
Following revamps in Australia and Canada that we first revealed on these pages after the turbulent 2018 international decline of Toys R Us, Geoffrey’s resurrection tour continues stateside today with the relaunch of the store’s website powered by Target. This partnership extends to two retail stores opening in Houston, TX and Paramus, NJ later this year.
“Our U.S. strategy is to bring back the Toys“R”Us brand in a modern way through a strong experiential and content-rich omnichannel concept,” said Richard Barry, CEO of Tru Kids. “The foundation of that strategy requires the help of a retail industry leader and Target is the ideal retailer to support a new Toys“R”Us shopping experience, which is designed to provide families with endless ways to discover, play and enjoy toys. Target will help us deliver on that experience with its toy assortment, digital strength and ability to deliver orders to shoppers in a matter of hours.”
What do you think of this unique team emerging just in time for the holiday season? Will what is so far a very small online selection of Transformers increase by that time? Check out the full press release here, then sound off on the 2005 boards!
Fc203
Lucky Canadians
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"M" on Instagram: “I saw Optimus Prime’s trailer at my local Toys R Us, so I had to pull over and take a few pics. Cheers M #optimusprime #tru #toysrus…”
Venixion
Did you expect them to have over a hundred full blown stores across the country or something? That's rather unrealistic.
gbm
Point taken.
But the members of this board are adults who were yearning for a "toy store" to return.
This is a glorified playground.
Yes, indeed good for the 4 year old ….but notsomuch the adult toy collector fan.
RKillian
No, I would think the point is how much you'll spend there, rather than let your kid play for an hour and then go home to order from Amazon.
worldsgreatest
Sorry you didn't like it.
It looks like my four year old would FREAKING LOVE IT which is really more the point I think.
Afterburner
Lines are a good thing, let them start here. This doesn't have to be the end.
Moonminer
are we gonna have any in bay area?
Fc203
Closest i got to the toys r us
I didn't go because i was in a hurry and there was a big line to get in
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gbm
It's appalling, nor is it a TRU.
it's a glorified playground. Quite literally a playground in the middle (like at Burger King) and a bunch of play stations around it, and the perimeter of it all are just a few shelves of toys. It was laughable.
I walked in and walked out. (And there's a line to get in)
AzT
Toys 'R' Us returns to Houston with new Galleria store
Fc203
I might go tomorrow
AzT
@toysrus on Instagram: “Get ready to play @HoustonGalleria! Our #GrandOpening is TOMORROW at 10am. Geoffrey and team can't wait to show you our #newwaytoplay! Be…”
Toys"R"Us The Galleria on Instagram: “The wait is over!!! We're opening our ! Grand Opening celebrations are TOMORROW at 10am with Geoffrey the Giraffe, special…”
G.B. Blackrock
It's not the same guy who currently owns the rights to the KB brand, if that's what you mean. Picking up naming rights is pretty much all he does, and he's demonstrated that his "plan" to bring back KB hasn't amounted to much.
I think the new TRU is owned by more of a group of people than by any single person… but that said, the extent to which they have a business model remains to be seen.
Fc203
Someone on Instagram sent me a dm that they didn't have a tf section and i believe it since i didnt see any of it on videos
Infosaur
I'm really hoping somebody picks up the torch of being a focused toy retailer. I said before the biggest loss to the market will be the casual non-parent shopper. ("Oh my nephew needs a Christmas gift," or "my friend's daughter has a birthday next month.") and it would be nice to have a focused retailer fill that instead of leaving it to Wally & Target. If they could cater to a core of collectors that would be their evergreen sales.
It's funny, because there's an empty retail space near me that's been vacant for over 6 years and I was just thinking, "what if I made my own toy store, how would I do it?" And one of the things at the top of my mind (to complete with online shopping.) was to give customers some sort of experience and a Nerf shooting range was my brilliant idea.
So when I saw the video of the new TRU? I laughed and thought, "yeah, but mine would have been bigger!" Oh well. Haha.
MrSoundmeister
So a bunch of Cyberverse toys? I mean they do use the evergreen designs.
AzT
Toys"R"Us GSP on Instagram: “Cut the ribbon & open the doors! Our store @gsplaza, #Paramus #NJ is now open! Grand Opening celebrations are THIS Saturday, 11/30 at 10am…”
Toys R Us is back. Here's a look inside its first new store
Gumblor Gimbles
I knew it! MP-44 in the states at last!
Fc203
I found pics of the star wars stuff
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RKillian
It probably had "core evergreen products" like this:
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