Gulliver's Gate to be evicted.

I have been to both and thoroughly enjoyed both. Miniatur Wunderland is huge, has been around for quite a while and just simply has some amazing technology. Gulliver's Gate is the new kid on the block, but has some fantastic modelling. Both, in my opinion are worth the cost of admission.

Miketg

If you haven't seen it, and it is still open, I would go just to see the things the artist there have created. 

I've been to Gulliver's Gate twice. I enjoyed it immensely the 1st time - incredible replication of famous architecture and landmarks around the world plus lots of moving parts including trains - and  I couldn't wait to go back and bring my spouse. The 2nd time around many of the trains and mechanical items (e.g. ships, hot air balloons) weren't operational. The regional dioramas were still impressive, but we had to ask the help to get the trains moving and they didn't get them all running at that. 

There were very few people at the exhibit both times we went and being so close to Times Square, it did make me wonder how long the exhibit would last. It has to be expensive real estate as evidenced by the $36 admission price.

I was there about a month ago. Some impressive stuff for sure, but I was a bit disappointed because there really weren't many trains, few that were running, and the shinkansen was being pulled around by some other kind of regular non streamlined electric locomotive, which made it looks pretty pathetic.

The huge container ship going through the fully functional lock system was surprising and amazing, as was the wunderland-esque airport.  The moving automobiles, trucks, and busses were terrific.

But yes, not crowded, which is probably the problem.

I understand they have a HUGE rent bill in the amount of about $16,000 per DAY. My one visit there about a year ago, was somewhat disappointing as I thought Trains would be a bit more involved. The Airport was nice.

Many photos of Gulliver's Gate here:

https://ogrforum.com/...rk-city-walking-tour

I don’t think the trains are supposed to be the main attraction - there overall experience of the miniature world and the ability to have a likeness of yourself created and inserted into one of the countries. 

Its a shame, but none the less they hardly do any advertising or promoting at all. Never see any TV or internet ads, especially around holidays and times of year that bring in the tourists to NYC. 

Off on a side street in Times Square is not my idea of an ideal location. I’d love to see the Smithsonian get the exhibits. The airport alone would be a great fit in the air and space museum. 

The rent in New York City has become nationally known as being way beyond the incomes of regular people and businesses.

Andrew

Not surprised really.  When photos were posted here it looked great but I didn't think it would make it at that location......not a place folks go for that type exhibit. 

Entertrainment Junction is just as impressive and their costs are a small fraction of NYC location. And while they are viable I doubt they are getting super rich.  

Welcome to the world of business. Unfortunately, was not a great business venture, oh, well.....

Sounds as if the Kushners are up the creek a bit on this, as now that their second major tenant has failed.  Half their rent revenue out the window between the two. Deutsche Bank could end up with the building. Either the building was over appraised or they paid too much to buy it. This forced the high rent which in turn forced high ticket prices, and caught Gulliver's Gate in the pinch. Not 'enough traffic to pay the rent. It's really not in Kushner's best interest to evict them right now, some rent is better than nothing.

I know first hand about opening an attraction in a high rent location. At least my failure didn't bring down the landlord (though I would have enjoyed that). While I can empathize with Gullier's Gate, I may yet get my wish.

I used to work there, until I was let go on June 18, 2018, because they couldn't afford to pay someone to take care of the trains.   My job was "HO Train Specialist."  Yes, my job was to maintain the trains and tracks.  It was not an easy job.  Each layout was designed and built by different teams from around the world.  Not all of them were knowledgeable in model railroads.  Some had excellent access, while others it was terrible.  There were no design standards made, so different brands of trains, tracks, and DCC control systems were used (the Asian layout wasn't even wired to operate when we opened).  Also lacking were wiring schematics.  In addition, you may not believe the amount of wear and tear problems that resulted from running the trains 10 hours per day, seven days a week.

I also helped maintain the Faller vehicles that ran son some of the layouts.  They too had issues from the amount of running  that they did.

On July 19, 2018 they let go of 10 or 12 of the modelers and technicians.  I was not surprised to read that they are in financial trouble.  I am sorry for my former coworkers who are still there.  I visited them back in October, and the moral, of any, was very low.

One thing that I do cherish about my experience there was getting to meet so many talented people from around the world.   Another thing was back in September 2017 fifty people from Miniature Wonderland came to visit.  I met with four of their people from their model train department.  They were shocked by some of the things I previously mentioned, plus the fact that I was the train department at Gulliver's Gate.

Stuart

As for why I think that Gulliver's Gate failed, here's my thoughts:

1.  The name was about the level of most people to understand. Many times I was asked what did the name mean.  They couldn't recall or connect the idea of Gulliver's Travels to the idea of a miniature world.  If the name was something like "Gulliver's Gate Miniature Land" people might have had some idea about what it was about;

2.  Poor publicity didn't help.  Other than a few spots on some television programs, some articles in a few magazines, a single ad in the June 2017 issue of Model Railroader magazine, and two tourist buses with Gulliver's Gate pictures and name, there wasn't any other publicity.  If a person missed the TV shows or magazine articles, or wasn't on the route the buses took, how else were they going to hear about it?  Apparently the attitude of management was that they were only interested in attracting tourists, not locals.  As a result there were no posters on the city buses, subways, commuter trains, or billboards.  (They did finally start putting posters on the trains in July 2018...too little too late.).  Management felt that tourists didn't take mass transit;

3.  Ticket prices.  Many guests and potential guest complained about how high the tickets were.  GG did offer discounts, if you knew where to look (such as Groupon).  The problem of course is that the location near Times Square commands a high rent, hence the ticket prices;

4.  The front of the building at street level didn't make it clear what Gulliver's Gate was.  Other then a TV screen with some videos, and some of the Washington DC buildings on display there was nothing to really inspire a passerby to come in.  Also, some people had trouble finding the entrance as well;

5.  Crowd control.  At first they never considered how to keep traffic moving during popular days, like weekends and holidays.  As a result the place would become constipated with people.  Meanwhile, there would be people waiting outside who couldn't come in, even though they prepaid for tickets at a certain time.  Also, once a guest left the building they weren't permitted back inside, even if it was for a few minutes.  Which leads us to;

6.  Food and drinks were not permitted inside the building.  The obvious reason was to keep the displays clean. The problem was that the guests would get hungry and/or thirsty.  Because they weren't allowed to leave the building to get something to eat/drink they would get annoyed.  Others would disregard the rules and eat or drink anyway.  There was in fact a beverage machine and snacks in the gift shop, but where were the guest supposed to consume them?  Last spring I saw plans for a reorganization of the floor plan, which would have included a food court, but I doubt anything will come of it now.

Stuart