Opening of the Lionel Store in Rockefeller Center November 1, 2009.

Located directly across the street from Radio City Music Hall, the Lionel Store opened it's doors for the first time today.

Wow i love that green lionel table,absolutly classic,i was thinking the store was gona be bigger weres all the stock?

Interesting Skip. Apparently you were one of their first visitors? Looks like a little customer interest also. Any guess on the approx. square footage? Any more tidbits of interest that you can furnish?

Thanks for the pics.

Have a great day.

Ken

That green lionel table is really really nice,i must have it,what size is that table???

The store carries starter sets and accessories plus Lionel hats, tee shirts, sweat shirts, signs, clocks, etc. They plan on doing alot of order taking and shipping. The store is about 800-1000sq ft.

The displays, including the green table, are by TW Design, Dallas,Texas.

NICE!

THANKS for sharing!

I have many fond memories of Rockfeller Center and Radio City Music Hall. Taking a date to Radio City meant a first-run major motion picture and a spectacular live stage show with the Rockettes! Unmatched anywhere except the GREAT city of New York!

NOTE: SADLY, Radio City Music Hall dropped the movie and stage show about 1979.

VERY NICE store!

Hope Lionel does a ton of business there. This kind of retail placement can only help our hobby....

I like the posters on the wall. Very nice set-up, considering that it is temporary for what, about 70 days? I will be sure to stop in and check it out when I am NYC this season. I wonder if MTH, Atlas or Bachmann will be planning something similar.

Doesn't look very busy in there.

[

quote:

Doesn't look very busy in there.

It was actually 15 minutes before the store officially opened at 11am on Sunday Morning. Once the holiday season starts and the Rockefeller Center Tree goes up, even Sunday Morning will be wild.

Here is the first official receipt from the Lionel Store..

You big spender, Rat!

Wow! That's one fine looking store! And in a prime location, at that! I imagine the place will see plenty of action once the holiday shopping season begins. Congrats to Lionel for a fine initiative that will help to expose the hobby to many thousands of potential participants.

And, yes, Rat, you really outdid yourself with that $5.44 purchase! I sure hope you had some $ left for the subway ride home.

Great photos by both Skip and Rat!

Just askin', but shouldn't there be more trains in the store? Did they have a really big back room full of stuff?

Fred

quote:

Originally posted by jaabat:
You big spender, Rat!

ahem...I have more inventory than they do,


rat

quote:

Just askin', but shouldn't there be more trains in the store? Did they have a really big back room full of stuff?

Because train sets eat up a lot of expensive display space, my guess is they keep the shelves stocked with a minimum of items and bring the items out from a storeroom when a customer makes a purchase. I would also imagine that, by and large, the items in the store are starter-level things along with a good number of licensed type products that gain exposure for the Lionel brand.

Thanks for posting the pics guys,

Looks like a real nice store in a prime location. If it brings more interest into the hobby I say great!

I heard from a certain person that rat will see his spiderman train after his purchase from the store


Doug

A great majority of the people who come through Rockefeller Center during the holiday season are traveling by public transportation. As such, picking up a starter set at this store and taking it home may be an unattractive proposition for most. But, I believe they will be willing to ship any purchases over $100 for free. The inventory for this type of "order taking" business need not be in the store. It can be shipped from a warehouse location.

Skip and Rat..... What do the bags look like...did you get me one?

Thanks for your photos of Lionel's new train store. It looks great and I hope they do a whopping busines this Holiday Season.

They need a Santa there after Turkey Day to draw kids and others in for a special Lionel Santa photo.

I for one am impressed. Good thinking and marketing. Should be on TV closer to Christmas.

Tex

I hope the store is a real success for Lionel and wish them a lot of luck.

Most of the people that come to Rockerfeller Center between Thanksgiving & Christmas are tourist's from outside NY. Mostly other country's. I don't know if that is good or bad for the store. I'll let you answer that Question.

I too wish all the sucess in the world. But for those that are inerested in a vist, GO NOW! as you have been warned! Once the holidays hit... Fugetaboutit!

quote:

NOTE: SADLY, Radio City Music Hall dropped the movie and stage show about 1979.

Art Poole

Man Don't I rember that! I think I saw a double feature...
"The Promise" &
"Bite the Bullet"
and then the rocketts!

Nothin like seeing those DRG&W narrow Guage Trains on the big silver screen! [ although dwarfed by Today's IMAX theatres. ]

eddie g........

I don't believe tourist's, visitors either from the states or overseas are going to be a bad thing for the Lionel NY store. Just think, they go into store look around, ask questions, get a catalog and maybe make an order to be shipped to them, buy something and take it with them or look up their LHS when they get home. I believe its good for everybody.

Did anyone get me a Lionel bag yet? Geeeeee

Tex

Trust me it doesnt look very busy in there NOW but when Raido City does it's Christmas show there will be thousands upon thousands of people ther with their children. It will be a mad house.

The bags are bright orange plastic with a blue circle L logo and LIONEL underneath. No reference on the bag to the Lionel Store.

Thanks Skip....sounds like a nice looking bag though. I wonder if the phone number on Rat's receipt if the store's phone number?

Tex

Pretty cute - minus the teddy bears.

Here you go Tex!

quote:

A great majority of the people who come through Rockefeller Center during the holiday season are traveling by public transportation. As such, picking up a starter set at this store and taking it home may be an unattractive proposition for most.

