Next Lionel Store to Open in Nashville

That's cool! I wish them all the best. I'll definitely stop in if I'm ever down that way!

Darn good Nashville BBQ, great CW music, and by adding Lionel toy trains, you have yourself a winning trifecta.

Since l am not into "noise" (having once ordered cars without radios, and recently hassled turning off an unwanted paid radio service), l wonder that a Tennessee location was not in Pigeon Forge or Gatlinburg for the high Smoky Mountains tourist traffic?  I have gotten there occasionally to pet the bears.  A train shop there would be more interesting than streets of junk souvenirs.

That's good news for the hobby.  I hope they do well.

Being a frequent visitor to the Nashville area, there's not much for model trains.   This will be a welcomed site for the area.  But with that said, I don't understand why Lionel is doing this?  Retail is dead, who's going to buy trains at retail prices?  Sorry to say I don't see this lasting.

@superwarp1 posted:

Being a frequent visitor to the Nashville area, there's not much for model trains.   This will be a welcomed site for the area.  But with that said, I don't understand why Lionel is doing this?  Retail is dead, who's going to buy trains at retail prices?  Sorry to say I don't see this lasting.

Opry Mills is one of Simon Properties best performing malls.  Has a current 99.5% occupancy.

It's adjacent to the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center, and a 100 yard walk to the actual Grand Ole Opry.

The foot traffic is good.

Lastly, the business model for the Lionel Retail Stores is visibility of the brand.

Putting it in this mall, surrounded by not only the Opry associated properties, but several nice hotels, neighborhoods with the disposable income demographic, a couple golf courses, and the awesome setting in the quasi-island on the Cumberland River makes it a good thing.

Well, we shall see. 😉

With a high rental overhead, I'd like to know their reasoning for this location.

Aside from brick and mortar being a tuff nut to crack already. I think only the uninitiated will shop

there.

Wouldn't a less expensive rental with good advertising be a better strategy?

I hope they do well and make money. Good Luck Lionel

All I can say is,  Wow!, this is a positive move on Lionel’s part and will be a welcome addition to the fantastic OpryMills Mall, next door to one of the most beautiful and largest Hotels and trade centers in this part of the United States. GayLord Hotels are luxurious and offers great service and the Grand Ole Opry would be great entertainment for folks coming to our fun city on vacation. There are nice layouts to visit in the Nashville area and it’s exciting news. Last year in July, the LCCA and the TCA held their National Conventions in Nashville, both clubs enjoyed fantastic attendance and the tours were so much fun. Music City USA is a fun place to visit, and our area is really growing…. I look at this as a very interesting and positive move and I hope many folks that come to our area will reach out and visit our layouts. Trains are fun. Happy Railroading Everyone

I hope the store has a nicely detailed layout with plenty of switches and operating accessories.  Maybe even a fairly complete implementation of the Layout Control System (LCS), which I've yet to see anywhere.  I'm imagining an Ipad to control routes, sensor tracks, the whole nine yards.

If Lionel wants to attract new blood to the hobby, they have to put remotes in people's hands and let them experience some interactive magic.  The key word is "interactive"- please no boring "round and round"-type displays.  Yes, an interactive demonstration would probably require one or two full-time moderators.  Heck, if I lived near Nashville, I would do it on Saturdays as a volunteer!  I've been in this hobby all my life and the technology, the potential, is better than ever.  Someone just has to show the public how much fun big trains can be!

@Walter Anderson posted:

With a high rental overhead, I'd like to know their reasoning for this location.

Aside from brick and mortar being a tuff nut to crack already. I think only the uninitiated will shop

there.

Wouldn't a less expensive rental with good advertising be a better strategy?

Walter,

Agreed.  There's clearly an assumption on Lionel's part that people still shop in malls.

Some still do, but not anywhere near the crowds that used to fill them back in the day, particularly leading up to the holidays.

The fall-off has been so large that many, or most? malls, depending on where you live, have closed.  Shouldn't this be a warning?

Mike

I’m confident Lionel has done the research on this location. I wish them success. Many here always like to second guess Lionel. I don’t know of any other train company that’s lasted this long.

As one poster mentioned, it's in a high-performing mall, run by one of the most respected real estate investment trust companies in the US. I'm sure Lionel did their homework pursuing a viable, second location. My hope is that maybe they consider opening a store here in New Jersey, where the company was originally founded.

