Two new US stores coming soon?

 

  • Two new US stores coming soon?

    Posted by bluemoose, 28 Dec 2010 10:01. Filed under Shopping (USA).

    LEGO are currently advertising for two new Store Managers for the US, one for Cleveland (OH) and the other for Denver (CO).

    While a store in Cleveland is clearly news, there is already a store in Denver ... but the job notice says "LEGO is coming to Denver", which implies another store might be opening? We'll keep a look out and let you know if we find out more... if you're interested in either post, you can apply through the links above, noting the minimum experience requirements.


    54 comments, latest one posted 28 months ago. (Commenting has ended on this article)
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Comments

Posted by llanowarsoldier in United States, 28 Dec 2010 10:22

A store in Cleveland is interesting as it would give Ohio one in each of its 3 main cities... (I live in Columbus)...but Cleveland also has the 2nd highest unemployment in the US, outside of Detroit. So hopefully the store will last.

Posted by hssky97 in United States, 28 Dec 2010 10:40

What about one in South Carolina :D

Posted by JELJ1s in United States, 28 Dec 2010 10:45

I live in Colorado and travel to Cleveland for work sometimes so this is AWESOME news!!!

Posted by Orange Lemons in United States, 28 Dec 2010 10:52

Looks like LEGO is still sticking to the western US and around the borders. It would be nice to have one open near me, I'm tired of not finding sets at the same direct-from-LEGO price. There must be a demand seeing the cleared-out LEGO aisles during sales and holidays, even with TRU mark-ups.

Posted by aragorn_10 in United States, 28 Dec 2010 11:19

AWESOME!!! I live in Ohio, and this would be the closest store to me! (1 hour away instead of 2 like Colombus.) I am so glad that lego made this decision, can't wait for it!

Posted by jjfan in United States, 28 Dec 2010 11:24

The store that is in the Denver area I would say it is more of an outlet-ish store than a regular store. At least that is what it was when I was there last. So this is cool news that they might be getting a regular store. And who knows, maybe after that they might build one in Colorado Springs. Here's hoping!

As for another store in Ohio, it's too bad they don't open one in Toledo. I go there about once a month and really wish there was a LEGO store.

Posted by C-Fish in United States, 28 Dec 2010 12:11

@Orange Lemons: Try Kmart. They usually sell Lego sets for the same price as direct-from-Lego, though they don't have a large selection.

Posted by RtooDetoo in United States, 28 Dec 2010 13:16

I wish they would put one in Kansas. The nearest one to me is in Oklahoma City.

Posted by AZFIREWOLF in United States, 28 Dec 2010 14:05

Most likely the new Denver store will be going into Cherry Creek Mall. The current store is in a discount mall where they charge a weird development tax on top of the sales tax. It would also allow people on the other side of Denver to get to a store easier.

Posted by legofanatic2414 in United States, 28 Dec 2010 14:06

When will we get one near Pittsburg, CA? My Toys R Us is very bad at putting new toys out.

Posted by Jarod98 in United Kingdom, 28 Dec 2010 14:31

Come on Lego, when can we get one in Central Pennsylvania? The only one PA has is in Philadelphia; Harrisburg would be a great place to set up shop! Anyone with me?

Well, anyway congrats to Cleveland and Denver. Now Tim Tebow can get back to his childhood hobby (just kidding).

Posted by redblurr in United States, 28 Dec 2010 14:46

A store in Salt Lake City would be really nice

Posted by LobsterWarrior in United States, 28 Dec 2010 15:38

Come on LEGO! If you put one in San Diego you would get lots of customers!

Posted by ncbarrett in United States, 28 Dec 2010 15:42

I believe they base the new b&m stores on the number of catalogs they send out and amount of orders they get from a certain area.

So if people in your area don't buy from s@h your chances of getting a b&m store are greatly reduced.

Posted by bluemoose in United Kingdom, 28 Dec 2010 16:06

It's a lot more complicated than that, and there are many factors that inform where new stores will open.

Posted by ceroknight in Canada, 28 Dec 2010 17:06

i heard there will be another one in canada...