Skip,
Spending 3 to 4 weeks in New York City every year and taking the subway daily, I have seen people carry everything from big packages to suit cases and even bikes on the subway. A starter set would be no problem at all. My daughter lives in Astoria and takes the N subway daily to work. It would be great for people just visiting from out of town if Lionel would ship their trains at a minimal charge. I wish they would place some of the scale trains out on display. This would show people how far the hobby has come over the years.
I will be there for Thanksgiving and will definitely stop at the Lionel store for a visit.
PRR Joe

Does anyone know if they are selling their Lionel Bar Stools there?



Here is the first official receipt from the Lionel Store..[/quote]

Yea I had noticed those also Roger and was wondering the same thing. I also looked at the website address on the receipt www.lionelnewyork.com wasn't too much there for info. I had hoped that it would show what was being sold there (?) but it didn't. Still interesting.

Ken

Roger,

They definitely had bar stools in the store. Worth a call!

I hope the store does well especially giving them exposure to all the crowds visiting Rock Center. Just wish they wouldn't use that tubular track in the window display!! No offense to those who use it!

Skip,

What set do those green Pullman cars belong to?

Terrance

quote:

Originally posted by PRR Joe:

quote:

A great majority of the people who come through Rockefeller Center during the holiday season are traveling by public transportation. As such, picking up a starter set at this store and taking it home may be an unattractive proposition for most.

Skip,
Spending 3 to 4 weeks in New York City every year and taking the subway daily, I have seen people carry everything from big packages to suit cases and even bikes on the subway. A starter set would be no problem at all. My daughter lives in Astoria and takes the N subway daily to work. It would be great for people just visiting from out of town if Lionel would ship their trains at a minimal charge. I wish they would place some of the scale trains out on display. This would show people how far the hobby has come over the years.
I will be there for Thanksgiving and will definitely stop at the Lionel store for a visit.
PRR Joe

I was on the subway a couple of weeks ago during rush hour and at one stop in comes a guy with a six foot step ladder.

Art

Art, I asked the boss for a raise and that's what he gave me.

As far as the Lionel store, they may or may not make a lot of money but they sure are going to get a lot of exposure for Lionel and the hobby!

quote:

Originally posted by Paul Finn:
I hope the store does well especially giving them exposure to all the crowds visiting Rock Center. Just wish they wouldn't use that tubular track in the window display!! No offense to those who use it!

From a marketing standpoint it is a smart move. Someone sees the "old" style track from when they were or their parents were kids and walk in. Now they can be sold on something that might appeal to them more. I think it is a great idea. (I do prefer the Fastrack BTW )

It's interesting how far the Lionel marketing department has come in a few short years. It wasn't that long ago that we were all impressed by Lionel getting cheap plastic toys into a Wendy's happy meal. Look where they are now! Whether it's a tourist trap or not, it's a huge deal to have Lionel trying to remind people that they are still alive especially during the season that their name is associated with the most. Any exposure is great exposure for the hobby. I'd much rather see some of my money that I spend with Lionel being put towards a strong campaign such as this one. If things continue at this rate, I would not be surprised to see some television advertising too far down the road. Best of luck to Lionel, oh and if anyone knows if I'll be able to order one of those nifty Lionel shirts shown in the photos that would be great!

quote:

Here is the first official receipt from the Lionel Store..

8.8% Sales Tax - A good reason to shop by out of state mail order or in Delaware!

Perhaps it's just me, but instead of those wimpy wreaths with the Lionel logo in the center that are in the window, they should have something like this to attract attention:

quote:

Originally posted by ratpak:










I love the kid with his nose in the window. Now if the people at Lionel could get the boys from the morning show to do a side walk presentation with Santa holding the Cab 2 and operating the trains.

















Here is the first official receipt from the Lionel Store..

Wish them the best.

I hope somebody has some connections with the major NYC news media. It's a natural Thanksgiving Friday story. "After 50 yrs. Lionel returns to NYC ... (with a tie in to the 26th St. Showroom days)."

With all the vacant property due to the economy companies are putting up
temporary pop-up stores for the holidays. I have no idea if that's what this is
but Toys-R-Us is doing a bunch of them. I hope it's not temporary but more importantly I hope it's a success.

I have to say, that is a great location for them to be in. They really did a great job with the store from what I see in the pictures. (Great pics by the way!)

Also, I think from a business standpoint it is smart to utilize the old tubular track because that would be what most people remember from childhood. They are trying to connect with what the fathers/grandfathers remember. Smart move in my opinion.

In this world of Nintindo and Playstations and computers, the hobby needs fresh blood. They need all the exposure they can get for trains.

If you go to www.lionelnewyork.com, you'll see that the store is open from November 1 through January 5.

quote:

What set do those green Pullman cars belong to?

Catalog number 6-30111 on page 30 of the 2009 Volume II catalog with MSRP of $137.99 for the three-car set plus "assortment of other items" which includes four FasTrack 10" straight tracks, a billboard set, a station platform, and six milk cans.

It's called the "Pullman Passenger Expansion Pack" for the NYC Flyer set but it would look better with motive power more appropriate to passenger trains than the NYC Flyer's 0-8-0.

I think it's about the best paint scheme I've seen on those cars - it's just right for them - and it would go with any number of diesel or steam locomotives that have a more likely wheel arrangement for passenger service.

The purpose of a small Holiday store front in Rockefeller Center is to get your prtoduct out in front of future potential customers. The store looks like it is set-up very nice to promote Lionel Electric Trains and Lionel should benefit from the exposure.

Thank you, Bill. I couldn't have said it better.

Nice pics, thanks for sharing.

I hope they are able to get new folks into the hoby as it will only benefit all of us, Big L fans or not.

Good luck to 'em, I say.