Will Toys R Us reopen near you? The toy store chain has a new owner who plans to open new stores (2024)

Children of the 1980s and 1990s have fond memories of walking the aisles of Toys "R" Us, basking in the glory of the chain's wide selection of games, dolls, and activities. But in the years leading up to its 2017 bankruptcy, things started going downhill. Tales of half-empty stores, poor selection, and a glaring lack of customer service are only some of the reasons why the famed toy retailer eventually drove itself into the ground.

In fact, when Toys "R" Us shut down its remaining stores in 2018, reactions were mixed. Some parents were appalled -- where would they shop for holiday and birthday gifts? Other consumers weren't at all surprised. But shopping centers that housed Toys "R" Us had an instant problem on their hands: finding a replacement tenant.

It's therefore good news for shopping centers, and the people who invest in them, to learn that Toys "R" Us is in the process of staging a comeback. But is the once-popular retailer headed for success, or will its revival be temporary at best?

A tough market to succeed in

In 2019, Toys "R" Us emerged from bankruptcy as Tru Kids, which now owns the Toys "R" Us, Babies "R" Us, and Geoffrey the Giraffe brands. Meanwhile, brand management company WHP Global recently acquired a controlling interest in Tru Kids and is making plans to open a number of stores this year, ideally ahead of the holiday season.

Superstores:With a diversified services business, Walmart is sounding like a tech company

COVID-19 vaccine motivation:Krispy Kreme is giving away free doughnuts for showing vaccination card

But real estate investors shouldn't start banking on an extra shopping center tenant just yet. In the past few years, Tru Kids has tried to open in different capacities, only to fall short. Its two pop-up locations, which opened in late 2019 in two different malls, failed miserably. Though to be fair, mall traffic has been extremely sluggish in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, so those stores in particular fell victim to poor timing.

At this point, however, whether Toys "R" Us can succeed in drawing in customers will hinge on how well stores are run, how strategically they're opened, and how they're able to compete with big-box giants like Target (NYSE: TGT) and Walmart (NYSE: WMT), both of which are known for their vast, affordable toy selection.

Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN) is another major competitor Toys "R" Us needs to worry about. Shopping for toys was once regarded as a fun family outing, but the pandemic has changed that. Now, parents -- and consumers on a whole -- are doing a lot more shopping online, and if Toys "R" Us can't compete with Amazon's price points, it's going to struggle.

Customers may also get thrown by the fact that the new locations for Toys "R" Us may be smaller and offer less selection than they'd expect. Plans are currently in the works to open additional pop-ups, airport shops, and mini stores inside other retailers -- a far cry from the larger stores consumers may remember.

All told, it'll be a good thing for real estate investors if Toys "R" Us manages to succeed, even at a limited capacity. But based on the retailer's history and the ongoing challenges it faces, it's not something they should bank on.

The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers. Editorial content from Millionacres is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team.

The Motley Fool is a USA TODAY content partner offering financial news, analysis and commentary designed to help people take control of their financial lives. Its content is produced independently of USA TODAY.

Offer from the Motley Fool: You probably know that real estate has long been the playground for the rich and well connected, and that according to recently published data it’s also been the best performing investment in modern history. And with a set of unfair advantages that are completely unheard of with other investments, it’s no surprise why.

But those barriers have come crashing down - and now it’s possible to build REAL wealth through real estate at a fraction of what it used to cost, meaning the unfair advantages are now available to individuals like you.

To get started, we’ve assembled a comprehensive guide that outlines everything you need to know about investing in real estate - and have made it available for FREE today. Simply click here to learn more and access your complimentary copy.

Will Toys R Us reopen near you? The toy store chain has a new owner who plans to open new stores (2024)

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Recommended Articles
Article information

Author: Reed Wilderman

Last Updated:

Views: 5837

Rating: 4.1 / 5 (72 voted)

Reviews: 95% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Reed Wilderman

Birthday: 1992-06-14

Address: 998 Estell Village, Lake Oscarberg, SD 48713-6877

Phone: +21813267449721

Job: Technology Engineer

Hobby: Swimming, Do it yourself, Beekeeping, Lapidary, Cosplaying, Hiking, Graffiti

Introduction: My name is Reed Wilderman, I am a faithful, bright, lucky, adventurous, lively, rich, vast person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.