The Story of Joshua Lionel Cowen & His Lionel Train Company by Ron Hollander. Zayre, which phonetically sounds like the Yiddish word for "very" as in "very good," was launched as a discount department store by two brothers in Massachusetts in 1956. Instead, the public approached store owners about buying trains, prompting Lionel to begin making toy trains for the general public. Prosecutor at Lionel Kiddie City Syracuse, New York, United States. Log in; Sign up; April 08, 2023, 08:55:21 AM. 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. Lionel, the parent company, had again filed for bankruptcy proceedings two years earlier, mentioning tight credit conditions and a distressed retail environment among the reasons. Lionel ran into financial trouble during the early 1980s recession and filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in February 1982. The Playworld property would go on to become a Hobby Lobby for several years & after that store's relocation, TARGET took over the space and utilized it for storage and inventory. Lionel resisted and the fight drained the company of cash. During the same year, Lionel became the world's largest toy manufacturer. The company sold quality products, focusing on housewares, automotive supplies, and hardware, at low prices. 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. Lionel ran into financial trouble during the early 1980s recession and filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in February 1982. 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. [8], By the 1920s, Lionel had overcome Ives to become the market leader, selling metal trains with colourful paint schemes. In 1991, it sold its trademarks to Lionel Trains, Inc. for $10 million and eventually went out of business in 1993. [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. 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. Lionel was once the nation's leading maker of model trains, but the company left the train business in 1969. Its model trains are still in production as a separate company. 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. Press Enter to show all options, press Tab go to next option, Foundation for Mesa Parks and Recreation Projects, https://www.ableeyes.org/virtual-tours/riverview-park-mesa-az/. Lionel ran into financial trouble during the early 1980s recession and filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in February 1982. As though there never was a time when they didnt love it. 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. [2] In 2006, Lionel's electric train became the first electric toy inducted into the National Toy Hall of Fame. By the 1960s, there were nearly 60 Korvettes stores around the country. For anyone who remembers this great toy store, owned by Lionel. Child World announced a change of plans: the clearance . The buyer was Cowen's grandnephew, Roy Cohn (businessman and attorney to Senator Joseph McCarthy) who replaced most of Cowen's management. Lowen's avoided that path, which has claimed such local retail . Company Number assigned to this business is 974503 . 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. LIONEL KIDDIE CITY EPA Registry Id: 110032157957 RT 9 PARLIN, NJ 088590000: There is no valid (quality assured) locational data currently available in the FRS database for this facility. (More on that later.). Former Model Train Maker, Parent of Kiddie City Going Out of Business. With the retail apocalypse in full force, here is a look back on 10 popular US chain stores that have since closed. Lionel Kiddie City owner is Lionel Leisure Inc. Flickr photos, groups, and tags related to the "lionelkiddiecity" Flickr tag. Cowen convinced department stores to incorporate his toy trains in their Christmas displays, linking toy trains to the holiday, and making them popular Christmas presents. For example, there are a variety of city parks that have these buy small kiddie trains cheap running on tracks or just on paths. Release # 90-096. While competitive sets used nut and bolt fasteners, the Lionel set employed round-head aircraft rivets retained with rubber grommets, eliminating the need for tools. These were big-box toy stores similar in concept to Toys R Us. Child World suggested a merger, and Lionel Kiddie City agree if they could finalize all paperwork by the deadline in July of 1992. 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. [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. 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. By 1991, the chain was back to over 100 stores but facing stiff financial problems. New stores were opening all over, although no additional ones were added in the Rochester area. USA Store Fanon Wikia is a FANDOM Lifestyle Community. Lionel, a company known for its toy trains, owned the chain that included local stores in Greece and on South Winton Road. Additionally, Lionel criticised the durability of competitors' products in ads targeted at parents.[6]. Meanwhile, non-specialty discount stores expanded their toy sections and undercut the prices of specialty toy chains. 1931). "When the Lights Went out at Lionel", Liebeck, Laura: "Deja vu all over again: Lionel re-visits Chapter 11", Discount Store News July 8, 1991, "Liquidations leave Toy's R US, Kay-Bee toying alone", Discount Store News, July 5, 1993, "Lionel Leisure 'branches out': toy retailer acquires part ownership of closeouter", Discount Store News, September 17, 1990, Liebeck, Laura: "Child World is grounded: rescue by Lionel falters", Discount Store News, August 3, 1992, "Lionel closing 27 stores in struggle for survival", Discount Store News, February 1, 1993. The first W.T. We could hear the thump through the wall, George remembered. Currently, the iconic building houses a wide variety of tenants, including Facebook and AOL. 1983 Lionel Playworld "Turn that frown upsidedown" TV Commercial. Buy It Now. 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. Lionel initially marketed these stores under the ir familiar Lionel Playworld name (Lionel also operated under the Lionel Kiddie City name in some markets) along with the Fun City Toys name in 1980, but it seems Lionel eventually settled on naming the stores Playworld . Grant "25 Cent Store" opened in 1906 in Massachusetts and expanded to nearly 1,100 locations around the country. Please enable JavaScript in your browser for a better user experience. Playworld, A World of Toys. This company business address is 2951 Grant Avenue Phila PA 19114. List of current Montgomery Ward locations. (October 2009) Ten years later, and I'm still ticked that I heard about this promotion a day too late. (NY stores). July 1993, Lionel Kiddie City & Playworld; Shop Lionel (Kiddie City/Playworld), toy capital of the world! When John Wanamaker opened one of the first department stores in the US in 1874 in Philadelphia, he had profound effects on the retail industry's advertising and marketing practices. The company was headquartered in Port Washington, New York. SloanPark, the new Spring Training home of the Chicago Cubs. Dead/Abandoned. By clicking Sign up, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider Welcome to The Ames Fan Club. