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). Additionally, Lionel criticised the durability of competitors' products in ads targeted at parents.[6]. Lionel avoided bankruptcy and emerged from receivership the next year. [6], Lionel ceased toy production in 1942 to produce nautical items for the United States Navy during World War II. The Midvale store has been in business for more than 10 years. Feb 16, 2022 #8 Lionel Playworld was where I collected the majority of my childhood Star Wars collection! Borders Books at the Biltmore . I used to not eat lunch at school some weeks and ride . website: 1020 Palm St San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 US, 1015 Chestnut St Suite 1400Philadelphia, PA 19107 US, 135 Ballston Ave Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 US. At least that's what Dave Hammond of Hammond Tots & Toys is thinking. By the early 1980s, Lionel operated 150 stores, under the names Lionel Kiddie City, Lionel Playworld, and Lionel Toy Warehouse (rebranded as Lionel . In 1989, Robert I. Toussie L.P., a partnership of several retail executives, attempted to buy the company. The business direction of the Lionel company changed: it added subsidiary companies unrelated to toy train sets among them were Dale Electronics, Sterling Electric Motors, and Telerad Manufacturing. In the early 1970s Lionel bought Morsan Tents from founder Mort Jarashaw. . 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. The family-owned local firm suffered three slow years, but last year Christmas sales improved and 1991 looks even better, Hammond said. In 1952, the Korean war caused a shortage of magnetic materials, so Lionel reissued the 726 as the 726rr (726 rerun). Trains were manufactured from 1929 to 1974 in the Lionel factory at 28 Sager Place in Hillside, New Jersey. The manager of the Midvale store said he expects to clear all of his store's inventory within 60 days. Lionel Kiddie City was an American Toy store under the ownership of Lionel Corp.. 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. "There were a few good sales, but Lionel is generally more expensive than Walmart or other stores," Nadene Dahlstrom commented. Dec 31, 2013 - Pictures of seventies and Eighties toy and department stores volume 6 1970's Child World said the merger was its . With 24 grandchildren, Christmas shopping starts early, and bargains are a necessity. After reducing itself in size to 55 stores, it emerged from bankruptcy in September 1985. In 1934, Lionel made a 1:45 scale model of Union Pacific's M10000 diesel streamliner (also called the city of Denver) that runs on O gauge track. 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). Venmo Unfortunately, they were never able to reclaim the market share they once held in the toy industry and by 1958 reported a net loss of $469,057. 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. By 2002 Malve had opened five shops across the Valley including . . The store's famous Christmas window decorations began in 1897 as a toy display. 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. Organizing or finding the circular pages and . 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 the sale of its train product lines in 1969, Lionel Corporation became a holding company that specialized in toy stores. [4], It was historically thought that Lionel's first train, the Electric Express, was not intended for sale to consumers, but rather, as a storefront display. You STILL grew up in Miami if you remember. 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 While the store's flagship building was renamed, the holiday window displays remain intact. 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.". GitHub export from English Wikipedia. The new line of trains included the Blue Streak Freight, an entry-level O-27 gauge train set produced by Lionel. Ames bought Hills Stores Co. of Massachusetts in 1998 to become the nation's fourth-largest discount retail chain behind Wal-Mart, Kmart, and Target. Neither product line was as popular as its O-gauge trains. Now, the accessory cost $139 to begin with which I think is crazy considering . [23] According to a report from the local fire department, it took 100 firefighters to extinguish the blaze. Indicates that the user entered a raw comic with a grade of 9.6. Toy trains and model railroads were its main claim to fame. 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. 725 W Redbridge Street Albany, NY - (Opened January 22, 1988) - Has a Justice & Brothers/Disney section. On Monday, April 18, 1977, a trademark application was filed for LIONEL PLAYWORLD with the United States Patent and Trademark Office. 