@Mellow Hudson Mike posted:

Walter,

Agreed.  There's clearly an assumption on Lionel's part that people still shop in malls.

Some still do, but not anywhere near the crowds that used to fill them back in the day, particularly leading up to the holidays.

The fall-off has been so large that many, or most? malls, depending on where you live, have closed.  Shouldn't this be a warning?

Mike

Were you in on the meetings with the executives when they presented the plan? Are you aware of the holding company's overarching plan for this location that goes beyond basic EBITDA?

Do you know what the PV of this particular mall is?   What's the D&B forecast for tenants ROI at this property, based on the type of lease any particular tenant has?

Is there a consistent due diligence list that coincides with the waiting/interest list of potential new tenants and added major anchors?

Have you seen the 20 year plan for this area, since it was reinvented after the old theme park closed (where this mall is now)?

What's the average daily foot traffic?

Where does SPG fall in the overall performance category of other property groups.

How's the NOI at this particular mall.

I am fairly certain though, as you said, Lionel is just throwing darts with assumptions that people still shop in malls, without doing any research and due diligence of their own.

FYI: I know the answer to all of the above, since SPG is in my portfolio. (and it's performing very well, thank you).    If I were looking to open a shop at a mall, SPG properties would be the first place I'd look, based on all my research, and whether or not I owned stock.

Maybe turn off any subjectively emotional feelings about Lionel, and cut them some slack.  They are not just winging it day to day.

@EscapeRocks posted:

Were you in on the meetings with the executives when they presented the plan? Are you aware of the holding company's overarching plan for this location that goes beyond basic EBITDA?

Do you know what the PV of this particular mall is?   What's the D&B forecast for tenants ROI at this property, based on the type of lease any particular tenant has?

Is there a consistent due diligence list that coincides with the waiting/interest list of potential new tenants and added major anchors?

Have you seen the 20 year plan for this area, since it was reinvented after the old theme park closed (where this mall is now)?

What's the average daily foot traffic?

Where does SPG fall in the overall performance category of other property groups.

How's the NOI at this particular mall.

I am fairly certain though, as you said, Lionel is just throwing darts with assumptions that people still shop in malls, without doing any research and due diligence of their own.

FYI: I know the answer to all of the above, since SPG is in my portfolio. (and it's performing very well, thank you).    If I were looking to open a shop at a mall, SPG properties would be the first place I'd look, based on all my research, and whether or not I owned stock.

Maybe turn off any subjectively emotional feelings about Lionel, and cut them some slack.  They are not just winging it day to day.

So on target. Opry Mills--like Concord Mills, which is the biggest tourist destination in North Carolina--is hardly just another shopping mall that Lionel selected at random.

Malls not centered around traditional Department Store anchors seem to be bucking the trends of other brick and mortar malls. Concord Mills is busy. Spaces don’t stay empty long. The Lionel store there stays busy with both locals and tourists. I’m sure the Nashville location will do just fine

@Ted S posted:

I hope the store has a nicely detailed layout with plenty of switches and operating accessories.  Maybe even a fairly complete implementation of the Layout Control System (LCS), which I've yet to see anywhere.  I'm imagining an Ipad to control routes, sensor tracks, the whole nine yards.

If Lionel wants to attract new blood to the hobby, they have to put remotes in people's hands and let them experience some interactive magic.  The key word is "interactive"- please no boring "round and round"-type displays.  Yes, an interactive demonstration would probably require one or two full-time moderators.  Heck, if I lived near Nashville, I would do it on Saturdays as a volunteer!  I've been in this hobby all my life and the technology, the potential, is better than ever.  Someone just has to show the public how much fun big trains can be!

There is a new You Tube video about the Lionel Train Store in Charlotte. Unfortunately they had 3 small layouts which were just turn on and forget round and round layouts with a few push button stations where a customer could activate an accessory. What was for sale was fantastic with a whole endcap of Legacy and LionChief 2.0, and I assume Plus 2.0 engines, 30% off. But I did not see any LCS units displayed for sale. Of course maybe it was there and the videographer missed it. It was a fairly comprehensive tour of the store though. What I think you need to sell LCS is a display showcasing what LCS does, how easy it is to hookup and with iPad interactivity so the public can control the layout. Of course you don't want trains running into each other like on the Addams Family. But it would be the LCS products in shelves below with the layout above.

I will be in Charlotte for the LCCA convention and plan to visit that store next week.