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Vintage Lionel Corporation Lubrication Instruction Sheet Locomotives Model Train at the best online prices at eBay! The company liquidated all of its stores throughout 2008 and 2009. Environmental Interests. Grant was another popular discount chain in the early and mid-20th century. The Lionel Corp., which traded model trains for toys and games, will soon close all its Kiddie City stores, including one in the Lehigh Valley. Apple Pay 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 . from 1950 to 1951, Lionel produced the 736 Berkshire, which was basically a 726 with Magne-Traction. Ken Capuano of Rochester posted about waiting in line for a Coleco computer and the bevy of cutting-edge toys and hobbies. Carol Kanis Sorgi posted about visiting Kiddie City on Black Friday 1986, waiting in lines and fighting crowds, managing to get the toy that her son wanted, and then finding out it wouldnt fit in her car. Main Menu. All Rights Reserved. Doral, FL - (opened June 4, 2012) - Has a Justice & Brothers section. USA Store Fanon Wiki - Where Retail Goes to Live! 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. Here's the . The factory was destroyed by a fire on April 5, 2004. Operating under Chapter 11 bankruptcy . This Gildan Unisex Basic Softstyle t-shirt is made of a thicker, heavier cotton, but it's still soft and comfy. Well, not exactly, Jim. Child World was founded by Sid Schneider and Joseph Arnesano in Quincy, Massachusetts in 1962. Kiddie City Toy Stores were started in the 1960s. under the names Lionel Kiddie City, Lionel Playworld, and Lionel Toy Warehouse. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. [14], Lionel's efforts to diversify failed to compensate for the public's declining interest in its toy trains. By mid-2008, the chain operated 276 stores in 39 states. 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. 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. Osterhoff, Robert J. After the sale of its train product lines in 1969, Lionel Corporation became a holding company that specialized in toy stores. Playground surfacing is mostly rubber with a few small sections of wood fiber. 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. Wanamaker created large-scale seasonal sales, money-back guarantee, and a fixed-priced system. The Lionel FA model was also introduced in 1950. Lionel Corporation was an American toy manufacturer and holding company of retailers that had been in business for over 120 years. 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. (en) dbo:fate: Liquidation (en) dbo:formerName: Lionel Kiddie City (1980-1993) (en) Before there was Toys 'R' Us, children were begging their parents to take them to places like Lionel Kiddie City and Playworld. Child World was an American toy retailer founded in 1962. Child World and Lionel Kiddie City, both top toy retailers, have recently filed for bankruptcy court protection from their creditors. . *Rio Salado Pathway-Mesa has opened Rio Salado Pathway, a new shared-use pathway along the Salt River Bank for walking, running and bicycling. George was Fozzie Bear from the Muppets, and the children loved him. But your business can catch all the attention if you get a catchy name for it. 1111 Rochester Lane, Tacoma, WA - (opened July 17, 2015) - Has a a Justice & Brothers section. Lionel's fierce ad campaigning took a toll on Ives, which filed bankruptcy in 1928. Lionel manufactured 250,000 units, but was still unable to keep up with demand. Trademark Application Details. Lionel declined rapidly after 1956, because hobbyists preferred the smaller but more realistic HO scale trains, and children's interest shifted from toy trains to toy cars. The building that housed the last Lionel office is located at 26750 23 Mile Road, Chesterfield, Michigan; as of March 31, 2017, the building was available for lease. Lionel resisted, and the fight drained the company of cash. For a time it was the second-largest toy store chain in the United States. I purchased the Chevron oil tank car and the Union Pacific box car, photos shown below, from that store during the spring of 1976. 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. 725 W Redbridge Street Albany, NY - (Opened January 22, 1988) - Has a Justice & Brothers/Disney section. 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]. 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 switching ownership over the years, the chain went out of business in the late 20th century. May 11, 1990. In 1906, Lionel began offering a three-rail track that simplified wiring of reverse loops and accessories. By 1966, Lionel's revenue was $28 million, 40 percent from government contracts. In the early 1990s, the operation ran into financial difficulty and . Although the NES has been widely distributed throughout the country via the various big box retailers for quite some time, there's no denying the fact that many people are still having troubles finding them on store shelves. In 1985, General Mills spun off its Kenner-Parker division, with Lionel being placed under Kenner-Parker. For a time it was the second-largest toy store chain in the United States. Kiddie City overwhelms. "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", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Lionel_Kiddie_City&oldid=1150548593, Companies that have filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, Companies that filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 1982, Companies that filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 1991, Companies that have filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, Articles with dead YouTube links from February 2022, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0. Meta Pay In 1947, Lionel produced a model of the Pennsylvania Railroad's GG1. 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 . Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. 60-foot long caterpillar mesh rope climbing structure, 2 playground clusters for ages 2-5, 6-12 and above. Various economic troubles at the time forced Lionel into bankruptcy in 1982. 3 Bealls Holding Corp. was an American chain of department stores, owned by Stage Stores Inc. and headquartered in Houston, TX. 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. And the double stitching on the neckline and sleeves add more durability to what is sure to be a favorite! For me it was Lionel Kiddie City, an off-shoot I believe of Roy Cohn's holding company that rode JLC's Lionel namesake to the bottom. Lionel Kiddie City Application #78308814. Get set to bask in the glories of Lionel Kiddie City and giant bottles of Coke. By 1985, they were back and on the grow again, but competition from discount stores and Toys 'R' Us forced them back into bankruptcy in 1991.