Toys "R" Us

Toys "R" Us
Company typePrivate
IndustryRetail
Founded
(as Children's Supermart)
June 1957; 67 years ago (June 1957) (as Toys "R" Us)
FounderCharles Lazarus
DefunctApril 21, 2018; 6 years ago (April 21, 2018) in Germany, Austria and Switzerland (taken over by Smyths and rebranded)
April 24, 2018; 6 years ago (April 24, 2018) in United Kingdom
June 29, 2018; 6 years ago (June 29, 2018) in United States
August 5, 2018; 6 years ago (August 5, 2018) in Australia
June 19, 2019; 5 years ago (June 19, 2019) in France
FateChapter 11 Bankruptcy
Headquarters
5 Wood Hollow Road Parsippany-Troy Hills, NJ
,
United States
Area served
  • United States
  • Worldwide
Products
Owner
Number of employees
64,000 before liquidation[1]
Divisions
  • Babies "R" Us (1996–2018 relaunch (2023-present); United States; 1996–present international)
  • Kids "R" Us (1983–2004)
WebsiteCorporate

United States

International

Toys "R" Us[nb 1] is an American toy, clothing, and baby product company. It is owned by Tru Kids, Inc. (as Tru Kids Brands) and others. The company was founded in 1957. Its first store was built in April 1948. The headquarters of the company is in Parsippany-Troy Hills, New Jersey. It is in the New York metropolitan area.

At one time, Toys "R" Us was the most important toy store.[2] killer,[3] The rise of mass merchants and online sellers cost Toys "R" Us its control of the toy market. The company filed for bankruptcy in 2017 and 2018. It closed all of its stores in the United States, United Kingdom and Australian. Two US stores were opened in 2019 in New Jersey and Texas,[4] but they both closed in 2021. In other international markets such as Asia and Africa there were less negative effects. Stores in Canada, parts of Europe and Asia were sold to other companies.

In August 2021, WHP Global said that Toys "R" Us would be opening over 400 stores inside Macy's stores. They would start doing this 2022.[5] In December 2021, WHP announced they will be opening a Toys “R” Us location in New Jersey at the American Dream Mall.[6][7][8] In July 2023, WHP also announced that a Babies "R" Us store would open in the same mall.[9]

On March 22, 2018, the founder of the company, Charles Lazarus, died at age 94 years.[10]

Notes

  1. ↑ Also written as Toys R Us, without quotation marks. A backwards "R" appears in its logo, but in type, it is written as a regular "R".

References

  1. ↑ Hals, Tom; Rucinski, Tracy (September 19, 2017). "Toys 'R' Us seeks bankruptcy to survive retail upheaval". Reuters.com. Reuters. Retrieved September 19, 2017.
  2. ↑ Hirsch, Lauren (March 16, 2018). "Toys R Us built a kingdom and the world's biggest toy store. On Friday, its stores close for good". CNBC. Retrieved March 26, 2022.
  3. ↑ Dunne, Patrick; Lusch, Robert; Carver, James (1999). Retailing.
  4. ↑ Min, Sarah (July 18, 2019). "Toys R Us making a small comeback in two U.S. locations in New Jersey and Texas - CBS News". www.cbsnews.com. Retrieved July 5, 2024.
  5. ↑ Thomas, Lauren (August 19, 2021). "Toys R Us is coming to more than 400 Macy's stores next year". CNBC. Retrieved August 20, 2021.
  6. ↑ News, Eyewitness (December 17, 2021). "Toys 'R' Us opening flagship store at American Dream in New Jersey this weekend". ABC7 New York. Retrieved January 14, 2022. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  7. ↑ "American Dream". American Dream. Retrieved January 14, 2022.
  8. ↑ "A first look inside the new Toys R Us in American Dream mall". NorthJersey.com. Retrieved January 14, 2022.
  9. ↑ Verdon, Joan. "Rebirth Of A Brand: First Look At The New Babies R Us Store". Forbes. Retrieved July 5, 2024.
  10. ↑ "Toys 'R' Us Founder Charles Lazarus Dies at 94". Bloomberg L.P.