Toys R Us is NOT Coming Back...

Toys R Us is NOT Coming Back...

Toys "R" Us, once a household name in the toy retail industry, is a company with a storied history that has left an indelible mark on generations of children and parents alike. Founded in 1948 by Charles Lazarus, Toys "R" Us began as a small children's furniture store in Washington, D.C., but soon evolved into the toy giant that many remember today. Lazarus quickly recognized the potential in toys as a year-round business, and in 1957, he rebranded his business, opening the first Toys "R" Us store, which exclusively sold toys. The concept of a store solely dedicated to toys was revolutionary at the time, and it wasn’t long before Toys "R" Us became a beloved destination for children and families.

The iconic giraffe mascot, Geoffrey, became synonymous with the brand, capturing the hearts of young shoppers. The company's slogan, "I don't want to grow up, I'm a Toys 'R' Us kid," perfectly encapsulated the sentiment of endless childhood wonder and excitement that the stores aimed to deliver. By the 1980s, Toys "R" Us had established itself as a dominant player in the toy industry, expanding rapidly both in the United States and internationally. At its peak, the company operated over 1,500 stores worldwide and had diversified its offerings to include baby products through its Babies "R" Us brand.

Toys "R" Us stores were more than just retail spaces; they were magical wonderlands filled with every toy imaginable, from action figures and dolls to video games and bikes. The aisles were a child's dream come true, lined with the latest and greatest in toys, games, and gadgets. The company's success was driven by its ability to provide a vast selection of products at competitive prices, and its stores became a go-to destination for birthday and holiday shopping.

However, the rise of e-commerce and changing consumer behaviors began to take a toll on Toys "R" Us in the early 21st century. The company struggled to adapt to the new retail landscape, where online shopping became increasingly popular. Despite efforts to modernize and revitalize the brand, including revamping stores and enhancing the online shopping experience, Toys "R" Us faced significant financial challenges. The company was burdened with massive debt from a leveraged buyout in 2005, which further hampered its ability to compete effectively.

In 2017, Toys "R" Us filed for bankruptcy, citing the competitive pressures from online retailers like Amazon, as well as the shift in consumer preferences towards digital entertainment and experiences over traditional toys. The following year, the company announced that it would close all of its U.S. stores, marking the end of an era. The closures were met with widespread sadness and nostalgia from consumers who had grown up with the brand.

Although Toys "R" Us closed its doors, its legacy remains strong. The brand made an attempt at a comeback in 2019, opening smaller, experiential stores and launching an online platform in partnership with Target. These efforts were part of a strategy to reimagine the toy shopping experience for a new generation. While the brand's future remains uncertain, the name Toys "R" Us continues to evoke memories of joy, excitement, and the magic of childhood for millions of people around the world.

Toys "R" Us is more than just a retailer; it is a cultural icon that represents the innocence and wonder of childhood. The company's rise and fall serve as a reminder of the ever-changing nature of the retail industry and the challenges of staying relevant in a rapidly evolving market. Yet, the enduring affection for the brand suggests that Toys "R" Us will always hold a special place in the hearts of those who grew up as "Toys 'R' Us kids."

#PixelDan

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Music in this video is used with full permission.
Karl Casey @ White Bat Audio

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[FNHot]

We have Toys R Us here in Canada, but they arent far off from what you showed. The prices are insane, the selection is terrible, the only upside is you can still walk through a massive toy store, where nothing entices you. Vintage toy shows are the closest you can get to that old Toys R Us feeling.

[MarkERoth]

Kb needs to come back as the less expensive toy store

[mgmcu]

I feel these types of stores in airports are targeting parents who forgot to pick up something for their children while away on a business trip. Hence they will now panic buy something at an inflated price.

[TheToyRoom]

$42 for that Hot Wheels 4 pack of cars is absolutely WILD!

[Galatea_ZX]

losing the toys r us in Times Square is still a devastating loss. It’s the biggest toy store that i have witnessed when i was little and to see it gone all these years later is still so sad… I miss when this brand was a store that was big in scale with how many toys and IP’s you can explore

If it weren’t for toys r us I wouldn’t have gone to collecting as a hobby. From Hasbro’s Marvel Universe line the Jazwares Sonic toy line, Toys R Us was really something special for everyone

[Scotty-Z]

The store is there so that when Grandma and Grandpa get off the plane, they can get a gift for their grandchildren they are visiting. Also to pacify children when flights are delayed.

[wakeangel]

I'm a former toysrus employee, I worked there for over 5 years right up until they went out of business. I was in charge of the R-Zone (where the video games were sold) during the peak of the "toys to life" fad where half of my shelves we covered in skylanders, disney infinity figure, lego dimensions, amiibos, and knock-offs of those.