Posted by bluemoose in United Kingdom, 28 Dec 2010 17:45

Yeah, there are lots of rumours, like this one ...
http://news.lugnet.com/org/ca/obb/?n=315
... but nothing even semi-official yet.

Posted by legowerba in United States, 28 Dec 2010 17:56

Just spoke to a reliable source. The new store in Denver is going to be in the Park Meadows mall. The current store will stay open in Colorado Mills. So we will have 2 stores now to choose from. Also the target date to open is in April. All of the new stores will be listed on the Feb store calender.

Posted by Ypres in Canada, 28 Dec 2010 18:08

As much as I'd like to see Lego stores in Canada, the price ratio is too big for me to shop in Canada. If I could put one anywhere I'd have to shove one on Maui... funny thing is this year my parents are taking me to the wrong island!!! They go to Oahu at least once every year and now that I know there's a Lego store there I'm being sent to another island! LOL! So close, yet so far!

Posted by sarlacc98 in United Kingdom, 28 Dec 2010 18:21

I agree with redblurr there should be one in Utah. Is there any way to request a store?

Posted by cardas1 in United States, 28 Dec 2010 18:57

I just applied for the job in Cleveland. Wish me luck. It would be a dream come true.

Posted by hssky97 in United States, 28 Dec 2010 19:30

@sarlacc98 "Is there any way to request a store"

I wish...but maybe if you have good retail knowledge, you could speak to a representative at Lego, if you know good locations, speak to a real estate agent from Lego or if your area has good tourist attraction you could also talk to a rep or a real estate agent from Lego, which kind of ties in w/ the first two options...this sounds quite impossible but, you never know :)

Posted by Nate the Great of LEGO in United States, 28 Dec 2010 19:41

@Jarod98 - I Agree. I don't see why there isn't one in Pittsburgh.

Posted by voypro in United States, 28 Dec 2010 20:19

Okay, just a thought, How much will a lego store cost? If everyone here would throw in $500 to $1000, we could start our own store, then have products at wholesale from now on. How's that for a pipe dream?

@cardas1 If your are avid member of Brickset, the store would be lucky to have you. I am sure it would be a pleasure for shoppers to not have specific questions answered with the typical "Uh, yeah...um, I am not sure?"

Posted by C-Fish in United States, 28 Dec 2010 20:28

@cardas1: Good luck!

Posted by Sand Raider in United States, 28 Dec 2010 21:18

There is a new "Imagination Center" I think it is called opening up in Winter Park, Florida. Well, I think it was Winter Park. It is closer than Orlando, which is a good thing.

Posted by shnake in Australia, 29 Dec 2010 00:30

There are none in Australia, even though Sydney has 4.5 million people and Melbourne 4.0 million. It surprises me where they put the stores in the US as some of the cities have way less people than the big Aussie cities. Here is hoping they will eventually realise what a huge market Australia is and open one in at least Syd or Melb.

Posted by AZFIREWOLF in United States, 29 Dec 2010 00:36

voypro: it costs about 500K to 1 million to open a store. This of course depends on the cost of the real estate, consturction and other costs that only Lego knows.

Posted by The Green Brick Giant in United States, 29 Dec 2010 04:34

Aussies don't buy Legos. The USA and Germany buy most of the Legos. So 50% of the people in an USA city is still more than an Aussie city.

One in CT, where the Legos used to be made, would be nice.

Posted by Legos Homeschool in United States, 29 Dec 2010 08:56

This is AWESOME news for us! We've been waiting and wishing this for years. The first Lego store we've visited while was on vacation at Disneyland. But we live in the Cleveland area and have always had to go to Columbus (2.5 hours away) to get to our nearest store. It would be so nice to have one nearby. How about the Westfield Southpark Mall in Strongsville????

Posted by The Beast in United States, 29 Dec 2010 10:03

I think that another Lego store in Massachusetts would be nice, I think one in Marlboro would be nice instead of driving all the way over to Burlinton.

Posted by hssky97 in United States, 29 Dec 2010 10:56

@The Green Brick Giant "One in CT, where the Legos used to be made, would be nice."

I don't think Lego was ever manufactured in CT, I think they are only distributed there. Lego is manufactured in Denmark, Mexico, Hungary, Czech Republic and China (very limited).

