One Last Visit To Toys R Us | Retail Archaeology
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- čas přidán 21. 06. 2018
- In this episode I make one last trip to my childhood Toys R Us store shortly before they all close forever. If you haven't made that last trip to Toys R Us yet you're running out of time!
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Have you made one last trip to Toys R Us yet? If you have I'd love to hear about it or any memories you have of Toys R Us. Thanks for watching!
I couldn't catch it, gonna be out of town all week.
Got to go to the Elder Beerman liquidation sales though!
Retail Archaeology I haven’t had the time. I live vicariously through your videos. Lol. ☺️
I paid one last visit to the Tukwila location in Washington last month, which really hit me in the feels since I used to work there during the 2016 holiday season.
I might try to we'll see how it goes, but I do remember way back when they had the little slips in the blue pockets for the videogames they kept in the back (I also seem to remember a lot of TYCO slot car stuff was kept back there as well!) good times I probably picked up a few NES games that way!
Retail Archaeology Don’t need to, I live in Winnipeg
As a Toys R Us team member going through a store liquidation in the Western New York area, let me help with some questions that were posed in the video. In the beginning of the video some older Spiderman collectables were shown and commented as being over priced for being so old. Those products were not Toys R Us products. If you noticed the price tags, you saw the letters AUG. AUG stands for AUGmented, which means that the liquidation company brought those products into the store to sell during the Toys R Us liquidation. We team members noticed that their products had a tendency to be quite over priced.
Further into the video, some paperwork was discovered in the shelving. The paperwork you were looking at is called a planogram and it is a blueprint for a team member to follow to properly set the products on the shelves so all Toys R Us stores would look the same.
Going into this last week of the store being open I must say it has been a very difficult time for we store employees having to watch our beautiful stores be reduced to nothing. Where ever we go we will always be Toys R Us Kids.
I used to work for both Toys R Us and Babies R Us. Toys R Us I worked in the Rockaway NJ location back in 2008-2009, and Babies R Us I worked from 2011-2012. In both stores I was a sales associate. I had the game section in Toys R Us, that was my department and I liked working in it. It was alright working there, not the best but not the worst job I had. Babies R Us was worse believe it or not.
Funny thing, when I worked for Babies R Us, they sent some of us store associates to Toys R Us down the street during Christmas to help them out with cashiering. That was...an experience, lol.
Childhood memory-wise, I got to meet a Geoffrey the Giraffe walkaround character when I was five at a Toys R Us down in Florida and I'll never forget it. RIP Toys R Us, you will be missed.
+The Deadliest Cachers Hey what happens to all of the merchandise that doesn't get sold? Does whatever is left get sent to some liquidator or something? I feel so bad for all the team members. You guys didn't deserve this.
Another fellow WNY, I hope only the best for you. I live near the one by the McKinley Mall.
Rainbolt Idk if it’s the same for every store but at my store I’m pretty sure everything gets sent back to the liquidation company where I guess they resale it somewhere else kinda like all the augmented stuff they sent to us to sell.
The Deadliest Cachers A
And sitting on top of the motivational messages is a Windows error message.
Late reply but that's just poetic
Super sad moment for me as I was walking through my store when the liquidation was just starting... Heard a kid behind me running through the isles and said "This place is awesome! We should come here all the time...oh wait..." and he just looked down and had such a sad face.
I’m crying
Dang :( that's sad
lol
:(
:(
When I was a kid, it felt like those shelves were 50 feet high!
Michael Niemiera Now they're demolished/without inventory.
Trust me, after a long shift during the Christmas season, they felt like that to me to, and I was already out of high school when I started there!
I work at toys r us (well yesterday was my last day) and the only thing more sad than toys r us closing was watching all the parents scream at their children for being "too excited" in the store (mostly just singing and asking their parents to come over and look at cool toys). Made me so sad to see! I'll miss toys r us and my coworkers so much.
Love to have my kids get excited like that at regular toys...they are just excited now for computers and tablets.
