quote:

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.

When the company I worked for did the same type of promotion at Rockefeller Center the store did not have a backroom. We had to rent an off-site location to store about a weeks worth of sales. The store manager would pull product as needed from the offsite location.

quote:

Originally posted by doctrain:

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

But it's still less than Oneida County(Utica-Rome area)...

No, No No...you have it all wrong...Comet goes before Blitzen

quote:

No, No No...you have it all wrong...Comet goes before Blitzen

And Dasher....Dasher's on my right hand!

IMO opening a store in Rockefeller Centerduring the holiday season in NYC was a brilliant move by Lionel. Just imagine how many millions will walk by, see and enter the store. The rent of a store in that location is sky high, on the order of $20,000/Mo. then there are utility, insurance and employee costs. I suspect that the store may be open just until January. In as much as some items will be sold from this location, I can't see Lionel justifying this expense for a year but it is nice to see them have a presence "where the action is".

SWEET!!!!!!!! Wish we had one here.

I wish for great success, and with that success have Lionel do this again year after year. I can not think of a better place for success that New York City. As Frank sang,"If you can make it there, you can make it anywhere."

Many thanks,

Billy C

This layout was the same one used on the NBC Today Show in Rockefeller Center during last year's Holiday Season.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ehPMAd0dTS8

Skip.....

I would say that the opening of the NY Lionel store over the holidays reflects the VISION Lionel has for, not only the present, but the future.

I wish I could afford the opportunity to visit the store myself. The photo's and video posted sure helps.

Tex

Just my take. This store is not for us, it is not Madison Hardware. But, if you're there, it is on Skip's walking tour so it does behoove you to stop. In the 1 hour we were there taking pictures on a dreary marathon Sunday morning, there was alot of foot traffic, probably more than most hobby stores see in a week.

50th Street is main crosstown thru street for cars and foot traffic. It is "the street" to get the Christmas tree because most folks do a walk by of Radio City before going to Rockefeller Center. Even on a regular business day its packed.

I think in December when the tree lighting occurs, there are 50k people packed into all those nooks and crannies to see the tree lighting.Not to mention when the Line for the Radio City Christmas show wraps around 50th st and 6000 people a day are looking into your store front. Putting that store across from the newstand where Michael Corleone read about his father's shooting was a stroke of genius.

Me, I would have like to see a 2009 30 Rock boxcar, to commemorate the store, I bet it could have paid the rent.

rat

quote:

Me, I would have like to see a 2009 30 Rock boxcar, to commemorate the store, I bet it could have paid the rent.

Not a bad idea at all, although the whole store thing may have come together a bit too late for Lionel to have planned for a commemorative car. It definitely would have been a nice thing to add to the Christmas car collection.

Lionel could get Weaver to whip up a batch of 30 Rock boxcars and have them at available at the Lionel store next week. ;<)

I agree completely with Dennis. Just like with 1:1 passenger trains in America, probably the vast majority of people have no awareness that a company called Lionel stil lexists. For them, it is ancient history and this store is a great tool to create awareness in perhaps tens of thousands of people, and maybe sell a decent amount of product along the way during Christmas.

The store is small, but looks of high quality in its design and fixtures befitting a mid-town high rent location. All-in-all, this is a great idea with first rate execution.

Brings back great memories of trips with my four siblings in my Dad's '49 Chevy to Rockefeller Center to see the Tree. Then it was off to see the layouts at the Lionel and Gilbert Hall of Science Showrooms. After a cold walk the last stop was at a "Horn & Hardarts" (coin operated cafeteria) to warm up and spend a roll of nickles for a dessert treat.



Tom

quote:

"Horn & Hardarts" (coin operated cafeteria)

The Automat to New Yorkers Did you ever look into the slot and see a worker on the other side?

quote:

Originally posted by Peter Bowler:
I agree completely with Dennis. Just like with 1:1 passenger trains in America, probably the vast majority of people have no awareness that a company called Lionel stil lexists. For them, it is ancient history and this store is a great tool to create awareness in perhaps tens of thousands of people, and maybe sell a decent amount of product along the way during Christmas.