What all of you are overlooking are the Lionel NASCAR products. They will sell a lot more of them than they will trains. I would venture to say that revenue from NASCAR products far exceeds what they make selling trains. It’s much more popular, with a huge fan base and a they can have a “new” product for every NASCAR driver.

Big bucks.

I have not been to the Lionel store at Concord Mills yet even though I am in Greensboro. I have heard they sometimes have repaired/refurbished items for sale discounted. Makes sense seeing how they are right near their main facility.

Brad

@Rich Melvin posted:

What all of you are overlooking are the Lionel NASCAR products. They will sell a lot more of them than they will trains. I would venture to say that revenue from NASCAR products far exceeds what they make selling trains. It’s much more popular, with a huge fan base and a they can have a “new” product for every NASCAR driver.

Big bucks.

Nashville is a NASCAR town. I would say at least 25% of the store in Charlotte was devoted to Lionel Racing and Lionel is the official diecast car manufacturer of NASCAR. It would be neat if Lionel sponsored a NASCAR race car or truck and had Lionel on the hood and all over the vehicle.

@B rad posted:

I have not been to the Lionel store at Concord Mills yet even though I am in Greensboro. I have heard they sometimes have repaired/refurbished items for sale discounted. Makes sense seeing how they are right near their main facility.

Brad

There were a couple of pieces in that endcap that interested me. I will ask if they are refurbs and what was fixed. Then I will ask for a test run if the price is right.

@Keith L posted:

Lionel's Facebook page (Lionel Trains | Facebook) is announcing that the next Lionel Store will open later this year at the Opry Mills mall in Nashville. Evidently, this reflects the success of the first Lionel Store in Concord, NC, with its combination of trains and NASCAR in a high-traffic destination mall. The strategy is being carried over to Nashville: the Concord Mills mall is the largest in North Carolina, and Opry Mills is the largest mall in Tennessee.

Living in the Memphis TN area I can see myself and members of my train club, the Casey Jones Hi-Railers making a road trip to Nashville after the store opens.

@Dave 69 GTEL posted:

There is a new You Tube video about the Lionel Train Store in Charlotte. Unfortunately they had 3 small layouts which were just turn on and forget round and round layouts with a few push button stations where a customer could activate an accessory. What was for sale was fantastic with a whole endcap of Legacy and LionChief 2.0, and I assume Plus 2.0 engines, 30% off. But I did not see any LCS units displayed for sale. Of course maybe it was there and the videographer missed it. It was a fairly comprehensive tour of the store though. What I think you need to sell LCS is a display showcasing what LCS does, how easy it is to hookup and with iPad interactivity so the public can control the layout. Of course you don't want trains running into each other like on the Addams Family. But it would be the LCS products in shelves below with the layout above.

Also I think the store needed to do more about anti theft and product damage with things like a C&O Greenbriar just sitting on a shelf right on an aisle where passing public could and did handle it.

I will be in Charlotte for the LCCA convention and plan to visit that store next week.

Dave, you will love the store. They change products often and have a table full of goodies for sale cheap. When we were there setting up this year's convention, we stopped by. Stop by to say hi, I'll  be loading buses  every day at the convention. See you soon, I'm leaving in the am...Bob

I sure hope this works out for Lionel.

I hate paying a retail-ish price but I really hate the current shipping cost of things. Anyone have experience on returns to the Concord store? If returns or replacements aren't a hassle, this would be another positive of shopping the store.

Very good news.  Another good reason to visit Nashville.  Been to the NC store on several occasions.  Visiting any train store is fun time.

Tommy

There should be no negativity to this really nice store coming to a great mall in Nashville Tennessee, being in the Clarksville-Nashville area for over 56 years, there have been hobby shops full of trains, actually Phillips Toy Mart being the best stocked store catering to the post war trains. Now, many of you remember when TMCC Command Control was first available to us Lionel enthusiasts. (1996) Many folks were hesitant to run their trains with the Cab 1, it was like the computer, they let it intimidate them. So, the command system did two things, it made folks like their conventional trains even more, and then, Built to Order trains became the answer to the Dealer, let the scale oriented model railroader buy the expensive trains, and this caused many dealers to carry less high end trains. I’m sure you’ve seen many dealers close their doors. Now, this being said, The New Lionel Store coming to our neighborhood will be a complete Lionel train store, offering everything they carry, the Nascar products they carry, and demonstrate the “Legacy products” to everyone interested in the new fun to run high end steamers and diesels, None of the stores in a 150 mile radius of Nashville have the means to accurately demonstrate the TMCC/Legacy command system. The Lionel store will. Hooray!!!
I encourage you to look at some of the YouTube videos that my good friend Will Porath, “Will2926” has produced about the Lionel Store in Concord NC. It’s truly an amazing store.
It’s my feeling that this store will be a fun store to visit and see Lionel at its very best.
They will not have a service department in the store, but they will help us with any issues we have. Keep a positive mindset about this upcoming train store, I admire Lionel for stepping out for us model railroaders. Happy Railroading Everyone