George McGovern times change man but the best way is to accept it
Ish Gamingg Hillary Clinton will go away
tiger cat ??? I don’t really give a shit about her
I could imagine the some of the parents wanted a moment of peace just to mourn 😔😔
"Promise us just this one thing: Don't ever grow up."
Jeez. Toys R' Us. You know how to hit people in the feels.
Also, like I said on Company Man's video, my last visit was near the beginning of the liquidation, and I got Kirby Star Allies 10% off. The game was brand-new at the time, so any discount wasn't too bad.
I had a similar "last visit" at my local Toys R Us during the beginning of liquidation as well. I bought an Xbox One game called Redout for 10% off brand new and it so happened to be their last copy. I've known about the game for awhile but held off from buying it so I decided to make it my last purchase from Toys R Us. Not only is the game good, but it serves as my final memory of my childhood store so I'm keeping it forever. I'm even keeping the original receipt as sort of a memorabilia. RIP Toys R US... :(
That whole statement gets me, being somebody that went to the stores as a child as well as a one time employee. Posted that statement on a radio control forum and somebody said that it was like "Reading Geoffery's last wish" while a friend I texted it to said "Oh wow, that's pretty heartbreaking and heartwarming to read at the same time."
@Thot Slayer same 😢😢
Geoffrey the Giraffe's last words right before he was euthanized.
That _hurt_ to read. I'm not ashamed to say I shed tears at the flood of memories that overcame me.
Those Spiderman 2 items were marked "AUG" meaning they're not carried by Toys R Us, the liquidator got them from another liquidated place, and is just using Toys R Us's massive floor space to try to sell them. Years from now when another place goes out of business, Toys R Us items will show up in there.
A lot of what liquidators sell isn't from the store itself. Sometimes they even order new product, mark it up tremendously, and hope some sucker will think it's a deal.
Not gonna lie, that last message on the website made me incredibly sad. I've been going to Toys R Us for nearly 22 years and passing by and seeing that massive store empty will forever make me sad. I still remember when MediaPlay, Suncoast, Sam Goody, Borders, Blockbuster and many other stores closed all those years ago. Just overall so sad to watch these stores close after they provided years and years of happy memories.
Ray I was listing the stores gone in my head. Very long list....
Check out the website now !
What is upsetting is that Toys R Us wasn't like Sears, K-Mart, Circuit City, or any of the other retailers that went under. The stores always tried to stay up to date with their appearance and commercials. It is just sad to see how some executives can destroy a company by some really bad deals.
I guess toy store heaven is actually in heaven now.
Sing it Belinda Carlisle.
"Heaven used to be a place on Earth"
I am not American, never been to Toys R Us, don't even have any memories from any particular toy shop, but this is still surprisingly heartbreaking to see. And that farewell message. : (
I am American and I have NEVER been to Toys R Us because we had none in my hometown as a child, we had KB I think. And still I can see the sadness when this place closed not long ago, the employees liked the store, the children loved the place, parents had fond memories too. Even if it is not a part of my own childhood, I understand.
well HAD never been, until they closed I was there my first and pretty much only time this year. so sad
Wonderful memories... Forever, Geoffrey... PLAY ON!
David C. Pierce I'm lucky there is still a toys r us in Canada
David C. Pierce I saw a huge tru in Korea
I took one of my last trips today. I bought that Lego tape stuff, and 2 trash cans. Farewell, you had a good 70 year run. May Toys R Us R.I.P.
It's even worse since I'm only 10 and will not experience the amount of time there at Toys R Us.a
MrHeartGrenade you’re 10 years old and bought trash cans of all things?
@@MorningMindfulness no. Just trash cans themselves.
I remember my dad taking me to the midnight release of Star Wars Revenge of the Sith toy line release at my Toys R Us, back in 2005.
Went back there like 2 years ago with a girlfriend of mine to look for a specific Pacific Rim action figure, even then it hurt to see the prices and over/under stocking issues compared to the convenient juggernaut that Amazon is now, it was pretty evident that this store was on its way out sadly.