The store is small, but looks of high quality in its design and fixtures befitting a mid-town high rent location. All-in-all, this is a great idea with first rate execution.

I did not know they existed still until I got back in the hobby with a train around the Christmas tree two years ago. Heck, I didn't know model trains still existed at all! I think this is a great idea and I would go if in NYC...alas, not this year though

As a teenager I went to the automat quite often. I will allway's remember the bums and homeless would come in and get a cup of hot water (FREE) and sit at a table and put catchup in it, and make it tomato soup.

Skip,

How big do you think that remake of the 1951 window poster was and I am assuming I could possibly get one done at Kinkos?

Terrance

quote:

Originally posted by NYC Fan:

quote:

"Horn & Hardarts" (coin operated cafeteria)

The Automat to New Yorkers Did you ever look into the slot and see a worker on the other side?

Sure did - sometimes we'd even get up the nerve to talk to them - it was all part of the 'ritual' !!!

quote:

Originally posted by eddie g:
As a teenager I went to the automat quite often. I will allway's remember the bums and homeless would come in and get a cup of hot water (FREE) and sit at a table and put catchup in it, and make it tomato soup.

And sometimes they managed to 'bum' a few packets of crackers! My Dad saw this when he worked in the City pounding the pavement selling newspaper advertising space to retail stores during the Depression.

Sorry pallie, you were customer #3, not 2





rat

Turned on the TV this morning and saw that WPIX out of New York was running a story on the Lionel Store.

Lionel Trains Charge Through Rockefeller Center

Just saw the end of it, but they had a couple of kids on the floor playing with the G Polar Express while the reporter (wearing Lionel Cap) finished up.

Martin Z

quote:

Originally posted by NYC Fan:

quote:

"Horn & Hardarts" (coin operated cafeteria)

The Automat to New Yorkers Did you ever look into the slot and see a worker on the other side?

In case you automat guys miss the automat....


The Automat 2009

Mr Z, thanks for posting the video link, very cool!

And thank you to everyone else for posting photos of the store (and your Lionel shopping bags).

I think this TV spot in just the first of many that we will see over the next few months. Great exposure to a great hobby.

Tex

Big L needs to do this seasonally nation wide. Or at least plce something like this insdie some of the larger and downtown Macy's, et. al!

Kind of reminds you of the 'Godfather' movie, with Lionel trains running in a store window in NYC.
Hey Rat !! That kid with his face against the window, almost looks like he would be in a Rat makeup! (Don't take it personal)

now that you mention it..those ears do look a little pointy,


rat < >

They need to have stuffed, animated versions of Lou and Carl.

Carl: "Hi folks, come on in!!!"

Lou: "Bah...I hate all trains...all ages and all gauges."

Rat,

Is that Lew? He is standing in front of the layout that was in Macy's Toy Land back in the late 80's.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: NYC Fan,

Lou, looked the same in 63 the first time I went in...and 87 the last time I was in

rat

I would have thought of Lew as more of a "bow tie" kind a guy!

Is any other forum member planning to go to the new Lionel Store? It seems like only a few members have visited the store with so many living close by.

Anyway, I need a orange bag......geeeeee

Tex

Tex, Lionel has used those bags before. When we went to the Vision presentation in Newark last spring, those bags were used as well. So if you miss out, I am positive , they will still be around.


rat

Tex,

Send me your address and I'll send you mine.

Thanks Skip,

I want to put my grandaughters train stocking stuffers in one and hang it by her stocking for Christmas. She will get a big kick out of it. She is collecting and running the Lionel Christmas train stuff. Will send you email.

Tex

quote:

Originally posted by NYC Fan:

quote:

No, No No...you have it all wrong...Comet goes before Blitzen

And Dasher....Dasher's on my right hand!