One more important fact, The Lionel Store offers Military discounts, many specials on trains and sets than you can imagine. If anyone lives within a one or two hour drive from the Concord NC store, make the trip, you will be highly surprised.

Store placement is a very sophisticated undertaking. There are specialized companies that are in the business of chosing sites for their clients, and making determinations of sites with a high probability of success, using all kinds of algorithms and statistical analysis, market studies, etc. If Lionel chose this location, rest assured it was not a uneducated decision.

With a Menards coming to Bowling Green, KY in 2024 and a Lionel store in Nashville, I see some road trips in my future.

Neal Jeter

Hooray a new retail store. I visited the Charlotte store quarterly. There is nothing like testing a locomotive before purchasing.  If it similar to Charlotte, the staff are wonderful. Nashville is the largest city in Tennessee and growing rapidly.

We were at the Concord store recently. Most train items 15% off list.  Lucked out because they had a special sale, additional 15% off.

The manager said the additional 15% happens once in a while.

@Dave 69 GTEL posted:

Nashville is a NASCAR town. I would say at least 25% of the store in Charlotte was devoted to Lionel Racing and Lionel is the official diecast car manufacturer of NASCAR. It would be neat if Lionel sponsored a NASCAR race car or truck and had Lionel on the hood and all over the vehicle.

Lionel did a one race sponsorship of Xfinity series driver Josh Wise in 2010.

I didn't know that Johnny. I think it would be good if they did it again and kept doing it, if it's economically feasible. Maybe it would keep Lionel's name out in the mind of the public.

@cabinet Bob posted:

Dave, you will love the store. They change products often and have a table full of goodies for sale cheap. When we were there setting up this year's convention, we stopped by. Stop by to say hi, I'll  be loading buses  every day at the convention. See you soon, I'm leaving in the am...Bob

I'll look for you Bob!

During the Lionel headquarters tour at the LCCA convention in Concord, NC CEO Howard Hitchcock said the soft opening of the Lionel store in Nashville will be September 1st.

Neal Jeter

Ok Folks, this is a picture of the store front of the new Lionel store coming to Nashville, Tennessee, in the OpryMills shopping mall, next door to The Grand Ole Opry,  a super large mall. The soft opening is supposedly September 1…. Wow, it’s going to be a really nice addition to this area of the country. Yes, that’s my wife…. Happy Railroading Everyone

Looking forward to attending the grand opening ribbon cutting which Ryan Kunkle at the LCCA convention in Concord explained to me is planned for sometime mid 4th quarter.

@colorado hirailer posted:

Since l am not into "noise" (having once ordered cars without radios, and recently hassled turning off an unwanted paid radio service), l wonder that a Tennessee location was not in Pigeon Forge or Gatlinburg for the high Smoky Mountains tourist traffic?  I have gotten there occasionally to pet the bears.  A train shop there would be more interesting than streets of junk souvenirs.

This is no souvenir shop. Actually I think, having just driven through that area that Gatlinburg/Pidgeon Forge is only about 100 miles from Concord NC and doesn't have a NASCAR track in town so it wouldn't make much sense in terms of demographic expansion. Also Lionel is staying in the Mills family of regional malls and so they probably already have a good working relationship with  them.

@colorado hirailer posted:

Since l am not into "noise" (having once ordered cars without radios, and recently hassled turning off an unwanted paid radio service), l wonder that a Tennessee location was not in Pigeon Forge or Gatlinburg for the high Smoky Mountains tourist traffic?  I have gotten there occasionally to pet the bears.  A train shop there would be more interesting than streets of junk souvenirs.

Would be nice as East Tennessee is a black hole for O-gauge between Bristol and Chattanooga, even down to Atlanta.  But I'd rather drive the 100 miles to Nashville than endure the Sevierville-Pigeon Forge-Gatlinburg tourist traffic corridor .

Now if it was next door to the new Buc-ee's at I-40....