The Death (and Revival) of Toys R Us | Burdened with Impossible Debt | History in the Dark

preview_player
Показать описание
Toys "R" Us was at one time the largest chain of toy stores in America. They accounted for a quarter of all toy sales in the country and were instantly recognizable by children of multiple generations as one of their favorite places to shop. But over time they would suffer hardship, increased competition, and a buyout that left them with such an insane amount of debt that it was impossible for them to move forward. But, more recently, the brand has been somewhat revived. So far, they look to be on a road to some level of recovery.

✈️Further Reading✈️

🟢Join this channel to get access to perks:

Other channels:

---

I WRITE BOOKS! YOU CAN FIND THEM HERE:

#toysrus #retail #truestory #documentary #corporate #bigbox #toys
Рекомендации по теме
Комментарии
Автор

Toys R Us trying a rebirth like Laz R Us

:V 👉👉

Uncle_Smidge
Автор

23:32 I remember I worked at Toys R Us for a holiday season and on Christmas Eve, this single dad and his son were out shopping at the store. The next ten minutes legit felt like a movie because this kid asked for a bike, the very last bike we had in the store, which was on the very top bike rake. The kid looked so happy when I brought the bike down and the dad shook my hand and thanked me for making his son's Christmas. I had completely forgotten about that moment until now and now here I am, over a decade later wondering if he remembers how happy he was that day. It's weird to think about for me but I hope he enjoyed his Christmas.

Calaveso
Автор

going to a toys r us as a kid was like visiting a theme park or heaven

feIon
Автор

As someone who worked at Toys R Us when I was in college, I have mixed feelings about Toys R Us’s demise.
While 6 year old me was sad that Toys R Us was gone, 20 year old me laughed at their demise, remembering the bad hiring decisions, the bad management and the propensity to fire the good managers at the store I worked at specifically, deciding that karma was, in fact, a female dog in heat.

Also, I was fine dealing with screaming, whining kids. It was having to deal with their screaming, whining parents who were less mature.

CSXIV
Автор

when our toys r us closed, they sign said "I guess everyone grew up. it's been wonderful"

BUTTERCUPJones
Автор

As a Canadian, the whole story of Toys R Us for us is completely different. In fact, since the US division closed, Toys R Us Canada has expanded opening stores in cities like Guelph.

jacnel
Автор

as a kid, as a reward for getting good grades, my dad would take me to toys r us & let me pick out a toy or video game. one day when he took me, i got banjo-kazooie for the n64, & just outside was a pet adoption van with kittens up for adoption. he also let me get my first cat, who i had for 21 years. this is without a doubt my biggest memory of toys r us lol. i also remember going to toys r us a lot for the pokemon events, & trading pokemon with other kids there

lucasdude
Автор

Toys R Us was THE store when I was a kid. We always begged to stop there but rarely did. On the morning of my 7th birthday, right before school there was a radio station giving away $100 if it was your birthday and you were caller number 5. My mom dialed the number for me and I actually won. That weekend I got to go on a shopping spree at Toys R Us with my winnings (this was early 90s) and I was on top of the world walking in there with my $100 and nobody to tell me no lol. I was feeling so sporty I was even nice to my sister and let her pick something out. Thanks for the memories!

wagstag
Автор

After 10 years with the company, I was one of the last 4 employees to be there for the final.closing. Absolutely, one of the saddest days of my, and my family's lives.

henryrohr
Автор

I just drove past my local Toys R Us where my mom took me to get my first console (Gamecube) when I was 6 years old.

It is now an Office Depot. I literally cannot think of a more fitting metaphor for how my life turned out.

AtomicTank
Автор

I'm 25, so an older gen Z, and I remember Toys R Us fondly. Like you, we were okay enough to get by as long as we budgeted well, but weren't able to go on grand summer vacations or get a lot of toys. But I remember a few young birthdays, getting to go pick something out there... it was so exciting. So I was sad when it went under. It's nice that they're still doing well in other countries, and making tentative steps again here too

elliot
Автор

Nobody wants to go into Walmart. In fact, you can feel in the air how.... oppressive it is. You can see the jaded look in the workers' eyes. It's like... they thrive on their bad reputation.

thesamuraihobbit
Автор

I’m 46 and it was sad to see toys “R” Us go out of business because of the nostalgia as when I was a kid I always wanted to go to Toys “R” Us and my parents will take me every other weekend. I remember around 2021. I was at Macy’s and I see a little section. There was a Toy section. I was like oh my God Toys “R” Us is back and it was just great seeing that.

editorodriguez
Автор

I've been to the Toys R Us in Mall of America, it's such a surreal feeling entering a store from my childhood that disappeared right when I turned 20

DaimosZ
Автор

There will never be the same interest in toys the way that Star Wars/GI Joe figures, Transformers, Cabbage Patch dolls, Care Bears, Go Bots, gen 3 consoles and games, pizza parlors and arcades, AD&D gatherings, even board games — the 80’s excitement will never be matched.

robertbeckman
Автор

I was a kid during the dying years of toys r us. Occasionally my parents or grandparents would take me and my brother there to get something with either for ourselves or a gift for someone else. The places were always pretty barren. Hardly anyone else was there. In retrospect I shouldn’t have been but I was surprised to hear when they were going out of business.

solarflare
Автор

Being a former collector of most things Star Wars/Trek and Marvel/DC, the "Toys R Us" in Everett, WA was my Mecca. The nearby Port of Everett would be the first place the cargo ships dock after their voyage across the Pacific ocean, then their precious bounty went to my local 'Toys R Us' before any other store in the United States. Granted, being able to say "I was the FIRST person to buy this in America!" was the only real bonus, but it was an INCREDIBLE feeling.

goheen
Автор

There was a Toys "R" Us in my hometown, but as far back as I remember, my family NEVER went in it. Most of my toys came from our local Zellers, which is like Target. Luckily, it still is alive and kicking, so I can still go in there and see what I've been missing.

haydendegrow
Автор

The founder should also get credit for the “R us” suffix that still gets used. We’d never have the classic “where’s you get this guy? Psychos R Us?” I still use that one too….actually I just hear it a lot🤪

michaelblaine
Автор

When I was a kid in the 60’s we only had one local tv station, the other two came from DC. I was so upset that we didn’t have one. When my son was a child, we finally had one. Even as an adult, I loved shopping there. And I hate shopping. I think I enjoyed it more than my son.

thejourney
visit shbcf.ru