Warner Bros. Studio Store
The Warner Bros. Studio Store was a chain of retail stores selling Looney Tunes and other merchandise based on Warner Bros. films, similar in style to The Disney Store. They first opened in 1991. In 1996, Warner Bros. owner Time Warner merged with Turner Broadcasting, which owned Hanna-Barbera and the pre-1986 MGM library, and merchandise based on Turner properties were added to the product lines. In 2001, all Warner Bros. Studio Stores went out of business. In 2006, Warner Bros. Consumer Products partnered with PMW Retail and reopened the stores in China.
United Kingdom
In the United Kingdom, the chain had outlets in various locations around London, including Regent Street, Gatwick Airport, Lakeside Shopping Centre, Bentall Shopping Centre and Bluewater Shopping Centre. There were also locations outside London such as Merry Hill Shopping Centre near Birmingham, Meadowhall Centre near Sheffield, Festival Place in Basingstoke, Manchester, Gateshead Metro Centre, Sunderland, Glasgow, Leicester, Chester, Preston and Aberdeen.
All UK Warner Bros. Stores closed in 2004.
Republic of Ireland
There were two stores in the Republic of Ireland: one in the Liffey Valley Shopping Centre and another in the Blanchardstown Centre in Dublin. Both closed in 2004.
The Middle East
In 1998, a franchise agreement was entered into to bring Warner Bros Studio Stores to the Middle East. Three flagship stores were opened: two in Saudi Arabia, in Jeddah and Al Khobar; another in Dubai. These stores opened with considerable success, but were closed by 2001.
Australia
Several stores existed in Queensland, Australia, near the location of Warner Bros. Movie World on the Gold Coast. These have all since been closed.
Thailand
There were Several stores in Thailand.First Store Opened in CentralPlaza Ladprao, Bangkok in 2002.Stores Also opened in Khonkaen, Chiangmai, Pattaya, Koh Samui and Phuket.All stores were closed down.
External links
- WBShop.com (official website)
- Press Release on Macau Opening