LONG ISLAND – Toys R Us announced its opening more toy stores ahead of the holidays across the United States, including a location on Long Island.
EMERYVILLE, CA – MARCH 15: The Toys R Us logo is displayed on the exterior of a store on March 15, 2018 in Emeryville, California. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
The new flagship store will be located at Tanger Outlets Deer Park, though an opening date has not yet been announced. Seasonal holiday shops will also be opened in Buffalo, as well as Deptford, NJ.
Where are the new stores?
Dig deeper:
The new flagship stores and seasonal holiday shops will sell this season’s top toy brands, including LEGO, Barbie, Hot Wheels, NERF and PAW Patrol.Â
Flagship Stores Chicago Premium Outlets – Aurora, IL – Now OpenCamarillo Premium Outlets – Camarillo, CAArundel Mills – Hanover, MDJordan Creek – Moines, IAWestroads Mall – Omaha, NEDenver Premium Outlets – Thornton, COTanger Outlets Deer Park – Deer Park, NYTowne East Square – Wichita, KS Seasonal Holiday Shops Great Lakes Crossing – Auburn Hills, MI – Now OpenGrapevine Mills – Grapevine, TX – Now OpenLakeside Shopping Center – Metairie, LA – Now OpenTanger Outlets – Nashville, TN – Now OpenCrabtree Valley Mall – Raleigh, NC – Now OpenThe Mall in Columbia – Columbia, MD – Now OpenSouth Plains Mall – Lubbock, TX – Now OpenWestfield Southcenter – Tukwila, WA – Now OpenStation Park – Farmington, UT – Now OpenDeptford Mall – Deptford, NJEastland Mall – Evansville, INMall of New Hampshire – Manchester, NHBay Street – Emeryville, CATwelve Oaks Mall – Novi, MIPark Meadows – Lone Tree, CONorth Star Mall – San Antonio, TXTanger Outlets – Sevierville, TNKing of Prussia Mall – King of Prussia, PACrocker Park – Westlake, OHWalden Galleria – Buffalo, NY ‘Thrilled to continue expanding’
What they’re saying:
“Following the tremendous success of our Toys”R”Us flagship stores, we’re thrilled to continue expanding through our partnership with Go! Retail Group,” Jamie Uitdenhowen, Executive Vice President of Toys”R”Us at WHP Global, said in an online news release. “This next phase of growth brings the magic of Toys”R”Us to even more communities across the country — just in time for the holidays — and delivers the joyful shopping experience that has made us a trusted destination for generations.”
History of Toys R Us
The backstory:
Toys R Us had dominated the toy store business in the 1980s and early 1990s, when it was one of the first of the “category killers” – a store totally devoted to one thing. Its scale gave it leverage with toy sellers and it disrupted general merchandise stores and mom-and-pop shops. Children sang along with commercials about “the biggest toy store there is.”
But the company lost ground to discounters like Target and Walmart, and then to Amazon, as even nostalgic parents sought deals elsewhere.
However, the company’s biggest albatross was that it struggled with massive debt since private-equity firms Bain Capital, KKR & Co. and Vornado Realty Trust took it private in a $6.6 billion leveraged buyout in 2005. Weak sales prevented them from taking the company public again. With such debt levels, Toys R Us did not have the financial flexibility to invest in its business. The company closed its flagship store in Manhattan’s Times Square, a huge tourist destination that featured its own Ferris wheel in 2016.Â
In 2017, Toys R Us filed for bankruptcy but have since reopened several brick-and-mortar locations across the country.Â
The Source: The Associated Press contributed to this report. The information in this story comes from an online news release issued by Toys R Us and its parent company, WHP Global. This story was reported from Los Angeles.Â