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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. 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. In reality it was the success of the more expensive but profitable 752E City of Portland Union Pacific Streamliner which not only gave the company much needed funds, but also as Lionel's first scale model, it gave the company considerable presence in the model market and showed the way forward with the start of the scale detailed die-cast look. For anyone who remembers this great toy store, owned by Lionel. 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. 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. We could hear the thump through the wall, George remembered. 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. Information System System Facility Name Information System Id/Report Link . Its showrooms carried jewelry, toys, sporting goods, and electronics. Open 7 days a week from 9am - 10pm. PayPal Welcome to Remembering LIONEL PLAYWORLD & KIDDIE CITY toy stores Facebook group. Website Design by Granicus - Connecting People and Government. The discount chain was once the fifth-largest retailer in the country, but it came to an end in a big way. [2] In 2006, Lionel's electric train became the first electric toy inducted into the National Toy Hall of Fame. *Rio Salado Pathway-Mesa has opened Rio Salado Pathway, a new shared-use pathway along the Salt River Bank for walking, running and bicycling. It was founded in 1900 and. Kiddie City was riding high again after the earlier financial problems. Lowen's avoided that path, which has claimed such local retail . From 1953 all the way until 1968, the 736 was produced again. Kiddie City, which was founded in 1957, rose to become the nation's second-largest toy . Photos of both New Jersey factories in derelict state prior to their demise can be seen at the ihorse.com Web site. $3.25 + $3.25 shipping. (NY stores). 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. Kiddie City Toy Stores were started in the 1960s. These and other efforts to improve its financial standing were unable to keep Lionel from going into receivership in May 1934.[6]. It emerged in 1983 with 50 surviving stores. Lionel Playworld. Lionel sold the product die tooling for its struggling train line and leased the rights to the Lionel brand name to the cereal company General Mills. For a time it was the second-largest toy store chain in the United States. Meanwhile, non-specialty discount stores expanded their toy sections and undercut the prices of specialty toy chains. Top editors give you the stories you want delivered right to your inbox each weekday. Michael J. Vastola & Mark Katz visit LIONEL KIDDIE CITY on Bustleton Avenue in Philadelphia Pennsylvania, March 28, 1984. It grew to 182 sites and revenues of $830 million before failing in 1992. (More on that later.). On Halloween night in 2009, Taco Bell gave free "Black Jack Tacos" to anyone who dared to go trick-or-treating there . Lionel resisted, and the fight drained the company of cash. Former Model Train Maker, Parent of Kiddie City Going Out of Business. The original Lionel Corporation was founded in 1900 by Joshua Lionel Cowen and Harry C. Grant in New York City. For a time it was the second-largest toy store chain in the United States. Visa. We would like to show you a description here but the site won't allow us. Lionel Corp., based in Edison, N.J., released a state 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. When the company declared bankruptcy in 1975, it was the largest retailing bankruptcy of the year, according to the University of California Press. At its peak in 1990, Brendle's operated 58 showrooms in North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Georgia, and Tennessee. After reducing itself in size to 55 stores, it emerged from bankruptcy in September 1985. [6], Lionel ceased toy production in 1942 to produce nautical items for the United States Navy during World War II. Shaded picnic areas with tables. 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 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 2017 Finalists for the National Toy Hall of Fame. For example, there are a variety of city parks that have these buy small kiddie trains cheap running on tracks or just on paths. 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. 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. Little did I know that some kids dont like Oscar the Grouch, from Sesame Street. Report this profile Report Report. Was formerly a Kmart store. 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." Lionel, LLC currently owns all trademarks and most of the rights associated with the Lionel Corporation. Lionel resisted, and the fight drained the company of cash. During the post-war period, Lionel produced a construction set, utilizing a unique component set. +$14.85 shipping. ?, Winston-Salem, North Carolina - (opened May 8, 1970) - Was built as part of strip mall with a Hills store. Defunct Jamesway Store Match Book. 2 playground clusters for ages 2-5, 6-12 and above. From 1946 through 1949, Lionel issued the 726 2-8-4 Berkshire, which is a prized item today. "Let LIONEL Turn That Frown : ( Upside Down :) ". Lionel attempted to keep the pace with the changing trends by offering space and military-themed train sets and coming out with their own HO line of trains. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Hallmark Kiddie Car Classics 1956 Garton Hot Rod Racer Diecast Winners Circle at the best online prices at eBay! Situated on a sidewalk of a consistent color and height, each building features a lighted interior and unique signage. Modell's had more than 150 retail locations in ten states and the District of Columbia in 2018. Additionally, Lionel criticised the durability of competitors' products in ads targeted at parents.[6]. The new line of trains included the Blue Streak Freight, an entry-level O-27 gauge train set produced by Lionel. 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. 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. My mother took my sister and myself to Kiddie City in Greece…so my sister could walk down a runway holding a Barbie and my mom made me walk down the runway with a Ken doll, he posted. 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. Back Submit. 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. Ohio Valley Galleria, Stubenville, Ohio - (opened March 7, 1986) - One of the mall's original tenants. 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. It was rebranded as Lionel LLC in 1995. When they fall in love with a city it is forever, and it is like forever. The street was once open to only whole sale traders, but today with the advent of retail giants, this street is missing customers. Morse and Thursday are confronted with a new breed of murderer, as a string of Oxford homicides continues with no end in sight. 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. I can still hear the store jingles in my head (Toy Capital of the World!). [15] In 1974, Lionel began to offer trains in HO scale for the first time since the postwar period, where they were last cataloged in 1966. By the early 1970s, the Zayre chain had more than 200 locations across the country. Lighting; SKU: 6-34129; Dimensions: 9 1/4" x 6" x 6" Gauge: Traditional O Gauge; price: 39.99; year . Buy It Now. Lionel specialized in various products throughout its existence. 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 . The Lionel FA model was also introduced in 1950. Stores were usually located in shopping malls and centers or in standalone locations. Child World was an American toy retailer founded in 1962. 1111 Rochester Lane, Tacoma, WA - (opened July 17, 2015) - Has a a Justice & Brothers section. Before there was Toys 'R' Us, children were begging their parents to take them to places like Lionel Kiddie City and Playworld. Lionel Corporation was an American toy manufacturer and holding company of retailers that had been in business for over 120 years. [verification needed] ??? History. Prosecutor at Lionel Kiddie City Syracuse, New York, United States. Application Filed: 2003-10-02. 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 around 1957 in Philadelphia as toy supermarkets. [6], As part of the diversification, Lionel formed a relationship with the Porter Chemical Company, whose owner, Harold M. Porter, was a member of the Lionel Board of Directors. The brand rose to prominence in 1976 following a series of television commercials featuring Johnny Cash, himself a Lionel collector.[16]. The company was headquartered in Port Washington, New York. Started by dmx10101, September 01, 2006, 03:33:19 AM. The store specialized in retailing desirable brand name apparel, accessories, cosmetics, footwear, and housewares. In 1906, Lionel began offering a three-rail track that simplified wiring of reverse loops and accessories. [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. All Rights Reserved. When other U.S. companies began using Lionel's standard, they usually called it wide gauge. The factory was destroyed by a fire on April 5, 2004. This was the 4th Lit Brothers Department Store to open (The others were Trenton, NJ . Main Menu Home; The Ames Fan Club Defunct Retail Other Defunct Retail Lionel Playworld. VINTAGE GIMBELS PHILADELPHIA RETAIL DEFUNCT DEPARTMENT STORE JEWELRY GIFT BOX. . [14], Lionel's efforts to diversify failed to compensate for the public's declining interest in its toy trains. The chain's flagship store in Philadelphia was converted into a Macy's in 2006 and is now a national historic landmark. Lots of Rochester-area folks once did that at a place calledKiddie City. Industry experts said the grocer's downfall was due to its inability to adapt to the changing market. Lionel Kiddie City / Lionel Playworld. In the early 1990s, the operation ran into financial difficulty and . In 1988, Zayre Corp. sold its 392 department stores to the Ames chain in order to focus solely on its merge with TJX Companies. Brand New. 725 W Redbridge Street Albany, NY - (Opened January 22, 1988) - Has a Justice & Brothers/Disney section. Child World and Lionel Kiddie City, both top toy retailers, have recently filed for bankruptcy court protection from their creditors. 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 Playworld. Lionel ran into financial trouble during the early 1980s recession and filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in February 1982. "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. [25] The former Lionel assembly factory was located at 50625 Richard W. Blvd, Chesterfield a short drive from the office building. William Walthers, a large seller of model railroads, asked Cowen in 1929 why Lionel painted its trains in bright and unrealistic colors. These were big-box toy stores similar in concept to Toys R Us. Located at the northwest corner of Dobson and Rio Salado Parkway, Riverview is home to: Thank you to Visit Mesa for sponsoring this Able Eyes virtual tour, Know Before You Go. Check out the tour here:https://www.ableeyes.org/virtual-tours/riverview-park-mesa-az/, A 24-hour notice is required for all ramada reservations. Former Model Train Maker, Parent of Kiddie City Going Out of Business. 