Posted by legowerba in United States, 29 Dec 2010 14:16

Posted by Sand Raider in United States, Dec 28 2010 9:18PM:
There is a new "Imagination Center" I think it is called opening up in Winter Park, Florida. Well, I think it was Winter Park. It is closer than Orlando, which is a good thing.

You are slightly wrong. There is a fullfledged Legoland being built in Florida at the old Cyprus Gardens theme park. Lego is taking that park and keeping the long history of Cyprus Gardens, their water skiing shows and the gradens intact and then adding all of the fun elements of Lego.

Posted by sidneyleejohnson in United States, 29 Dec 2010 14:28

I would like one in Saint Louis but likely they have determined that every single lego block in the grab bag area would be palmed within the first 24 hours. I only slightly exaggerate.

Posted by nadnerb112 in United States, 29 Dec 2010 15:53

Louisiana please? New Orleans?

Posted by bluemoose in United Kingdom, 29 Dec 2010 18:24

The Imagination Centre at Downtown Disney, Orlando, is having a major refurbishment soon, as part of the general refresh that Downtown Disney is getting. There will be an extra 3500 sq ft of retail area in the new Imagination Centre, on top of what is already one of the biggest LEGO stores.

Posted by Swift~ in Canada, 29 Dec 2010 20:21

It would be awesome to work for LEGO, but I am not yet of working age. Does the Downtown Disney store really need the expansion? Not that I am complaining.

Posted by Axel6430 in France, 30 Dec 2010 08:43

Still no shop in France :(

Posted by nadnerb112 in United States, 30 Dec 2010 10:04

Brickset has been going slow for me. It made me put like ten of the same comments

Posted by Sand Raider in United States, 30 Dec 2010 10:26

@legowerba - Well, I think my S@H said that. It will be nice to finally have something closer than Orlando.

@bluemoose - Really, bluemoose? I did think that it was big already. Except when I am in there during the summer (I went once in March, practically no lines) the place is just about packed for the good 45 minutes to an hour I am there.

Posted by bluemoose in United Kingdom, 30 Dec 2010 11:08

@Sand Raider - yes, really ...
http://www.baynews9.com/article/news/2010/november/174379/Big-changes-to-Pleasure-Island-and-Downtown-Disney-mean-new-jobs?cid=rss

"- an extensive renovation of Lego Imagination Center, which will increase its overall footprint by nearly 3,500 square feet and add new Lego exterior models featuring scenes from classic Disney movies"

As legowerba said, the new 'Legoland Florida' Park will be on the site of the old Cypress Gardens theme park, in WINTER HAVEN. And just to avoid any confusion, the Legoland parks don't belong to LEGO; they were sold to Merlin about 5 years ago. LEGO themselves have little say over what Merlin do with the existing or new Parks. The 'Discovery Centers' also belong to & are operated by Merlin, not LEGO. Legoland Florida is expected to open late 2011.

Posted by AZFIREWOLF in United States, 30 Dec 2010 14:02

Bluemoose: If you look at the structure of the owners of Merlin and TLG you will find that the ownership is almost one in the same. It is kind of a weird corp ladder, but it works. I love the fact that Arizona does not have a Legoland. That means I can buy stuff from the park, pay the shipping and save on the tax.

Posted by durins in United States, 30 Dec 2010 16:07

I'm still in denial that my local store (Pleasanton, CA) shut down just in time to miss seeing me return to the fold as an adult. Sad.

Posted by joedapoboy in United States, 30 Dec 2010 19:08

@nadnerb112 - Yes, New Orleans already for pete's sake.

Posted by bluemoose in United Kingdom, 30 Dec 2010 19:36

@azfirewolf - yes, very familiar with the setup. As part of the deal when they sold the parks, LEGO took stake in Blackstone Group, who own Merlin. But LEGO have little/no say in the operation of Merlin or any of the Legoland parks.

