Toys R Us stores in the USA have closed down again

Toys R Us has been forced to shutter its last two US stores in the wake of the ongoing pandemic, bringing the second end to the iconic retailer’s physical presence in the USA.

In 2019, Tru Kids Brands officially announced the return of Toys R Us stores in the USA, following the liquidation of the company, with two new retail locations at shopping malls across the USA. Though many may have seen this as a sign of the brand’s revival in the country, it appears that the iconic retailer has not been able to outlast the COVID-19 pandemic.

As reported by the Independent, the final two Toy R Us stores have now closed, having once been located at The Galleria in Houston, Texas and Westfield Garden State Plaza in Paramus, New Jersey. With both of these locations being hit by low customer traffic due to stay-at-home orders and other health and safety regulations, the retailer has decided to shutter both of the stores. As noted by Just2Good, both of these new locations focused on hands-on demonstrations, a strategy that unfortunately didn’t fit well in the current climate.

In a statement emailed to the Independent, TRU Kids Brands said: “As a result of COVID, we made the strategic decision to pivot our store strategy to new locations and platforms that have better traffic, 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.” This matches with the fact that the website for Toys R Us in America remains online for the time being, with orders still being fulfilled.

For those not in the US, other retail locations owned by TRU Kids Brands that have not been shuttered still appear to be operating, such as in Singapore which offered the seasonal Bricktober sets towards the end of 2020. However, not all locations may currently be open given the circumstances worldwide.

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