Toys R Us has announced the opening of a new flagship store. The start will take place this weekend at the Mall of America. The outlet will occupy 11,000 square feet on the mall’s first level on the east side.
Toys R Us “has played a role in creating special memories for so many of us,” Heather Brechbill-Swilley, senior vice president of leasing at Mall of America, said. “We are excited to bring this playful and iconic brand to life at Mall of America for the next generation to enjoy.”
Toys R Us filed for bankruptcy in 2017 and eventually closed all its U.S. stores – more than 700. The flagship at Mall of America will be the second such store after the brand relaunches and launches online. The first Toys R Us flagship operates in the American Dream mall in New Jersey. The brand is also growing in partnership with Macy’s, with more than 450 Toys R Us stores open in the retailer’s department stores.
“After the success we’ve experienced with our first flagship at American Dream and shops inside Macy’s, bringing Toys R Us to Mall of America was a must. There is the perfect mix of entertainment and retail that makes it a highly trafficked go-to-destination for families year-round,” Jamie Uitdenhowen, said executive vice president of Toys R Us at WHP Global – the chain’s parent company.
The company said after the initial opening this month, the Mall of America location next year “will introduce exciting new branded elements like Geoffrey’s Café and ice cream parlor as well as interactive experiences and product demonstrations from popular toy vendors.”