Posted by JP82 in United Kingdom, 31 Dec 2010 09:00

BlueMoose is right. Although LEGO/KIRKBI are a majority stakeholder in Merlin, they only get a real say in very few issues with the LEGOLAND Parks, like branding and licensing. For instance during my time at the parks, we would occasionally have a product commisioned for the park ourselves, like a new pen which was branded. LEGO could veto this and demand something of higher quality (and price). Or they could come in and ask us to remove other lines from sale... They did this a lot with soft toys etc, which they thought took away from LEGO lines.

I worked for LEGOLAND for ten years. The way its run now, is very different to how it was when I stared there and LEGO still owned it. I would say that from a LEGO & content type point of view, its not always so great now. But as a business unit, the parks have a lot more direction and are getting the numbers they should be getting.

The upcoming LEGOLANDS in Florida and Malaysia are really very much Merlin driven. LEGO just have to sign off on these things now. As Merlin are doing them a favour by giving the brand more exposure. To have a LEGOLAND in Florida. Is an amazing acheivment, but something that would never have happened when LEGO ran the parks.

Posted by Sand Raider in United States, 31 Dec 2010 10:18

^^^^^^ Well that's terrific! Have you ever been to Downtown Disney/the LEGO store there, bluemoose? If you ever get a chance, you should do it.

I thought the store was already very big. Wow. 3500 sq/ft. GREAT! Thanks for the information!

EDIT: Why would LEGO not have put one here in Florida?

Posted by JP82 in United Kingdom, 31 Dec 2010 11:15

@SandRaider - LEGO wouldn't have done primarily because of the cost. The theme parks they already had with the exception perhaps of Billund as its been around since the 60's, were already running at a loss. Hence LEGO shifting them asap when they hit their financial woes a few years back.

Also they seemed quite happy with the Downtown Disney Imagination centre store they have there in terms of their presence. Which is a pretty cool store indeed. I'd love to visit the California Disney site next. Although I hear the LEGO setup there isn't as good as the Orlando one?

Merlin took the initiative and sourced out the site for LLF, which was actually the former park Cypress Gardens. One of floridas oldest theme parks. But actually not in the Orlando area interstingly enough. It's a big gamble really. But a gamble which is better off in the hands of Merlin and its rather vast financial backing.

Posted by LegoMyMamma in United States, 31 Dec 2010 11:35

@ hssky97 "I don't think Lego was ever manufactured in CT, I think they are only distributed there. Lego is manufactured in Denmark, Mexico, Hungary, Czech Republic and China (very limited)."

Yes, LEGO was manufactured in the USA -- up until 2007 -- there is probably a time-line some where on LEGO.com; this news article gives interesting (and sad) details of the situation: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13442193/ns/business-us_business/

Apparently their now empty, pristine factory is still available for lease :-(

Posted by cmrt1014 in United States, 31 Dec 2010 22:10

Just picked up a February Calendar (The Glendale Store was all out of January and had put February out already!). The three new stores are listed as being in:

South Coast Plaza, Costa Measa, CA
Park Meadows Mall, Lone Tree, CO
Beachwood Place Mall, Cleveland, OH

Enjoy!

Posted by technic02 in Australia, 01 Jan 2011 03:15

I'm glad to hear new stores are openning.. I wish one would open in Australia!

Posted by Sand Raider in United States, 01 Jan 2011 09:22

^^^^^ Well, maybe this "Merlin" thing thinks Winter Haven is a good idea. Personally, I do. If you are in Orlando, Winter Haven is a little less than 40 miles (I don't know how to convert that for you, JP82) southwest of Orlando.

Yes, I must agree with you; the store/imagination center IS very nice. I like the displays.

Posted by bluemoose in United Kingdom, 01 Jan 2011 13:33

@LegoMyMamma - that article on MSNBC is a little inaccurate & now out of date. IIRC regular bricks haven't been manufactured in Enfield for a long time, but they did assemble sets from imported bricks there until a few years ago. The plants that were operated by Flextronics are now owned & operated by LEGO themselves.

@Sand Raider - Yes, I've visited the Florida Downtown Disney Imagination Center many, many of times. It is a great store.

Posted by spacysmoke in United States, 06 Jan 2011 13:11

Oooo, a Lego store in Costa Mesa, CA! That'll be much more convenient (and closer for me) than going to Downtown Disney.

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