When Toys “R” Us shut its doors a few years back, seemingly for good, it was truly the end of an era. For Millennial and Gen-X kids, the toy superstore was like visiting Santa’s workshop. Only for real. Getting to go was a treat, a true mega department store aimed directly at your interests. But the last few years saw the former toy giant struggle. Mainly due to the advent of the Big Box stores. So in 2018, Geoffrey the Giraffe took his final bow. Or so we thought.
But now, Toys “R” Us is making a big comeback. We’ve learned, via Gizmodo, that the brand’s current owners are opening a new two-level, 20,000 square location. The new Toys “R” Us flagship store is located inside American Dream, the huge entertainment/retail center in New Jersey. Just as in the old days, shoppers can browse aisles containing the biggest toy brands. But now, they can also meet Geoffrey the Giraffe and partake in interactive experiences and product demonstrations.
Another upgrade from the original stores is Geoffrey’s Café and ice cream parlor. Not to mention, there’s now a two-story slide. We’re suddenly jealous of today’s kids, who are getting a way better version of Toys “R” Us than we ever had. We were just happy that Barbie and Ninja Turtles had their own aisles. There are currently 400 Toys “R” Us shop-in-shops slated to open inside Macy’s stores nationwide starting in 2022. But we’ll see if more of the giant stores like this one pop up in other parts of the country soon.
Just in time for the holiday season, The Toys “R” Us flagship store at American Dream will open to the public in mid-December. With extended holiday hours, of course. For more information, be sure to head on over to the official Toys “R” Us site.
