lionel in Charlotte worth visiting?

If Lionel doesn't have anything, I would recommend a visit to the NASCAR Museum in downtown  Charlotte.

They have a retail store, that is full retail. They also have a very small test layout. Its cool to go see. Its also right across from the nascar track.

If you are a NASCAR fan do not miss the Hendricks Racing Complex. Great museum and you are able to watch the activity as the race teams prepare Gordon, Johnson, Junior and Kahn's race cars.

 

    Bill T.

Jhz, I stopped at the "Lionel store" in Charlotte when we passed through this Spring.  Unless you will ALREADY be driving thru on the nearby interstate, for people like us it is nothing special.  I have a hard time seeing what purpose it serves for Lionel.  They sell everything at full retail & it is in a VERY remote area.  Although it is within sight of the NASCAR speedway, most of the year this place is a NO-man's land!  I wanted to buy something there just so I could say that I did... almost got a mouse pad that was within reason (& on sale) for $3-4, but didn't even pull the trigger on that.  Perhaps if they had an annual special edition boxcar for sale ONLY at the store it would draw O gauge fans like us.  The Lionel Visitors Centers offered such cars when it was in Michigan & operated by Mr. Kughn & LTI. 

Thanks for the info everyone.  I was hoping to hear that there was a display layout.  I would love to see the race complex, but really only if I could fit something cool train related with it. I was able to visit the one in MI many moons ago, but honestly wasn't super impressed.  I have actually come back to Lionel products with the lionchief line for my boys, since it dovetails well with dcs.  Its disappointing they haven't made this facility a product showcase.

They have not been there for a very long period of time and everything is still a work in progress. If you went to Ohio you would have been impressed at the store there.  I have no reason to think NC will  be the same given a bit of time.