The Kiddie City chain, which is remembered for its kangaroo mascot, was primarily known for its trains and catchphrases like "Toy Capital of the World" and "Turn that Frown Upside Down.". 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. Venmo When the company declared bankruptcy in 1975, it was the largest retailing bankruptcy of the year, according to the University of California Press. 1. And the double stitching on the neckline and sleeves add more durability to what is sure to be a favorite! Lionel Corporation was an American toy manufacturer and holding company of retailers that had been in business for over 120 years. [25] The former Lionel assembly factory was located at 50625 Richard W. Blvd, Chesterfield a short drive from the office building. For a time it was the second-largest toy store chain in the United States. *Rio Salado Pathway-Mesa has opened Rio Salado Pathway, a new shared-use pathway along the Salt River Bank for walking, running and bicycling. Its showrooms carried jewelry, toys, sporting goods, and electronics. 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. Visit Mesa's Riverview Park. Apple Pay "Child World is grounded: rescue by Lionel falters - Lionel Kiddie City | Discount Store News | Find Articles at BNET", "Lionel closing 27 stores in struggle for survival - Lionel Kiddie City | Discount Store News | Find Articles at BNET", "Lionel Will Liquidate, Closing Kiddie City Toy Chain", "1977-1978 Commercials: TSS, Playworld, Toy City, Skaggs". Lionel resisted, and the fight drained the company of cash. Lionel Corporation, through a subsidiary, sells toys and leisure items through some 28 toy supermarkets in seven Eastern states under the names "Lionel Play- world," "Lionel Kiddie City" and . Alan Morrell is a Rochester-based freelance writer. Company founder Joshua Cowen officially retired that same year. TRENTON, N.J. (AP) _ Lionel Corp., famous for the model trains it once made, announced Wednesday it will go out of business, closing its financially troubled chain of discount toy stores. By the early 1980s, Lionel operated some 150 stores, under the names Toy City, Lionel Kiddie City, Lionel Playworld, Lionel Toy Warehouse, and Lionel Toy Town. under the names Lionel Kiddie City, Lionel Playworld, and Lionel Toy Warehouse. Bella Payne - Prosecutor - Lionel Kiddie City | LinkedIn In 1989 the Robert I. Toussie L.P., a partnership of several retail executives, attempted to buy the company. This toy-related article is a stub. +$14.85 shipping. TOY STORE IS ENDING THREE DECADES OF JOY - The Washington Post By 1991, the chain was back to over 100 stores but facing stiff financial problems. used cars naples, fl under $3,000. [20] 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, and south Florida. Was a Bradlees. The chain was best known for its "Back Room", where women interested in fashion could find designer clothes at prices lower than in department stores. it creates tough competition for all fidget toys businesses because hundreds of fidget toys businesses are in the same city. One LIONEL Lines O-Gauge Model Railroad CATTLE STOCK Car #6656 - Etsy "The Rise and Fall and Rise Again of Lionel Trains", "Made in Jersey: Lionel trains - chuggin' around the Christmas tree", "Ronald Saypol dies at 85; led model-train maker Lionel into retailing", One of the World's Largest and Most Prestigious Collecting Societies, "26750 23 Mile 1, Chesterfield Twp, MI 48051 (MLS ID 31279045)", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Lionel_Corporation&oldid=1146196642, Defunct companies based in New York (state), Manufacturing companies disestablished in 1995, 1995 disestablishments in New York (state), American companies disestablished in 1995, Wikipedia articles needing clarification from February 2013, Wikipedia articles needing factual verification from November 2019, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 23 March 2023, at 10:12. May 11, 1990. [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. It was known for the distinctive stylised castle store exterior adopted after its 1977 purchase of the Children's Palace store chain. List of youngest killers - Wikipedia 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. After reducing itself in size to 55 stores, it emerged from bankruptcy in September 1985. I think there was a Lionel Kiddie City located somewhere on Erie Avenue in northeast Philly during the 1970s. [12] During Cohn's unsuccessful four year tenure, Lionel lost more than US$13 million. Lionel bought the American Flyer brand name and product line in May of that year in a $150,000 deal; however, Lionel lacked the money to exploit them and filed bankruptcy less than four months later, on August 7, 1967. List of 150 Good Toy Company Names - BrandonGaille.com The Alioto Family The buyer was Cowen's grandnephew, Roy Cohn (businessman and attorney to Senator Joseph McCarthy) who replaced most of Cowen's management. 60-foot long caterpillar mesh rope climbing structure, 2 playground clusters for ages 2-5, 6-12 and above. Child World was founded by Sid Schneider and Joseph Arnesano in Quincy, Massachusetts in 1962. Ames was started in 1958 in Massachusetts by brothers Milton and Irving Gilman. 2100 W Rio Salado Parkway, Mesa, AZ, 85201 Lionel sold 12 examples of the Electric Express.