Holy cow , pallie, did we mess up the dialogue

Watch this.

NYC fan at the Lionel Store in 1955


The Reindeer

Wow, I never saw that version. I only know the one with Natalie Wood and Maureen O'Hara.

Here's the script from the 47 version

Miracle on 34th Street Script


KRIS: You've got them mixed up.



You're making a mistake.



You're making a mistake
with the reindeer.



Tsk tsk tsk.



Would you mind stepping out
for a moment?



Open the door!



STOREKEEPER: I'm sorry.
The store isn't open today.



KRIS: I don't want
to buy anything...



and I'm sorry
to interrupt your work...



but I wanted to tell you
you're making a serious mistake.



- Huh?
- With the reindeer, I mean.



You've got Cupid
where Blitzen should be.



And Dasher should be
on my right-hand side.



STOREKEEPER: He should, huh?



KRIS: Yes. And another thing...



Donner's antlers have got
four points instead of three.



Still, I don't suppose anybody
would notice except myself.

There was also a "made for TV" version a few years ago with Dylan McDermott (sp?) as the lawyer/neighbor next door. I don't remember the other actors who played the main characters. But I do remember Robert Prosky (from Hill Street Blues) was the judge.

How about the David Hartman version from 30 years ago?

rat

I looked at the news footage linked above, and found it funny that they had the Quad City DJ's single "Come On Ride it, The Train" playing in the background.

Even funnier if you've seen the video (since removed from YouTube thanks to Warner Music), which contains no trains at all, just big spaceships cruising through a city in between shots of the singers and dancers.

---PCJ

quote:

Wow, I never saw that version. I only know the one with Natalie Wood and Maureen O'Hara.


Skip
TCA 84-20613

There was a horrible TV version with Sebastian Cabot from the 1970's, but the best re-make was the 1990's version with Sir Richard Attanborough as Santa, Elizabeth Perkins & Dylan McDermott, and Mara Wilson (before she was in Thomas The Tank Movie).

Aside from the fact that they weren't allowed to use the "Macy*s" name, it really had magic. It was directed by John Hughes, who knows a thing or two about kids movies!

Jon

quote:

Originally posted by Allan Miller:

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.

Actually, they are waiting on the pre-orders like the rest of us dealers! I wonder if they receive product before Value Added Dealers?

quote:

Posted November 02, 2009 09:20 AM

And Dasher....Dasher's on my right hand!


Skip
TCA 84-20613

That was pretty darn close Pallie!

Can you imagine what the rent must be for footage in that location! Perhaps, the store is intended for just a few months - for the Holidays - as a kind of marketing research tool, as well as a vehicle to est. a more public presence, in NYC. Moving mechnadise would be good, but I'm going to postulate that it would hardly pay the rent, let alone make a substantial profit. I hypothesize they may be up to more than just sellng goods, pulled from a back storage room, or shipped from a different center. Perhaps, the store's purpose is to "test the waters," as well as to inform.

Just a thought - a theory.
(?)

Moonson....

I believe it has been, not only mentioned on the forum, but by Lionel, that the store would be open until January 2010.

That said, I think you are cutting this store's ability a little short. They are set up with an off-site warehouse/storage to re-stock, taking care of carry out sales. They also have the ability to take orders and ship from their main warehouse location. They are even taking phone order's, like mine, because I can not visit this store. If you want to buy something from the store, just call: 212-782-3388....very nice people to work with. I got some nice gifts.

I don't think anyone here knows exactly how much sales will occur over the next few months. But the benifits from the exposure they will receive, by location, TV spots, and the on-going sales from this exposure could be fantastic....way beyond what their lease costs are.

Tex



This is a good marketing move by Lionel.

I trust that you are right, Tex. We all hope for the best for Lionel, I am sure.
The follow-up thread, whoever starts it, post-January, should be interesting, to say the least.