I HATED Funko pops, nobody wanted to buy them if there was even the tiniest dent on the box, but since we're a toy store where a bunch of kids paw at everything there was no such thing as a mint condition box, so they sat on the shelves forever...

One last anecdote was the Star Wars section, an entire aisle of the action figure section was dedicated to Star Wars when the sequel trilogy first came out, and though the Black series and some vehicles sold, NOTHING ELSE DID. All of the 5 POA kenner style figures from the sequel trilogy and spinoff movies like Rogue One peg warmed right up until the end, and when I say the end I MEAN it, in the last weeks of business when everything was on an 80-90% markdown we STILL had most of those very Star Wars figures hanging on our last few shelves.

[Shinmsl]

I agree with everything you said. These days the mega corporations that bought everything just behave like viruses: running any good idea into the ground to simply get the last cent they can from the consumers, putting the least amount of effort possible to their cash-grab... Thankfully we got a lot of independent companies and creators

[brianhoef]

Hey Dan, as someone who worked at a Toys R Us in the early 90s and loved it, it is a bit heartbreaking to see what it has become. I agree with everything you said. As a father myself, I feel to worst for all the kids of this day and age at how they'll never get to experience what it was like when we were kids and the excitement we had every time we entered a big toy store. I'm 51 and still remember all the old toy stores. Toy Chest, Children's Palace, Kay-Bee, Toys R Us, etc... and that says a lot because my memory usually sucks 😂

[nellyp]

We still have Toys R Us here in Canada but it is pretty underwhelming. They recently started adding HMV products to them as HMV died here a while back. The actual toy sections don’t get much new stock and everything is more expensive than Walmart and GameStop. Outside of a sale we often check Toys R Us for new stock and leave disappointed and empty handed.

[jpsarri]

To be honest, the store you visited is at an airport. As we all know, anything at an airport is always expensive.

[BertTheStormtrooper]

I was just at this TRU in Dallas yesterday and it's the exact same store as the FAO Schwartz in the Indianapolis airport. Only difference was the signage.
Feels like someone just bought the rights to the names and plastered them in their airport kiosks.

[Spongemonkey]

The major concern with the toy industry in general is we, the 80's kids, are keeping it alive for now by buying the vintage IP's you mentioned, but aren't necessarily creating new fans with kids today. And in 20-30 years when we age out and our kids are adults, they're not going to hold the same nostalgia as we did and the toy industry is going to collapse.

[Fnordathoth]

I'm glad you mentioned the old Toys r Us tax. "Toys r Us, where a kid or parent can pay more for the same toy that could be purchased elsewhere for much cheaper." That said, you are absolutely right that they had stuff that was virtually impossible to find anywhere else. Try finding the U.S.S. Flag anywhere else for example. Do I miss Toys r Us? Yes. Do I miss the Toys r Us tax? No. Do I think they're coming back to the U.S. in any meaningful way? Absolutely not, and it's criminal to call that a Toys r Us and not even put your purchase in a Toys r Us bag.

[donnymuppeteat]

Also, those prices are bananas and no one should take advantage of their customers like that.

[incompletetoysandvideogames]

Awesome video! I agree, toys and toy stores will never be like they used to. It was nice to be able to grow up during of time of toys and toy stores and now having the nostalgia for it, which is a huge part of my life as well. Thank you, take care.

[samuelwilliams]

In the UK, the bigger towns had Toys 'R' Us stores and Woolworths, which was pretty much everywhere and sold a bit of everything. We used to joke that you'd look in those stores to find things you could get much cheaper online. TBF, that's probably why they shut.

[paolomongon]

I worked at TRU all the way up to the final days. They went bankrupt, closed up shop, and everyone lost their jobs...than they said nevermind... yeah...ffor me, TRU ended when all of the dedicated employees who stayed for the love of the brand and toys in general were let go.

[LodanSD]

When I was a kid in the 80s and 90s, I remember getting toys from Children's Palace & Toys R Us, as well as Target & K-Mart, and KB Toys in the mall!

[mechamanblade]

I've been to the Toys R Us at the American Dream Mall and it was an entirety different experience. It is so much more than the Airport version you've been to.

First off, it's more than double the size. It's located on 2 floors of the mall with an elevator, stairs, or slide to access either floor.

Second, the selection is so much more. There was a large variety of toys that I don't remember seeing Funko Pops. I'm a huge Transformers fan, and I found online exclusives there.

Third, pricing was not too different from retail. There wasn't much of a markup. I did a bit of research before I purchased anything and found that the prices may differ from a dollar, give or take.

Lastly, although there is a large variety, selections vary. I mentioned a lot of Transformers, but there wasn't that much MOTU there. Both Lego and Playmobile were present, but I don't think I saw any bikes, trains, or video games.

Regardless, it's worth a trip if you're in the area. There is also a dedicated Lego Store in the same Mall.