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! Next door is Toys R Us. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. After Lionel Corporation sold its train business to General Mills in 1969, it became a holding company that owned and operated Lionel Kiddie City and Lionel Playworld. (October 2009) Ten years later, and I'm still ticked that I heard about this promotion a day too late. Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're on the go. Lionel was once the nation's leading maker of model trains, but the company left the train business in 1969. Democrat and Chronicle . 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. In 1952, the Korean war caused a shortage of magnetic materials, so Lionel reissued the 726 as the 726rr (726 rerun). Youll have about 100 competitors.. 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 Corporation. May 11, 1990. Reserve by phone: 480-644-PLAY (7529), *Non-reservable shaded picnic ramadas (ie: First come, first served), 480-644-PLAY (7529) The Lionel Corporation filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in February 1982. USA Store Fanon Wikia is a FANDOM Lifestyle Community. 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. It was followed by a model of the city of Denver's successor, the city of Portland. O GAUGE ACCESSORY, VINTAGE 1988 BINNEY & SMITH CRAYOLA CRAYONS BOX/64 COLORS LIONEL KIDDIE CITY, NEW Lionel Playworld Kiddie City Vintage Toy Store Bags 1980's RARE, LIONEL KIDDIE CITY DEFUNCT PHILADELPHIA & NJ TOY STORE PRICE SIGN POUCH LOT/6, LIONEL KIDDIE CITY PHILADELPHIA TOY STORE HALLOWEEN TRICK TREAT BAG AS-IS LOT/6, VINTAGE LIONEL KIDDIE CITY TOY STORE AISLE SIGN INSERT "BIKES" DEPARTMENT STRIP, VINTAGE 1988 JOLLY TOYS CLOTH SCARECROW WITH LIONEL KIDDIE CITY PRICE STICKER, Vintage Lionel KIDDIE CITY Toys Kangaroo Plastic Souvenir Shopping Bag FREE S/H, NEW LIONEL KIDDIE CITY PHILADELPHIA TOY STORE VINTAGE COLORING BOOK, Kiddie City Toys Store logo magnet - Lionel Kiddie City, NEW Lionel Kiddie City Vintage Toy Store Bag 1980's RARE, NIB, Lionel 34129, Kiddie City Toy Store Main Street Lighted Building, Lionel #1362 Lionel Lines Express Set Kiddie City 1983 - VERY Rare - SEALED, Lionel 6-34129 Main Street Building Kiddie City Toy Store NIB L42, Lionel 34129 Kiddie City Toy Store Main Street Lighted Building, Lionel #1362 Lionel Lines Express Set for Kiddie City 1983 Rare - needs work, Vintage 1989 Unique Rescuers Down Under 16 13x13Napkins LIONEL Kiddie City NEW, Vintage 1989 Unique Rescuers Down Under Tablecloth 52x96 LIONEL Kiddie City NEW, Model Railroad Buildings, Tunnels & Bridges. Its model trains are still in production as a separate company. Lionel ran into financial trouble during the early 1980s recession and filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in . In 1985, General Mills spun off its Kenner-Parker division, with Lionel being placed under Kenner-Parker. The minute they arrive at the train station or get off the ferry and glimpse the wide streets and the wasteful lamps lighting them, they know they are born for 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. 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. Meanwhile, non-specialty discount stores expanded their toy sections and undercut the prices of specialty toy chains. [3] Unable to reach an agreement for reorganization with its creditors, on June 2, Lionel announced its intention to liquidate all of its stores and go out of business.[4]. By 1966, Lionel's revenue was $28 million, 40 percent from government contracts. Home Depot moved into the Greece Kiddie City site where I worked. 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. Unable to reach an agreement for reorganization with its creditors, on June 2, Lionel announced its intention to liquidate all of its stores and go out of business. 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. The building had been vacant for ten years and was in a state of disrepair, according to Fire Chief Don Huber. 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. However, the company's innovations often were copied by its bigger rivals who eventually succeeded in causing the chain's demise. By 1922, Lionel was competing mainly against American Flyer and Ives. As competition from other toy chains including Child World and Lionel Kiddie City crept in, TRU stayed on top with its secret weapon: babies. Lionel ran into financial trouble during the early 1980s recession and filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in February 1982. [1] Lionel trains have been produced since 1900, and their trains drew admiration from model railroaders around the world for the solidity of their construction and the authenticity of their detail. 1460 Chester Road, Yulee, FL - (opened May 9, 2013) - Has a Justice & Brothers section. Wanamaker created large-scale seasonal sales, money-back guarantee, and a fixed-priced system. Macmillian Toys. Competitors criticised the lack of realism of Lionel's trains - Cowen had been unwilling to invest in the equipment necessary for lithography, so its early offerings were simply painted in solid colors of enamel paint with brass detail parts. I worked at the Greece Kiddie City store with my buddy, George Salem of Gates, right around the time the place debuted. Kiddie City finally closed for good in 1993. Beginning in the 1960s Lionel attempted to further diversify into other product lines, such as phonographs, science, weather station and plastics engineering kits while toy train sales continued to decline and with the company enduring a series of management turnovers. 