website offering gift vouchers and eGift Cards to the people of the United States. It is a model of Norfolk and Western's J class steam engine. The company sold quality products, focusing on housewares, automotive supplies, and hardware, at low prices. During the same year, Lionel became the world's largest toy manufacturer. Ames was started in 1958 in Massachusetts by brothers Milton and Irving Gilman. It was the first real big toy store in Columbia. The Georgia locations that included supermarkets were in tandem with a Colonial/Big Star which originally opened the stores as Richway Foods. Upload your resume . Employees at the Midvale and Brickyard Plaza stores confirmed Monday that the sales are a prelude to the shutdown of Lionel's Utah operations.