Looking to pick up some bargain priced New York City-themed Disney merchandise? Well, then maybe you should make plans now to go visit the 5th Avenue Disney Store on Wednesday, May 12th.
Why for? Well, according to my sources, that’s because the Walt Disney Company is said to be closing the NYC flagship store on Thursday, May 13th.
Don’t worry, though, folks. This reportedly won’t be a permanent closing. This three story facility is supposedly scheduled to receive a top-to-bottom remodeling. And then — once work is complete in October or thereabouts — the 5th Avenue Disney Store will allegedly re-open at the Walt Disney Company’s first built-outside-of-Orlando-or-Anaheim World of Disney store.
That’s right. A World of Disney. Just like the two enormous retail facilities that do so well at WDW’s and Disneyland’s Downtown Disney. With the same sort of elaborate theming inside and out of the facility. Those who have seen the plans for the 5th Avenue Store (which — some of you may recall — the Walt Disney Company already poured tens of millions of dollars into ‘way back in 1996 … back when the Mouse was looking to change this stodgy NYC storefront into the hoity-toity “House of Mouse”) say that the revamped shop looks like it will be a true showplace. A store that’s destined to becoming NYC’s next big destination shopping experience.
So that’s good news (sort of) for the folks who at the 5th Avenue Disney Store. Okay. So they’ll have to find someplace else to work while the NYC flagship store is being turned into a World of Disney. But — once October rolls around — at least they’ll have jobs again.
Would that we could say the same for everyone else who works for the Disney Store. Based on what insiders who work for that retail chain have been telling me, their situation grows more precarious as each day goes by.
“What’s the problem there?” you ask. Well, let’s remember that — for almost a year now — the Walt Disney Company has had The Disney Store, Inc. on the block. As Mouse House managers desperately search for someone — anyone — to take the 200+ stores that are left open in North America and Europe off their hands.
Since no serious candidates have emerged over the past 11 months, there have been a lot of rumors lately that Disney Company execs are getting ready to throw in the towel. And — rather than continue to struggle and try to find some conglomerate to buy The Disney Store, Inc. — the Mouse will just go ahead and pull the plug on the entire chain. Shutting down all of the remaining stores in one fell swoop.
So how soon might this happen? Well, some Disney Store employees were said to be really unnerved earlier this month when they discovered this new piece of language popping up over on the DisneyStore.com Return/Exchange Policy page:
NOTE: Effective May 1, 2004, returns of art and collectible purchases (except snowglobes) will no longer be accepted at any Disney Store retail location.
According to several Disney Store cast members that I’ve spoken with about this somewhat subtle change in the retail chain’s return policy, a move like this suggests that Disney Corporate is quietly laying the ground for a time when there will be no physical Disney Stores left to return your art and collectible purchases to.
Said one longtime employee that I spoke with yesterday:
“Seeing that May 1st start date for this new DisneyStore.com return policy as well as the reported May 13th closing of the 5th Avenue Disney Store, I’m beginning to wonder if I’ll still have a job once June rolls around.”
Actually, we’re wondering that ourselves, folks. Which is why JimHillMedia.com will continue to poke at this story. Of course, should any Disney Store employees want to come forward and share what they’re heard recently about the Disney Store, Inc.’s fate, we’d be happy to share that news with JHM readers as well.
Your thoughts?