Kiddie City Tapestries

Lionel Kiddie City with Kaycee Kangaroo

Kiddy City

Turn That Frown Upside Down!

Turn That Frown Upside Down!

Kiddie City Toy Stores were started around 1957 in Philadelphia as toy supermarkets. By the early 1970s, Lionel had purchased the chain and grew it to 150 stores, under the names Lionel Kiddie City, Lionel Playworld, and Lionel Toy Warehouse (rebranded as Lionel Kiddie City in 1990). For a time it was the second-largest toy store chain in the United States. Lionel ran into financial trouble during the early 1980s recession and filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in February 1982. After reducing itself in size to 55 stores, it emerged from bankruptcy in September 1985.