Zany Brainy

[storehistoryguy]

Discuss!

[Caldor1999]

Originally posted by storehistoryguy
Discuss!

what is it it looks like a discovery zone

[storehistoryguy]

Originally posted by Caldor1999

Originally posted by storehistoryguy
Discuss!

what is it it looks like a discovery zone

They used to sell educational toys. They were kind of driven out by Toys "R" Us. I knew about four locations.

[Jag67]

There was one close to us that was formerly a Sun. It closed earlier this year. Mom says they closed because they were too expensive.

[storehistoryguy]

Originally posted by Jag67
There was one close to us that was formerly a Sun. It closed earlier this year. Mom says they closed because they were too expensive.

They are all gone now. The Warrington Pa. one is now a Chuck E. Cheese's. I need to check up on Huntington Valley Pa. and Doylestown Pa. locations.

[storehistoryguy]

Grand Opening!


http://www.bigskyballoons.com/Searchlights.htm

[storehistoryguy]

Scarsdale Ny.


http://www.ade-re.com/deals.html

[d_fife]

this zany brainy is in bridgewater new jersey in the bridgewater promenade.

from company listings of www.siteride.com

[storehistoryguy]

Cincinnati, OH.


http://cincinnati.citysearch.com/map?mode=geo&id=11408371&map_lat=391487&map_lon=-844441&fid=&cslink=

[storehistoryguy]

Their sign with there old slogan.


http://www.sfhistory.org/

[amesman]

They took over the former Noodle Kidoodle chain, which was basically the same thing. They had stores at Carousel Center in Syracuse, and at Crossgates Mall in Albany. Both were former Noodle Kidoodle stores.

[storehistoryguy]

Originally posted by amesman
They took over the former Noodle Kidoodle chain, which was basically the same thing. They had stores at Carousel Center in Syracuse, and at Crossgates Mall in Albany. Both were former Noodle Kidoodle stores.

That name sounds firmilar but those wern't in my area.

[Crawford]

Never heard of either of these places, I take it they were more local than regional? Every "educational" toy store I see open tends to close with a year or so. Kinda proves that kids just don't go for that thing.

[Ameskid]

That Cincinnati pic is my store! They were like a toned-down, educational KB Toys. I personally disliked them, because they were small and overpriced, with little or no variety.

[JustinT]

Originally posted by Jag67
Mom says they closed because they were too expensive.

The biggest problem with Zany Brainy was that they were co-owned with FAO Schwartz. With the downturn in the market for FAO's overpriced toys, Zany Brainy/Noodle Kidoodle fell with it.

[KyleRF]

In Jenkintown, Pennsylvania, the former Zany Brainy was a Bloomingdale's before it became a Zany Brainy. This Bloomingdale's closed in 1982 to move to Willow Grove Park. After doing some research, I have located the Lord and Taylor in Jenkintown as well. :)

[Ameskid]

Here's a little something I found on a diecast sale.
Zany Brainy price sticker

[Pikapower]

I could see why Zany Brainy closed, kids don't want educational toys and games, they much rather play with entertaining toys and games!  ;D

[buzz86us]

They took over the former Noodle Kidoodle chain, which was basically the same thing. They had stores at Carousel Center in Syracuse, and at Crossgates Mall in Albany. Both were former Noodle Kidoodle stores.

I used to play pokemon TCG there back in the day lol never bought anything in there... now it is a dollar store the one in Albany.

[Pikapower]

They were like a toned-down, educational KB Toys. I personally disliked them, because they were small and overpriced, with little or no variety.

??? Maybe that could be one of the factors for Zany Brainy's demise! I'm still wondering why they went out of business in the first place?

[bubcolbert1952]

The one near me became a Five Below, which normally I wouldn't care about, but they do have great prices on cigarettes (that I smoke occasionally but not often, as came up in the CVS thread already)...

[store215]

The one near me became a Five Below, which normally I wouldn't care about, but they do have great prices on cigarettes (that I smoke occasionally but not often, as came up in the CVS thread already)...

That's funny, as the founders of Zainy Brainy also started Five Below
And really, they sell cigarettes? That seems very unlikely to me given they are targeting a young teen demographic. I never noticed the couple locations I've been in selling cigarettes.

[ynkeesfn82]

Really? I don't think my local Five Below in Plainville, CT sells smokes.

[Pikapower]

The founders of Zainy Brainy also started Five Below

I didn't known that Zainy Brainy and Five Below were releated!

[bubcolbert1952]

Five Below stores in a handful of Southern states do, but not in Northern states. I guess it's a cultural difference because tobacco grows below the Mason-Dixon line. All tobacco products in these stores are hidden behind the counter, but a few cigarette brands have their signs posted (with the names but nothing else) one or two places in the stores.

On a similar topic, some Chuck E Cheese's have alcohol (aimed I guess at bored parents?) but others don't. And it seems some are BYOB, allowing people to bring their own alcohol but not selling it.

[Pikapower]

I wonder why Zany Brainy went under? Maybe they couldn't compete with Toys "R" Us? Maybe it was because they were overpriced and not making enough money to stay in business?

Would somebody please tell me what was the real reason Zany Brainy went under and closed?

[zonemad96]

The one near me became a Five Below, which normally I wouldn't care about, but they do have great prices on cigarettes (that I smoke occasionally but not often, as came up in the CVS thread already)...

That's funny, as the founders of Zainy Brainy also started Five Below
And really, they sell cigarettes? That seems very unlikely to me given they are targeting a young teen demographic. I never noticed the couple locations I've been in selling cigarettes.

A lot of the products they sell are collage dorm room related and aimed to young adults and seeing as how most smokers are under the age of 30 it makes sense.

[zonemad96]

I wonder why Zany Brainy went under? Maybe they couldn't compete with Toys "R" Us? Maybe it was because they were overpriced and not making enough money to stay in business?

Would somebody please tell me what was the real reason Zany Brainy went under and closed?

Overspending and financial troubles due to the acquisition of Noodle Kidoodle http://articles.philly.com/2001-04-05/business/25329723_1_zany-brainy-toy-stores-noodle-kidoodle-lincoln-logs

Just thought I would add theirs a collectible shop in york that's reusing theirs and ames price tags.

[Pikapower]

^Maybe that collectibles store had bought the price marker from Zany Brainy when they were having a going out of business sale.