Toy stores vanishing from Hong Kong's ‘toy street’

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Tai Yuen Street in Hong Kong’s Wan Chai district is known as “toy street” to locals. Generations of Hongkongers have gone there to buy their favourite toys, stationery and festive decorations. But neighbourhood gentrification, the popularity of video games and the rise of e-commerce have posed challenges for the stores. One much-loved shop, Yat Sing Toys, is set to close on September 18, 2024, prompting more visitors to come by and bid a nostalgic farewell.

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[brucelee]

I am still old school. I want to see, touch and feel when I make purchases. It's also an opportunity for me to go out, destress and relax.

[_years_and_]

Her last words are so true . kids nowadays are so addicted to phone .

[BeybladeGeeks]

Toys aren't dead, video games has existed for decades. The main thing about that store is that their products are extremely outdated, there are a few stores in the street that actually imports trendy and high quality products and do very very well.

[crazymatsuki]

This is sad. This kind of shop has a lot of memories attached to them. Even in Japan we have lots of these shops operating for so many generations that have to close down. Thank you for your service and giving fun memories to people. ❤

[knuclearx]

Ever since America lost Toys R Us, I wonder if toy stores are even essential anymore. I see toy stores in other countries Italy, Denmark, Taiwan, Philippines and Canada and they thrive so hard. But man, seeing Hong Kong lose that industry too makes me fear the worst

[fai]

No. It is the exorbitant level of rent and greed of the landlords that are killing the retail business.

[paulineteo]

Sometimes, it is having to pay high rent that cause some shop closures. In my country, I often hear about landlords increasing rents when they see the shops having any decent business. This greatly cuts into the profit margins of the businesses :(

[DanielHYNg]

Yes. It's sad that we see things in a reverse direction. Now parents asking their kids to shop for toys as they are so busy glueing their eyes on the phones, instead of the kids asking their parents if they could buy toys fot them. 😢

[Drkshdw]

Highlights of my childhood were going to these toy shops and buying Ultraman figures, gundams and the plastic generation of beyblades

[Big_Blue_Monkey]

This happened in the UK a few years ago. Growing up there were always toy shops on the high street, but I don't think they can compete with large supermarkets selling toys, and on-line sites like Amazon. Even the large chain stores such as Toymaster and Toy R Us have pretty much disappeared.

I'm guessing it's a similar situation in Asia, where small shops can't compete with the supermarkets and on-line shopping. It's probably easier to order from sites like Alibaba, Temu and other such outlets.

[badgerp-chanqueen]

Remind me at my favorite stationary shop that sell both toys and school supplies which sadly closed after 30 years in business. It was closing during pandemic.

Everytime I passing it, I hide my tears. It now some kind electronic shop.

[TwentyEightySeven]

As a kid of the 80’s & 90’s who bought toys only in physical stores it is sad to see them dying off. Stuff sold online is often never as described or the quality you expected. Also you may come across things in a store you like or didn’t know about that you wouldn’t have searched for online.

[purplecrayon]

I don't think online stores contribute to these stores' demise. These type of physical plastic toys hold no appeal to kids these days -- they might play with a plastic truck for a few days and that will be the end of it. Video games and trading cards seem to hold more appeal to today's kids.

[DanBurgaud]

You cannot buy memory; you experience it, you make it happen, you live through it.

[junaidazam]

Very sad to hear. Breaks my heart to see them go away.

[chrisabc]

gov.hk should do a public consultation to determine why so many shops and restaurants are closing and why so many people have left/planning to leave Hong Kong over the last few years. 🤔 At the very least, SCMP could perform such study.

[Onlyme.n.u]

I bought a Transformer toy there few month ago and it's sad to see the toy store goes. I will buy some more next time when I visit Hong Kong again.

[ShawnChang]

Breaks my heart to hear about this...This place is my absolute go to whenever I visit Hong Kong.

[cosmoray]

Sad reality.
People can order things online and have the items delivered.
It made people lazy and changed the way people shops.

[Ohanatraveler]

That’s sad for store owners to closed down their stores like that just cause of online shopping is taking over everything but it doesn’t mean to take peoples memories away from them shopping there in the past or the future