Child World
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| Child World, Inc. | |
| Type | Toy Store |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1974 |
| Headquarters | Avon, Massachusetts |
| Industry | Retail |
| Products | Toys, electronics, board games, dolls, and video games. |
| Website | None |
Child World, sometimes called Children's Palace depending on location, is a defunct toy store chain founded in Avon, Massachusetts.
Contents |
[edit] Stores
Child World was known largely for making its stores resemble castles, complete with turrets, battlements, and three half-circles (two small, one large) in the front door. The corporate logo was written in a "refrigerator-magnet" like typeface.
[edit] Mascot
The mascot for Child World was a cartoon panda bear named Peter Panda, often depicted wearing overalls with his name printed on them.
[edit] The Video Catalog
In 1990, when Child World Inc. was on its last legs, it produced a video catalog in time for Christmas of 1990, advertising the toys it sold, with child actors talking about the toys, including systems and games from Sega and Nintendo. Since Child World's demise, the video has become quite rare; however it is relatively affordable due to its obscurity. One of the child actors featured on the video was a pre-fame Lacey Chabert.
[edit] Bankruptcy
In 1991, Child World began to close less successful retail locations. The leases for four of these stores in Denver, Colorado were taken over by emerging electronics chain Best Buy. In 1992, Best Buy expressed interest in some of the 16 locations Child World had closed in the Chicago area.
Child World filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on May 7, 1992. A merger was attempted with the Lionel Corporation, operators of Lionel Playworld, Lionel Kiddie City, and Lionel Toy Warehouse, in June 1992. Child World announced that if the merger was not complete by July 12, 1992, it would begin liquidating its inventory at 20% off retail prices. Child World said the merger was its only chance to continue operating, and if talks failed, liquidation would escalate into a going-out-of-business sale. On August 4, 1992, Child World announced that the merger with Lionel had failed, and all Child World stores closed within four to six weeks of this announcement.
