Toys “R” Us turned toy shopping into a visit to a vast specialist store filled with children’s products. Charles Lazarus began the business with Children’s Bargain Town in Washington, D.C., in 1948 and introduced the Toys “R” Us name in 1957. The chain grew into hundreds of stores in the United States and abroad.
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 character children could recognise before entering.
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.
Associated With
Charles Lazarus / Toys “R” Us - associated person, brand
Defining Feature
Large specialist stores for toys and children’s products
Status
Closed - The company announced a court-supervised wind-down of all 735 US stores in March 2018
- All one image sources are not yet verified — editorial review required.
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Photograph hosted by WJHL; original photographer not identified
Licence
Historical Ephemera
Displayed for commentary and research. Fair dealing under the UK CDPA 1988 applies only where its conditions are met. No permission for reuse is granted.
Caption
Toys R Us presented toy shopping as a destination in itself, using branded store interiors and broad displays to make visiting the shop part of childhood experience.
