If you grew up walking the aisles of Toys “R” Us, circling your wish list in the holiday catalog, and dreaming of Geoffrey the Giraffe, get ready for a dose of nostalgia.
The beloved toy retailer is making its return to Western New York, just in time for the holidays.
Toys “R” Us recently announced it’s expanding its national comeback with 30 new store openings across the country by the end of the year.
That includes eight flagship stores and more than 20 seasonal pop-up shops. Among them will be a temporary holiday location inside Walden Galleria in Cheektowaga, giving local shoppers a fun new stop for holiday gift hunting.
Nine of the pop-up stores have already opened their doors, marking another milestone in the brand’s return to brick-and-mortar retail.
For Western New York residents, it’s a chance to relive a bit of childhood magic while checking items off this year’s shopping list.
The revival of Toys “R” Us follows years of restructuring and rebranding. The company filed for bankruptcy in 2017 and closed all of its U.S. stores in 2018 before being acquired by WHP Global in 2021.
Since then, WHP has worked to bring the brand back to life through new retail partnerships and updated store formats aimed at families and gift buyers.
“This holiday marks an important step in our expansion strategy for the Toys ‘R’ Us brand,” said Gideon Schlessinger, CEO of Go! Retail Group, which operates the seasonal shops. “Through both flagship stores and seasonal holiday shops, we are delivering the same experience nationwide, strengthening our presence while meeting consumer demand during the most important season of the year.”
For many, this return feels more like a homecoming. The last Toys “R” Us in the area closed years ago, and while there were previous plans to reopen a store at Walden Galleria in 2022, they never materialized — until now.
So whether you’re picking up gifts for the kids or just want to revisit a piece of your own childhood, the holiday pop-up at Walden Galleria promises to be a cheerful stop on your shopping route this season.
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