Are Some Disney Stores not for sale?

[ohanafamily]

I went to my local DS on Sunday, and I think it is waring on them. The "Manager" who was very corporate seemed a lot more flexible. I still got the company line, but the answer I got confused me. When Ei$ner was on Larry King he commented that the stores were great! He went on to talk about the NYC store. I asked what the deal was, I thought the stores were for sale. She told me that a few stores are owned by Disney and are not part of the sale (It was either 5 or 7). Her stores are both ones for sale.

Has anybody heard this? if so which stores? Are they better stocked?

Any Info Is Apreciated....
(thanks in advance)

 

[dianeschlicht]

I wonder if some stores are what is called "company" stores and not franchised. I wondered about the one we have at the Mall of America, because all the other Disney stores in the area have closed, but that one remains open, though very pared down.

 

[Lewisc]

It was posted that the NYC store was going to be re-branded as a World of Disney store, would carry theme park merchandise and would not be included in any sale of the stores.

It's possible that Disney intends to keep some stores as a way to promote WDW vacations (original purpose of DS) and sell or get rid of the rest.

 

[KNWVIKING]

Saturday DW and I were at the Cherry Hill Mall, an upscale mall that we hadn't been to for a few years, and the Disney Store was very unlike any we had been to. It was relatively small and didn't have the multi screen tv on the back wall. But overall it was a well stocked store with a better variaty of goods. I wanted to ask a CM a few questions about the future & uniquenes of the store, but they were busy non-stop waiting on customers.

 

[PatMcDuck]

Cherry Hill was one of the original 2 "prototype" stores in the U.S. I am trying to remember the date it was reopened this way. I would guess late 1999-early 2000? This was the beginning of the remodeling experiments. It was very spartan, no carpet, white walls, etc. But VERY expensive renovations. Next came a few more, in the next wave (in NJ, Woodbridge is one), these were similar, but the walls were painted, and they were slightly less plain. Next came the "concept" stores. DisneyPlay, DisneyHome/Kids. and a couple of combo (both concepts) stores. These were a test to see how much could be accomplished for far less $$, stores were renovated quickly, only closed 3 days or so. (All concepts have now reverted to regular Disneystores)

Finally, they settled on the latest idea, the "castle" stores. These truly are the best by far, and if the stores survive, I would expect the surviving stores to become Castle stores. They are an attempt to make the stores a magical place to visit.

 

[Razor Roman]

Originally posted by PatMcDuck
Next came a few more, in the next wave (in NJ, Woodbridge is one), these were similar, but the walls were painted, and they were slightly less plain.

I hate the Woodbridge and Menlo Park,NJ stores- I call them "Old Disneys" because they look like Old Navy to me.

The Bridgewater Commons store is like the old Disney stores... when Disney Store meant something special to me.

 

[Cindy B]

Originally posted by KNWVIKING
Saturday DW and I were at the Cherry Hill Mall, an upscale mall that we hadn't been to for a few years, and the Disney Store was very unlike any we had been to. It was relatively small and didn't have the multi screen tv on the back wall. But overall it was a well stocked store with a better variaty of goods. I wanted to ask a CM a few questions about the future & uniquenes of the store, but they were busy non-stop waiting on customers.

Yes, the CH Mall has had a "modern" looking store for about three/four years. The last time I was at that store (Valentines Day) I thought there was a TV in the back.. a smaller TV screen but still one there. There also is a small TV screen on the left side as you walk in.

The Echelon Mall ( about 10 minutes away from the Cherry HIll Mall in Voorhees NJ) as of a few months ago, still had an older style Disney store in it. This store had the celluloid cutouts, animated front window display, the characters on the walls, etc.

 

[PatMcDuck]

Oh, yes Echelon is quite cute, old style store, called "pink and green" type, so is Monmouth Mall. There are still many Disneystores in NJ. All stores carry the same product right now.

 

[exDS vet]

Originally posted by PatMcDuck
Cherry Hill was one of the original 2 "prototype" stores in the U.S. I am trying to remember the date it was reopened this way. I would guess late 1999-early 2000?

The prototype stores opened (I believe in October, 2000). We gave pins to all of the CM's in honor of the "new era" of the stores. The other prototype was South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa, CA. I visited that store in early 2001 with my SMTP group. Not many of us were impressed. I visited one of the next stores, Valley Fair in San Jose, CA several months later. Still not what I was hoping for.

I will admit that the "Castle" style store is not a bad concept. Today I visited a store here in Phoenix that was rumored to close after this past Christmas. The store is still there. Apparently the mall management made a deal to keep the store. The store was bustling with merchandise, but still not enough selection, just more of the same stuff.

To another person's question, all of the Disney Stores are owned and operated by The Walt Disney Company's Consumer Products
division. There are no franchises or licensed stores. If a few locations become World of Disney stores, they will still be owned by the company, but they will be run by the theme parks division.

Hope this clarifies things for yee.

 

[carone0318]

I believe that the 3 stores that are in my area are remaining open. I've asked and they say they are not closing, Cherry Hill Mall, NJ, Quakerbridge Mall, NJ and Oxford Valley Mall, PA. Being the prototype store I doubted that CH would close, but I guess just like with any other business, sometimes you just don't know until the very end that you're getting the axe. It's horrible working conditions, but that's America these days. I don't think that there is any safe job these days, you think you have it made and then you're the next one questioning if your job is next.

 

[SonicLogic]

If the Disney Stores are not sold, then they will close (one by one) as the leases with the various mall owners expire.