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in 1985. Owners of the
Playland chain of toy stores at the time, they converted them to Circus World stores. By the end of 1985, they managed to increase sales substantially through renovating stores and improving operations. Despite the apparent turnaround and record sales, however, the operational
278:
announced plans to purchase Circus World's 330 stores in 32 states for $ 95 million (~$ 196 million in 2023); the locations were to become part of
Melville's Kay-Bee division. The sale was completed in August 1990, and some Circus World stores were subsequently renamed as Kay-Bee stores, while
207:
during the mid-1960s. Wanting to start a business in
Detroit, Rubin realized that Michigan was ranked fourth in the United States in terms of youth population under 17 years of age. Rubin chose to begin a toy store company and began securing locations, followed by financial backing. The first store
231:, and operated 127 stores located in 22 states, with 18 locations in Michigan. Stores averaged 3,500 sq ft (330 m), and Rubin stated that Circus World was the largest privately owned toy-specialty chain in the United States. In 1982, Rubin sold the company to
255:. Because there were many more Circus World stores than Playland, Greenman Brothers forced all stores to adopt the more complex Circus World methods rather than the simpler Playland system. The money Greenman Brothers were forced to pay out to
250:
The stores were also run in the same manner as the Rite Aid drug stores, forcing the managers to spend much more office time than was needed, and less time on the floor selling to customers and maintaining
877:
867:
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219:, purchased Child's World in November 1969. In 1970, the chain was renamed as Circus World. In 1971, the company relocated its corporate headquarters from
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600:
195:
Circus World, originally known as Child's World, was founded in
Michigan in 1964, by engineer Sidney Rubin (born 1937), who served as the
630:
243:
improvements envisioned by
Bernard Greenman did not come quickly enough, and in 1987 Circus World had lost $ 3 million for the
20:
196:
783:
Kay-Bee, which also operates Circus World, has a Kay-Bee store and a Circus World in the
Freehold Raceway Mall .
270:
Although the chain would become profitable again by 1990, it had failed to differentiate itself from competitor
833:
608:
656:
275:
180:
152:
814:
Kay-Bee is a division of
Melville Corp. and stores also include Circus World and K&K Toy Stores.
235:, which planned to finance an expansion of the toy chain, while Rubin would remain in charge of it.
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426:
247:. The next year, same-store sales had become stagnant, and the company lost another $ 3 million.
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862:
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147:
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others retained the Circus World name. The Circus World continued in use as late as 1996.
220:
216:
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203:, and also worked as an army radar instructor before working as a systems analyst for
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the Circus World stores after paying to purchase the chain, plus the money they lost
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started and operated by Sidney Rubin. The company was purchased and operated by
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Gilbert
Companies Inc. (formerly Gilbert Shoe Stores Inc.), based in
53:
274:, and Greenman management decided to sell the chain. In July 1990,
267:
to purchase merchandise for the 1986 Christmas selling season.
797:"Kay-Bee Toys to expand its distribution center in Danville"
227:. As of 1981, Circus World Toy Stores was based in
183:in 1990, when some of its stores were converted to
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487:"Rubin sells Circus World in move for expansion"
456:"Profile: Sidney Rubin, Circus World Toy Stores"
595:
593:
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878:Defunct retail companies of the United States
8:
657:"Melville Agrees to Buy Chain of Toy Stores"
26:
179:beginning in 1982, and was later bought by
710:"Melville to close, sell or revise stores"
663:. United Press International. July 5, 1990
25:
449:
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263:unsaleable merchandise, resulted in less
515:"Shoe Chain Acquires Child's World Inc"
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868:American companies established in 1964
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427:"Longtime Keego Harbor mayor retires"
7:
873:Retail companies established in 1964
631:"Melville Acquires Toy Store Chain"
425:Kolade, Sherri (October 27, 2017).
399:"Sid Rubin Created that Silk Purse"
883:Toy retailers of the United States
571:"Souvenir sales striking out, too"
238:Circus World was purchased by the
14:
738:"Kay-Bee Toys Packs 3,000 Items"
637:. Associated Press. July 4, 1990
298:
284:
888:1964 establishments in Michigan
1:
370:"Personal File: Sidney Rubin"
140:Gilbert Companies Inc. (1969)
21:Circus World (disambiguation)
812:– via Newspapers.com.