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. After filing for bankruptcy twice, the Kiddie City chainshut down for good in 1993 thanks, in major part to a competitor by the name of Toys 'R' Us. NEW LIONEL KIDDIE CITY PHILADELPHIA TOY STORE VINTAGE COLORING BOOK. Her father, the founder of the Lionel Kiddie City and Lionel Playworld chain of retail toy stores based in Philadelphia, is a president of Today's Man, a chain of men's clothing stores based in . After Lionel's Kiddie City Company was in the process of complete shut down, the Colorado Springs Playworld followed suit in 1993. 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. Was formerly a Kmart store. 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. 1983 Lionel Playworld "Turn that frown upsidedown" TV Commercial. Grant was another popular discount chain in the early and mid-20th century. Operating under Chapter 11 bankruptcy . Lionel Kiddie City. The Lionel brand name continues today, owned by Lionel, LLC, yet many Lionel train enthusiasts consider 1969 the end of the "true Lionel trains", due to the original Lionel Corporation divesting itself of toy train production and the changes in design and manufacture, sometimes for the worse, under Lionel trains' new owners.[6]. While innovative, the lack of general purpose beam members with enough holes limited the adaptability of the set to complex constructions. After reducing to 55 stores, it emerged from bankruptcy in September 1985. 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. Venator Group Inc. ultimately changed its name to Foot Locker Inc. in 2001. Join to view profile Lionel Kiddie City. Lionel Kiddie City Application #78308814. During the same year, Lionel became the world's largest toy manufacturer. Lionel Kiddie City owner is Lionel Leisure Inc. Mastercard During its peak years in the 1950s, the company sold $25 million worth of trains per year. Please enable JavaScript in your browser for a better user experience. By the early 1980s, Lionel operated some 150 stores, under the names Toy City, Lionel Kiddie City, Lionel Play Town, Lionel Playworld, Lionel Toy Warehouse, and Lionel Toy Town. In 1930, Lionel's operating profit dropped to $82,000 - its operating profit in 1927 had been more than $500,000 - and in 1931, it lost $207,000. Currently, the iconic building houses a wide variety of tenants, including Facebook and AOL. In preparation for the entrance of a major competitor into the Lehigh County toy store scene, Lionel Kiddie City asked the Whitehall Township zoners this week for permission to revamp the signs at . Neither product line was as popular as its O-gauge trains. If you want a doll, get there early. The product widely credited with saving the company was a wind-up handcar featuring Mickey and Minnie Mouse which operated on O gauge track, and sold for $1. 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. Also in 1922, Boucher bought out VoltAmp and started making what was known as the "Rolls-Royce" of standard gauge trains. [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. Meanwhile, several people posted memories of Kiddie City on Facebook. used cars naples, fl under $3,000. The company's debt, however, caused detrimental finance troubles for Ames, experts told CBS News. The store's famous Christmas window decorations began in 1897 as a toy display. He was released and recalled several more times. Defunct Nichols City Store Chain Match Book. Also known as Toy City, Lionel Kiddie City, Lionel Playworld, Lionel Toy Warehouse, and Lionel Toy Town. Initially, the company specialized in electrical novelties, such as fans and lighting devices. 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. It operated over 150 Lionel Kiddie City, Lionel Play Town, Lionel Playworld, Lionel Toy Warehouse, and Lionel Toy Town stores. In the years following World War II, veteran Eugene Ferkauf founded the American department store chain E. J. Korvette in New York in 1953. Read more about Lionel Kiddie City: Slogans, How soon country people forget. 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. The Kiddie City stores around Rochester remained open and Lionel emerged from bankruptcy three years later. "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". One year later, Lionel released a model of the American Freedom Train to celebrate the nation's bicentennial. Ha-ha, I was so embarrassed.. O GAUGE ACCESSORY. Experience . This trike has small screws beneath Big Bird's feet which are small parts and . Maisto International Inc. . 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. Kiddie City is a supermarket up on West Ridge Road with nothing but toys.. In December 1968 Ronald Saypol, Joshua Cowen's former grandson-in-law, became President and CEO of the Lionel Corporation, and in the following year, in an attempt to divest the company of what was by then determined to be a cash drain by the board and shareholders, began negotiations to sell their toy train line and lease the Lionel name to Model Products Corporation (MPC), a subsidiary of General Mills, Inc.[10] 1969 would be the final year the Lionel Corporation published a toy train catalog and manufactured O gauge trains.