The biggest nostalgia hit is coming to the UK as Toys R Us is set to return. After going bust back in 2018 – struggling to compete in the new age of online shopping – its UK and US stores closed their doors for what seemed like good, much to the upset of Millenials, who’ll remember many a trip to the huge toy store throughout their childhoods.
Now, the beloved toy store is finally set to make its epic comeback, with its first store opening in York after five years away.
Located at Monks Cross retail park, the York store will mark the first of a new journey for Toys R Us – and will be the first of eight others set to open across the UK.
Both Canada and Australia Toys R Us stores have been going from strength-to-strength these last few years, giving bosses proof that there is space for both physical and online stores in the UK.
It won’t be the same as what children of the 90s remember, however, with their massive warehouses of every toy under the sun. Instead, Toys R Us will be returning in partnership with WHSmith, meaning they will operate in WHSmith stores.
Toys R Us and WHSmith will work out where to go next with the rollout of more stores across more locations.
The deal for the first nine stores is a trial period and isn’t expected to ‘generate material levels of revenue’. This deal does however give the brand a long-anticipated return, which we expect loyal fans with their own children will return to in a heartbeat thanks to the brand’s solid reputation in the market.
Chairman and CEO of parent company WHP Global and Toys R Us, Yehuda Shmidman, said in a statement: “We selected Toys R Us ANZ as our partner to expand into the United Kingdom because of their proven success in launching with us in Australia under the leadership of their CEO, Dr Louis Mittoni.
“Toys R Us today is a vibrant business with over 900 stores and e-commerce sites across 25 plus countries generating over $2billion a year in sales and growing, especially with the new launches underway for both the US and UK markets.”
The York Monks Cross store will open on June 10th.
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