781:– via Newspapers.com.
845:– via Newspapers.com.
753:– via Newspapers.com.
725:– via Newspapers.com.
582:– via Newspapers.com.
558:– via Newspapers.com.
530:– via Newspapers.com.
502:– via Newspapers.com.
471:– via Newspapers.com.
414:– via Newspapers.com.
381:– via Newspapers.com.
346:– via Newspapers.com.
904:
828:"Shoppers hit the streets"
543:"Circus World Leaves Town"
18:
16:American toy store chain
35:Child's World (1964–70)
802:The Advocate-Messenger
431:West Bloomfield Beacon
112:330 stores (1990)
520:Lansing State Journal
745:. September 24, 1992
276:Melville Corporation
181:Melville Corporation
153:Melville Corporation
19:For other uses, see
837:. November 30, 1996
717:. December 22, 1992
522:. November 26, 1969
463:. December 21, 1981
373:. December 21, 1981
208:opened in 1964, in
199:. Rubin was once a
108:Number of locations
28:
773:. November 9, 1992
687:The New York Times
635:The New York Times
611:on 19 October 2017
550:. January 27, 1971
548:Detroit Free Press
492:Detroit Free Press
461:Detroit Free Press
404:Detroit Free Press
336:Detroit Free Press
225:Oak Park, Michigan
771:Asbury Park Press
689:. August 21, 1990
661:Los Angeles Times
406:. January 5, 1970
338:. October 1, 1970
265:operating capital
240:Greenman Brothers
197:company president
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148:Greenman Brothers
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607:. Archived from
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210:Warren, Michigan
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574:. July 29, 1981
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494:. July 30, 1982
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221:Lathrup Village
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601:"Circus World"
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217:Columbus, Ohio
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331:"Name Change"
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201:first baseman
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166:Child's World
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122:United States
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839:. Retrieved
834:News Journal
832:
821:
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806:. Retrieved
801:
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775:. Retrieved
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747:. Retrieved
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731:
719:. Retrieved
715:Star Tribune
714:
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691:. Retrieved
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665:. Retrieved
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639:. Retrieved
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613:. Retrieved
609:the original
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576:. Retrieved
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552:. Retrieved
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524:. Retrieved
519:
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496:. Retrieved
491:
465:. Retrieved
460:
434:. Retrieved
430:
420:
408:. Retrieved
403:
375:. Retrieved
340:. Retrieved
335:
306:1990s portal
292:1980s portal
272:Kay-Bee Toys
269:
249:
237:
214:
194:
185:Kay-Bee Toys
165:
164:(originally
162:Circus World
161:
160:
99:Headquarters
79:Sidney Rubin
40:Company type
27:Circus World
841:October 19,
808:October 19,
777:October 19,
749:October 19,
721:October 19,
693:October 19,
667:October 19,
641:October 19,
605:ovguide.com
578:October 19,
554:October 19,
526:October 19,
498:October 19,
467:October 19,
436:October 19,
410:October 19,
377:October 19,
342:October 19,
261:liquidating
245:fiscal year
205:Sperry Rand
118:Area served
71:in Michigan
857:Categories
615:1 February
313:References
87:After 1996
44:Subsidiary
253:inventory
170:toy store
150:(1985–90)
145:(1982–85)
863:Rite Aid
683:"Briefs"
233:Rite Aid
177:Rite Aid
168:) was a
143:Rite Aid
127:Products
102:Michigan
50:Industry
32:Formerly
257:upgrade
191:History
89: (
84:Defunct
76:Founder
65: (
60:Founded
155:(1990)
136:Parent
54:Retail
766:"Toy"
173:chain
843:2018
810:2018
779:2018
751:2018
723:2018
695:2018
669:2018
643:2018
617:2013
580:2018
556:2018
528:2018
500:2018
469:2018
438:2018
412:2018
379:2018
344:2018
130:Toys
91:1996
67:1964
63:1964
223:to
859::
831:.
800:.
769:.
741:.
713:.
685:.
659:.
633:.
603:.
588:^
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518:.
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477:^
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387:^
352:^
334:.
321:^
212:.
187:.
697:.
671:.
645:.
619:.
440:.
93:)
69:)
23:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
