Toys “R” Us

Associated With

Charles Lazarus / Toys “R” Us - associated person, brand

Defining Feature

Large specialist stores for toys and children’s products

Status

Closed - the original US retail operation was wound down in 2018; international operations were handled separately

Overview

Toys “R” Us turned toy shopping into a visit to a vast specialist store filled with children’s products.

Charles Lazarus began the business in Washington, D.C., before the chain expanded into hundreds of stores across the United States and abroad.

Its large stores concentrated toys under one roof, while Babies “R” Us extended the business into infant products. In 2018, the company pursued a court-supervised wind-down of its US operations; international operations were handled separately.

Why It Mattered

Its scale made the choice itself part of the experience: aisle after aisle could be devoted to toys rather than sharing space inside a general shop. The format helped turn the toy store into a destination, while Geoffrey the Giraffe gave the chain a visual character echoed in its in-store branding.

Company Origins

• Charles Lazarus opened Children’s Bargain Town in 1948.
• The Toys “R” Us name debuted in 1957.

Store Network

• The 2005 filing records 671 US toy stores and 641 international toy stores.
• The company also operated a separate Babies “R” Us format.

US Wind-Down

• The company sought Bankruptcy Court approval to wind down its US business.
• Its official release covered liquidation at all 735 US stores, including Puerto Rico.
• The company said its international operations were being handled separately.

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