Toys R Us retreats again, closes its last 2 stores in the USA

Toys R Us is backing out yet again.

The only two Toys R Us stores that opened in November 2019 as part of a small attempt to return the iconic toy chain in the United States have already closed.

DISCOVER FOX BUSINESS ON THE MOVE BY CLICKING HERE

The Toys R Us store at the Galleria mall in Houston closed on January 15, while one at the Garden State Plaza in Paramus, New Jersey, closed on Tuesday, according to Tru Kids, a new entity formed when it acquired the Toys intellectual. R Us property during its liquidation in 2018.

The changes occur at a time when physical stores, especially those located in shopping malls, were hampered by weak customer traffic in the midst of the pandemic.

The Toys R Us website is still in operation.

US RETAIL SALES FALLED IN DECEMBER FOR THE 3rd MONTH STRAIGHT

“As a result of COVID, we made the strategic decision to direct our store strategy to new locations and platforms with better traffic,” said Tru Kids in an emailed statement on Friday. “Consumer demand in the toy category and Toys R Us remains strong and we will continue to invest in channels where the customer wants to try our brand. “

The two indoor locations were about 6,500 square feet – about a seventh the size of former Toys RU stores and emphasized practical experiences. Employees unwrapped toys, for example, so that children could try them out.

During a visit to the New Jersey store in late 2019, children shot Nerf guns and sat in a circle to tell the story while Geoffrey, the chain’s mascot, wandered around. These experiences are now avoided at a time when customers have to obey rules of social distance.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ABOUT FOX BUSINESS

Tru Kids says that outside the United States, it operates stores under the Toys R Us and Babies R Us brands and e-commerce sites through licensing partners in more than 25 countries in Asia, Europe, Africa and the Middle East.

Bloomberg News reported the news of store closings for the first time.