$24 for merch from a 14 year old movie. Hmmm i wonder why they went bankrupt.
yes, old toys never become collectible or appreciate in value.
uh depends on what it's for. If were talking some of the toys and stuff like that from the time of the original Star Wars trilogy then you could make some big bucks on that. But something like Spiderman 2? nah.
LordIron Kenner Toys Star Wars. Hasbro bought out Kenner😢 street sign still in Cincy where Kenner offices were by the Museum Center.
Those aren’t even from TRU...anything marked AUG was from another store chain that the liquidator brought in.
redwingscuj031 exactly important point
Today was MY childhood Toys R Us' final day. I popped in there the other day and grabbed a few last things, and the store was already about 90% empty. It was actually tough walking though there, seeing it in it's condition, while years and years worth of memories flooded into my mind. I remember when my brother and I bought our Nintendo 64 there, with our own Christmas money...and before that, I remember getting COUNTLESS Sega Genesis and SNES games from there...which includes convincing my mother to buy Mortal Kombat 2 for me, after months of bugging her about it, LOL. I now have a 7-year-old son, who also loved the place. It's sad to see it go.
Man, I remember getting Nintendo games when I was little from Toys R Us... My dad even bought me a 2600 Jr here for a birthday... I remember looking at the video games too, and having my grandparents have to grab the ticket from the display, and take it up front, and then pick up the game from the cage.... I'm gonna miss you, Toys R Us...
We did our last trip last Saturday. It was sad. They use to have little work shops and toy demos that I would take my son too and they would give out little toys. It was great. One time I took my son to a Pokemon trade and no body traded with him. He was so sad sitting there with all of his little cards laid out and everyone was trading with each other and not him so the employee noticed that he was sitting all by himself and went up to him and said "I got something just for you" went back to the back and came back with several packs just for him. That made my son's day. The employee said that he noticed his expression and had to do something. They will be missed.
My TRU opened 28 years ago. I took a job there before the store actually opened. We did the initial build out, unloading trucks, set up the gondolas and put the first products on the shelves. Those pallets of peg board weighed a ton. But I was young. I went back there a few days ago and some of the shelves I put up were still there, at least for a few more days. Sad to see it go.
Oh, man. Saddest video. But thank you for taping it. In a week, the store will be officially closed and all we have is video tape and memories. My friend and will plan to go on the very last day. I will do my best not to tear up. :(
I bought two Toys R Us store banners... appx. Size 36x48. One reads "Toys R Us the world's greatest toy store" and the other is of a kid looking up at Jeffrey. Both hang proudly in my daughter toy room.
@@eraser3166 absoulty! Even though I'm 39, I never want to grow up! And I'm happy to have gone and bought all my only daughter all her toys for the last 5 years at Toys R Us... I remember buying NES game and GI, Joe, Star wars ect with my Dad back in the 80s....oh I look look back on those bygone years with fondness and a sense of nostalgia...I sure hope I did my best to give that to my daughter every time see looks at those banners!
This is depressing. I grew up in the 2000s, and I got to see a lot of nice things go out of business, get ruined, or be taken down. This video almost made me cry on how desperate this company is. Selling brooms, sad. 😔
I felt the same way going to Herbergers recently who have now about 8 days left before closing forever too, and they are selling used hangers, the fixtures, the broken mannequins (which Id have bought in a minute if I had more money, but as it is Im bankrupt too), and they are even selling signs, mirrors, dressing room fixtures, and whatever they possibly can. The Toys R Us in MN was too, in June was selling like this one, every item possible even the store phones. So sad to see.
Looking at this video hurts inside. I have memories of loving every trip to Toys R Us as a kid and then working there for years and setting up a lot of those shelves, signage, that planogram you found on one of the shelves, those rollers and seeing straight into the back room from them. Good times, and it's really sad to see them go. Especially since I don't think there's another dedicated US retail toy location. I know there's all that talk of KB Toys coming back, but I can't ever imagine anything being quite the same as a franchise of dedicated toy stores in the US again.