[5]. Who RemembersChild World? - New Bedford Guide 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. The Woolworth corporation sold everything from dishcloths to stationary for less than 10 cents. Lionel Kiddie City Shows Off NES Systems & Games. During its peak years in the 1950s, the company sold $25 million worth of trains per year. Get set to bask in the glories of Lionel Kiddie City and giant bottles of Coke. 1111 Rochester Lane, Tacoma, WA - (opened July 17, 2015) - Has a a Justice & Brothers section. Former Model Train Maker, Parent of Kiddie City Going Out of Business. In 1992, Lionel again tried to reverse its fortunes by merging with the bankrupt Child World, the United States' #3 toy retailer, but was unable to secure financing. Before we were combing the aisles of our local discount store for the steal of the century, many of our grandparents could be found doing the same at a store called Zayre. [6], During the 1950s, Lionel outsold its closest competitor, American Flyer, by nearly 2:1, peaking in 1953. [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. Home Depot moved into the Greece Kiddie City site where I worked. Lionel made its trains larger than its competitors', making them appear a better value. Kiddie City overwhelms. "When the Lights Went out at Lionel, All Aboard! FRS Facility Detail Report | Envirofacts | US EPA Russian philanthropist built a rags-to-riches drugstore out of Rochester. Lionel Store; Support; Kiddie City Toy Store Downtown Lionelville is booming! Toy trains and model railroads were its main claim to fame. [19] After a string of unprofitable quarters, it filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on June 14, 1991. Little did I know that some kids dont like Oscar the Grouch, from Sesame Street. Playworld, A World of Toys. One year later, Lionel released a model of the American Freedom Train to celebrate the nation's bicentennial. Its model trains are still in production as a separate company. Open 7 days a week from 9am - 10pm. Lionel's fierce ad campaigning took a toll on Ives, which filed bankruptcy in 1928. New stores were opening all over, although no additional ones were added in the Rochester area. Yet, from increased competition to overly ambitious mergers to an inability to adapt to the changing times, many of those stores have been forced to close their doors. 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. Lionel ran into financial trouble during the early 1980s recession and filed for Chapter 11 . Playworld, A World of Toys. (NY stores). Some were terrified. The brand rose to prominence in 1976 following a series of television commercials featuring Johnny Cash, himself a Lionel collector.[16]. Company News; Lionel Will Liquidate, Closing Kiddie City Toy Chain To a young kid here on earth in the late 1970s, heaven was a toy store on Baltimore Pike in Springfield, Pennsylvania called Lionel Kiddie City. Arrested along with his accomplice, his younger brother Danny, and sentenced to 8 years in prison; released on September 8, 2010, was recalled on March 13, 2011, for associating with gang members. (October 2009) Ten years later, and I'm still ticked that I heard about this promotion a day too late. Local news stories from the time mentioned crowds flocking to Kiddie City for the latest toy crazes like the Strawberry Shortcake dolls in 1980, Star Wars toys in 1981 and, especially, Cabbage Patch Kids a few years later. By the early 1980s, Lionel operated 150 stores, under the names Lionel Kiddie City, Lionel Playworld, and Lionel Toy Warehouse. Venator Group Inc. ultimately changed its name to Foot Locker Inc. in 2001. Welcome to Remembering LIONEL PLAYWORLD & KIDDIE CITY toy stores Facebook group. Lionel ran toy stores in other markets with names like Play World and Toy Warehouse. The chain grew to more than 150 stores nationally before Lionel filed for bankruptcy protection in 1982 and closed about two-thirds of its stores. The company's debt, however, caused detrimental finance troubles for Ames, experts told CBS News. Democrat and Chronicle . But after 156 years in business, the company filed for bankruptcy for a second time and shuttered its stores in 2015. Additionally, Lionel criticised the durability of competitors' products in ads targeted at parents.[6]. A more substantial folded aluminum base plate was used to form the foundation of most constructions, and additional circular plates could be used to construct larger wheels or pivots. It was one of the first department stores to challenge the suggested retail price provisions of anti-discounting statutes. Kiddie City Toy Stores were started around 1957 in Philadelphia as toy supermarkets. The entire police department is working round the clock and a . Public Transportation options to Sloan Park and Riverview Park. Kiddie City Wants 'Lift' From Whitehall Competitor Coming, So Store While the largest portion of its client base was historically women, the chain also offered shoes, accessories, and men's clothing. 60-foot long caterpillar mesh rope climbing structure. The chain's flagship store in Philadelphia was converted into a Macy's in 2006 and is now a national historic landmark. Was formerly a Kmart store. When autocomplete results are available use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. By the early 1980s, Lionel operated some 150 stores,[17] under the names Lionel Kiddie City, Lionel Playworld, and Lionel Toy Warehouse. 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. Lionel Playworld. Modell's had more than 150 retail locations in ten states and the District of Columbia in 2018. As an employee there, I once unintentionally scared off little kids with a costume I donned during a store event. Join to view profile Lionel Kiddie City. When other U.S. companies began using Lionel's standard, they usually called it wide gauge. 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). Lionel responded by targeting advertising at children, telling them its products were the most realistic toy trains. Car & Truck Safety & Security Accessories, Kiddie City Toys Store logo sticker - Lionel Kiddie City, Vintage Lionel KIDDIE CITY Toys 12x10 Plastic Souvenir Shopping Bag FREE S/H, LIONEL KIDDIE CITY DEFUNCT PHILADELPHIA TOY STORE UNUSED PRICE STICKERS DEAL/24, LIONEL KIDDIE CITY DEFUNCT FAMOUS PHILADELPHIA TOY STORE VINTAGE COLORING BOOK, Vintage Nostalgic 1980s Lionel Kiddie City Toy Store Newspaper Ad 1986 GI JOE, Lionel #6-34129 Lionelville KIDDIE CITY TOY STORE BUILDING!
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