Pandemic derails Toys 'R' Us store comeback

Toys “R” Us has reportedly closed the two stores it opened under its new owners. 

A spokesperson for the toy retailer told CNBC that it made the decision due to challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. It plans to shift resources toward opening new locations where there is better shopper traffic, the report said.

Tru Kids bought the intellectual properties of Toys “R” Us after the chain filed for bankruptcy in 2018 and closed all its U.S. stores. In late 2019, the new owners opened two Toys “R” Us stores: One at Westfield Garden State Plaza, in Paramus, New Jersey, and a second at The Galleria in Houston. At about 6,500 sq. ft. each, the two stores had a decidedly smaller and more interactive format than the traditional Toys “R” Us model. The Houston location closed on January 15, while the Paramus store closed on January 26.

“Consumer demand in the toy category and for Toys “R” Us remains strong and we will continue to invest in the channels where the customer wants to experience our brand,” the Toys “R” Us spokesperson said in the CNBC report.

The Toys “R” Us website is still up and running as are more than 700 stores outside the United States. As previously reported, the site directs customers to Amazon to complete their purchase.