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. Lionel produced ads aimed at American teenagers, to begin planning their post-War layouts. As the 1950s progressed, Lionel sales began to decline in proportion to the growing prevalence of space and military-themed toys and slot car racing sets all coinciding with the decline in rail travel and the launching of Sputnik, which began the space-race between the United States and Soviet Union, along with their associated military build-up as the Cold War progressed after World War II. 337 - Dayuan. In the years following World War II, veteran Eugene Ferkauf founded the American department store chain E. J. Korvette in New York in 1953. Discover Lionel Playworld is a very popular website offering gift vouchers and eGift Cards to the people of the United States. [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. Jun 26, 2022 - The breaking of the 49th seal of the Roboplastic Apocalypse is the sound of a cartoon kangaroo jumping on your frowny face! [11], In 1959, Cowen and son sold their interest in the Lionel company and retired. [2] In 2006, Lionel's electric train became the first electric toy inducted into the National Toy Hall of Fame. Objects. "Michael J. Vastola & Mark Katz visit LIONEL KIDDIE CITY on Bustleton Avenue in Philadelphia Pennsylvania, March 28, 1984. By 1939, Lionel had discontinued its standard gauge products, concentrating instead on the more-affordable (and lucrative) O-gauge and OO gauge, which it had introduced in 1938. Meta Pay The world needs play. Today the company has only about 300 locations and is concentrated in only a few northeastern markets. Kiddie City Toy Stores were started in the 1960s. Lionel resisted and the fight drained the company of cash. The original Lionel Corporation was founded in 1900 by Joshua Lionel Cowen and Harry C. Grant in New York City. Cowen said that the majority of trains were purchased by mothers for their children, and the bright colors attracted women buyers. Concepts. Zany Brainy had locations across Atlanta. In 1925, American Flyer jumped into the standard gauge market; and by 1926, Dorfan started making their own standard gauge trains as well. Lynels also carry Bows with them that fire a range of . And the double stitching on the neckline and sleeves add more durability to what is sure to be a favorite! from 1950 to 1951, Lionel produced the 736 Berkshire, which was basically a 726 with Magne-Traction. 4.0 Work-Life Balance. The shift caught Lionel off guard, and in 1957, they hastily introduced a line of HO-scale trains licensed from Rivarossi and a line of slot car racing sets. Below is a list of toy stores. Over 100 years after the first Woolworth discount store opened its doors, the corporation (renamed Venator Group Inc. in 1998), closed the chain and decided to focus on their smaller sporting goods stores instead, according to the Associated Press. Healthy debates are natural, but kindness is required. -. Summary. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. 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.. History. Lionel Corporation was an American toy manufacturer and holding company of retailers that had been in business for over 120 years. Park-specific features: Playworld creates playground equipment for a variety of locations, from schools to churches and more. 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. Location Illinois. There are others around the world and you can see them . During the post-war period, Lionel produced a construction set, utilizing a unique component set. In 1984, they released the 783 Hudson locomotive, which descended from the 773 scale-sized Hudson originally made in 1950 and again in the 1960s. Our deep breadth of upgradeable products - from low to high fidelity - means you can find the right training solution In 1979, Lionel re-issued the Fairbanks-Morse Train Master diesel locomotive and re-introduced the American Flyer S gauge line of trains, both of which had not been produced since 1966. Coffee Plantation at the Biltmore. These and other efforts to improve its financial standing were unable to keep Lionel from going into receivership in May 1934.[6]. Find jobs. At its peak, the chain had over a 150 stores and was the second largest toy store chain in the country. ?, Winston-Salem, North Carolina - (opened May 8, 1970) - Was built as part of strip mall with a Hills store. Within a few years, he also added an in-store restaurant and elevators. The discount chain was once the fifth-largest retailer in the country, but it came to an end in a big way. The starting price for a set, which included a transformer, was $3.25. . 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 . PayPal Lionel and American Flyer bought Ives and operated it jointly until 1930, when Lionel bought Flyer's share outright, causing Lionel to operate Ives as a subsidiary until 1932. ", Read more: 'Stranger Things'' new season features a slew of iconic stores that no longer exist. The 763E and 700E are 1:48 scale models of 4-6-4 Hudsons. none of this issue. Grant "25 Cent Store" opened in 1906 in Massachusetts and expanded to nearly 1,100 locations around the country. In 1971, Lionel debuted a new electronic sound system in their engines, called "Mighty Sound of Steam," to replace the electro-mechanical air whistles of the pre-war and post-war eras. By the early 1980s, Lionel operated 150 stores, under the names Lionel Kiddie City, Lionel Playworld, and Lionel Toy Warehouse. Before there was Toys 'R' Us, children were begging their parents to take them to places like Lionel Kiddie City and Playworld. Park playground fitness equipment options: Kids and . Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. Again, using this same cover (with the Playworld logo dropped in where the Elson's one appears here). Lionel Plug-and-Play Accessory Hook-Up. as well as other partner offers and accept our, Bildagentur-online/Universal Images Group via Getty Images, Underwood Photo Archives/Contributor via Getty Images, Glen Martin/The Denver Post via Getty Images, John Sunderland/The Denver Post via Getty Images, George Skadding/The LIFE Picture Collection via Getty Images, Igor Golovniov/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images, the second-largest department store in the world, the fifth-largest retailer in the country, had more than 200 locations across the country, the chain folded and went out of business, We went shopping at Macy's Backstage and saw why the department-store chain is banking on its off-price model to turn things around, The rise and fall of Kohl's, the Midwestern department store that took over the nation with discounts and celebrity partnerships, These 5 retailers have filed for bankruptcy or liquidation in 2020, Here are the oldest US retailers still in business today. K . July 1993, Lionel Kiddie City & Playworld; Shop Lionel (Kiddie City/Playworld), toy capital of the world! Also see Lionel Playworld Super Heroes Comics (DC, 1981 series). During both the pre-war and post-war eras, Lionel made many models of electric locomotives; during the post-war era, Lionel made models of the EP-5 and Virginian EL-C in addition to the GG1. The company owned a number of toy store chains, including Lionel Playworld, Lionel . none. Here's a look at a few toy stores that aren't around anymore: Source: Comic Book, The Los Angeles Times. For a time it was the second-largest toy store chain in the United States. Lionel Corporation was an American toy manufacturer and holding company of retailers that had been in business for over 120 years. as well as other partner offers and accept our. 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 From 1946 through 1949, Lionel issued the 726 2-8-4 Berkshire, which is a prized item today. Despite Lionel's troubles, Hammond expects brisk Yule sales. At its peak in the early 20th century, A&P was one of the world's largest retailers, with more than 15,000 grocery stores. Company reviews. Got tips? Exterior lights and cheerful carnival music highlight the action. The Lionel Corporation itself would continue as a holding company, investing in various chains of retail stores and electronics companies while receiving royalties on toy train sales made by General Mills (later Lionel Trains, Inc.). Here are a few familiar names that might have delighted you as a kid, but that no longer exist. Lionel Playworld on the corner of Southern & Alma School in Mesa, until after ESB had been released. Lionel sold 12 examples of the Electric Express.[5]. The USPTO has given the LIONEL PLAYWORLD trademark a serial number of 73123040. 2 #16 (Reprint) Lionel Playworld: DC Super Heroes Comics 1 (DC Comics) Comic Book Value and Price Guide Lionel specialized in various products throughout its existence. Lionel Kiddie City, Lionel Playworld, and Lionel Toy Warehouse. 1,790 posts, read 1,245,674 times Reputation: 981. 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. Sharing memories of LIONEL toy stores. Employees at the Midvale and Brickyard Plaza stores confirmed Monday that the sales are a prelude to the shutdown of Lionel's Utah operations. The Philadelphia-based Lionel Leisure Inc. also is closing its other toy stores in the West, they said. Indicates a raw comic with no sales info available at any condition range. All Rights Reserved. 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. Read All Reviews (910) 863-9450. Manage all your favorite fandoms in one place! Let Lionel (Kiddie City/Playworld) turn that frown upside down! Closed in 2010, now a Babies "R"/Kids "R" Us combo store. In 1988, Zayre Corp. sold its 392 department stores to the Ames chain in order to focus solely on its merge with TJX Companies. [6], The Great Depression badly hurt Lionel. Locations Primary 1000 Buffalo Road Lewisburg, PA 17837, US Get directions Employees at Playworld Inc. . Was formerly a Kmart store. Lionel Playworld was across the street from Zayres on 87th ave and Coral Way I remember it well. By 1991, the chain had regrown to 100 stores and was the fourth-largest toy retailer in the country, but it once again ran into trouble[clarification needed] due to a combination of factors. Ohio Valley Galleria, Stubenville, Ohio - (opened March 7, 1986) - One of the mall's original tenants. He said he would give no information beyond what was printed in Sunday's ad. Was a Bradlees. The early 1990s saw the withdraw from business of the Lionel Playworld Toy store just down the street from the TRU location. Woolworth, which opened in 1879 in Utica, New York, was one of the original discount stores, also known as five-and-dime stores at that time. On September 8, 1965, Joshua Cowen died at the age of 88 in Palm Beach, Florida.[9]. Top editors give you the stories you want delivered right to your inbox each weekday. Ed from Jax by Lionel Playworld. The building had been vacant for ten years and was in a state of disrepair, according to Fire Chief Don Huber. DC had a similar deal with Lionel Playworld and produced a similar five-issue series with them. Additionally, Lionel found it difficult to compete on price with the larger Toys "R" Us, and the chain attempted to expand too rapidly in a weakened economy. What do you think? But whatever troubles plague Lionel didn't seem to concern cost-conscious shoppers Monday. Was formerly Hills/Ames. The stores began selling all merchandise at reduced prices Sunday.A full-page ad in Sunday's Deseret News announced an "inventory clearance sale" with 20 to 40 percent off all merchandise. A spokeswoman at the Brickyard administrative offices said that the Lionel outlet opened there just four years ago on Oct. 21, 1987. The structural elements were hollow beams of square cross section made from folded and quite thin sheet aluminum, as a consequence subject to destruction if stepped upon. After several successive unprofitable quarters, it filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on June 14, 1991. Hours of operation not available for this business. During the post-war era, Lionel was primarily competing with Louis Marx and Company and American Flyer. This new wheel design, coupled with the use of Delrin plastic trucks, reduced rolling friction that allowed for longer trains to be run and is still in use by Lionel today. 