The last of the original Toys R Us stores in the UK closed on the 24th April 2018.
.jpg "Toys R Us on the Western Esplanade in Southampton") |
| Toys R Us on the Western Esplanade in Southampton |
My first job while at university in the year 2000 was as one of Geoffrey's helpers at the Luton Toys R Us store where I worked on the video game and electronics section.
It's been very interesting to find that there are still remnants of the brand on some retail parks in the UK and we've visited a number of these closed, abandoned, derelict and demolished Toys R Us locations on our travels.
.jpg "A sign at Toys R Us at St James Retail Park in Northampton") |
| A sign at Toys R Us at St James Retail Park in Northampton |
.jpg "A sign at Toys R Us in Reading") |
| A sign at Toys R Us in Reading |
.jpg "Toys R Us at Cathedral Retail Park in Norwich") |
| Toys R Us at Cathedral Retail Park in Norwich |
.jpg "Toys R Us at Teesside Retail Park in Stockton-on-Tees") |
| Toys R Us at Teesside Retail Park in Stockton-on-Tees |
.jpg "Toys R Us at The Leisure Plaza in Milton Keynes") |
| Toys R Us at The Leisure Plaza in Milton Keynes |
.jpg "A sign at Toys R Us at Brighton Hill Retail Park in Basingstoke") |
| A sign at Toys R Us at Brighton Hill Retail Park in Basingstoke |
Former Toys R Us locations we've visited on our travels:
- Brighton Hill Retail Park in Basingstoke
- Central Retail Park in Manchester
- Cathedral Retail Park in Norwich
- Deepdale shopping centre in Preston
- Festival retail park in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent
- Gateway retail park in Reading
- Gemini Retail Park in Warrington
- Interchange Retail Park at Copdock Mill, Ipswich
- St James Retail Park in Northampton
- Teesside Retail Park in Stockton-on-Tees
- The Leisure Plaza in Milton Keynes
- Western Esplanade in Southampton
- Wolverhampton Road in Oldbury
- Wyvern Retail Park in Derby
.jpg "Toys R Us at the Wyvern Retail Park in Derby") |
| Toys R Us at the Wyvern Retail Park in Derby |
.jpg "Toys R Us at Gateway Retail Park in Reading (September 2022)")
A new beginning...
Toys R Us returned to the UK shopping scene in 2022 with an online presence and in 2023 with concessions opening inside some WH Smith shops. There are currently 85 Toys R Us stores open nationwide. Check out the Toys R Us website for more information.
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| Toys R Us at the Trafford Centre in Manchester |
Toys R Us in the USA
You can also find Toys R Us concessions in Macy's stores in the USA. As well as some other spots.
Emily has visited those in Chicago and Fort Worth, and spotted a sign for one at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport.
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| Toys R Us Sign at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport in Texas, March 2024 |
Lost Toys R Us Stores
My book about Lost Toys R Us Stores is available to buy from Amazon.
There were once 105 Toys R Us stores in the UK. The business ceased trading in 2018 and all of the shops closed.
It is still possible to find some traces of the old Toys R Us brand on some retail parks and shopping centres around the UK.
The book takes a look at some of those abandoned stores between 2019 and 2021.
Buy Lost Toys R Us Stores on Amazon.
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