336 - Fuxing. Location: In Miami but, Inside the Resistance !! Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're on the go. [12] During Cohn's unsuccessful four year tenure, Lionel lost more than US$13 million. We understand how to make your playground fit the feel of a park. All Rights Reserved, LIONEL PLAYWORLD BEGINS SHUTTING ITS DOORS IN UTAH, The 2023 Utah Legislature has wrapped. Delivery time is estimated using our proprietary method which is based on the buyer's proximity to the item location, the shipping service selected, the seller's . Much later, in 2014, Greenberg's Guide to Lionel Trains concluded differently: the first Lionel product was the motorized Converse Trolley, with the Electric Express being made to diversify the motor's use. Pulleys, gussets, and splices were also included. Lionel ran into financial trouble during the early . It was founded as an electrical novelties company. [6], The 19461956 decade was Lionel's Golden Age. Considered by many collectors and operators to be the best postwar Lionel locomotive is the 746 released in 1957. Press J to jump to the feed. none. Whilst a number of equally successful streamliners were issued in the following years, the handcar experiment was not repeated and the novelty market was left to the cheaper toy manufacturers. [7] In 1929, Lionel opened a factory in Hillside, New Jersey where it produced trains until 1974. In 1985, General Mills spun off its Kenner-Parker division, with Lionel being placed under Kenner-Parker. The factory was destroyed by a fire on April 5, 2004. Lionel Kiddie City was an American toy store chain under the ownership of Lionel Corp.. Kiddie City Toy Stores were started in the 1960s. Our park equipment has more rugged details and finishes that will help it stand up to heavy-duty use. Rolling stock debuted with "fast-angle wheels" with needlepoint bearings. 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. No tenant has been selected to replace Lionel, she said. 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! Menu Pro Bowl Menu Shop Menu Standings Menu Stats Menu Super Bowl Menu Teams Menu Tickets Menu More Horizontal More Vertical My Location Network News Pause play Multiple Players Single Player Playlist Playoffs Pro Bowl Purge Refresh Remove Search Settings Share Android Share Copy URL Share Email Share . Enter the email address you signed up with and we'll email you a reset link. After reducing itself in size to 55 stores, it emerged from bankruptcy in September 1985. The company's debt, however, caused detrimental finance troubles for Ames, experts told CBS News. In 1947, Lionel produced a model of the Pennsylvania Railroad's GG1. So it's no surprise that some toy-store chains just didn't survive. By the 1960s, there were nearly 60 Korvettes stores around the country. Many of Lionel's steam locomotives of this period, had a new feature: smoke, produced by dropping a small tablet or a special oil into the locomotive's smokestack, which contained an electric heating element. Delivered in December 1900, it operated on a brass track and was powered by a battery and a motor that Cowen had intended to use for an electric fan. Lionel Store; Support; Lionel Play World Amusement Park Swing Ride A staple of carnivals and county fairs, the swing ride continues the series of Lionel amusement park favorites. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. At a wholesale price of .55 cents, the handcar's sales didn't provide enough profit to pay off Lionel's debts of $300,000; however, it did provide much-needed cash. Was formerly Hills/Ames. [6], By the end of World War I, Lionel was one of three major U.S. toy train manufacturers. -->> With the exception of a few complete vintage TOYS R US & CHILDREN'S PALACE circulars, i've been sitting on several random pages of incomplete LIONEL PLAYWORLD circulars from my former Design Teacher's archives ( in which i inherited years back ). After switching ownership over the years, the chain went out of business in the late 20th century. Two red ones are roaming the canyon southwest of the Lake Tower. Early department stores founded in the 19th century and early 20th centuries were revolutionary in their time, and their impact on the retail industry can still be seen today. Finished assemblies also lacked the robust durability of its principal competition at the time, the Erector Set. Copyright 2023 BOTW. 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. The stores began selling all merchandise at reduced prices Sunday.A full-page ad in Sunday's Deseret News announced an "inventory clearance sale" with 20 to 40 percent off all merchandise.