Thanks so much for the memories :'(
Arcade Dude Awwwwww!!! 😭
Arcade Dude Agreed, ex employee who grew up going to the stores too.
I thought it was funny the planogram was similar to what we used at Sears.
I'm still saddened by the end of the Toys R Us era. Such great memories. Play on!
🎵I don't wanna grow up I'm a Toys R Us kid🎵
Dr . Wub yes. May we remain, ToysrUs kids!
too right im a toys r us kid through and through
Very sad, but glad people like you are documenting the stores. We’ll never forget!
Dana Cantu I feel the same. I like these kind of videos that reminds me of the good days in my childhood. While sad it also bring the sense of nostalgia of just going inside the store to check what's new at the time and asking my parents to buy me something that catches my interest.
That spiderman 2 is probably from big warehouse. Toys r us has been clearing out all their warehouses and selling the product at retail stores across country. I think all US stores will be completely closed by end of June. Anything leftover will probably be sold in bulk auction lots.
Jason WB I was thinking the same thing, figured that would have been donated or trashcanned years ago!
I never really grew up with Toys R Us but my dad did. We went and visited it a couple of days ago and it was sad to see my dad react to it all. More than half of the store was blocked off so we couldn't really walk around the entirety of the store.
So sad. One of the only retail stores that I felt an emotional connection to.
Amorphous Root So True!!!
Amorphous Root my gf feels aroused when seeing Amazon logo because of sex toys
@@tigercat418 Wtf 😂😂😂
A while ago, I bought a WWE Championship belt at my local Toys R Us in Wyomissing, PA. It will be the last thing I ever buy at Toys R Us. I figured the last thing I buy from a store that I've been to all my life should be something special.
I walked into toys r us, expecting to just check out what they have left and ended up walking out with $230 worth of stuff (including that megazord shown in the video) for only $99. I almost cried cause this was my last time at toys r us and actually walked away with a deal. Regardless of everything, I will never loose my inner child. Thank u for posting the video and hope u never give up your inner child either.
JC Castillo I know that feel man. People tend to think that is childish that grown ups still had that kid inside them alive and kicking, but i don't mind that at all. When Gamestop left the stores in Puerto Rico it was a bit saddening because that's where i used to get my videogames most of the time despite the expensiveness. It is videos like this that reminds me of my great days as a kid walking down the store and looking at the toys that i wish i could have at the time, but my parents didn't have the money to afford it but still it bringed me joy just by being there.
All of the Australian stores are going out too. It’s going to be weird not being able to wander around one aimlessly when I’m bored.
It was my favorite job I've had, I'm gonna miss it :(
Dead Spirals I loved working there when I was younger, just such a fun job.
Spent 5 years working for one too, my store closed 10 years after I left and when ever I see it, closed up in the "Savers" it's now in, just makes me sad, even moreso now with all of this.
Looking back at this it feels sad to see Toys R Us go out of business but the prices really went sky rocket years ago and they rarely went down. I have great memories of it despite that i was mostly a KB Toys kid back then, but to me it was a amazing place to be and look at everything they had in store.
That last part though, excuse me umm my eyes are sweating 😰
Skavossis someone was chopping a shit ton of onions near me while I was working on that part.
Retail Archaeology Was it the ninjas?
Retail Archaeology don't worry I think I'll ask the ningas to stop cutting onions also FREE NON-EXISTENT TISSES
When I was a kid ToysRus was where we went to get our video games, grabbing that yellow and blue slip and taking it to the window where an employee would then hand you your new game. It was so exciting for me as a kid. So many memories there. I have a son who is 5. I'm glad he least got the chance to experience some of the things there that i did as a kid. He hardly knew what to do with himself there. Picking up one toy and playing with it, only to see another toy that looks cooler, and just keeps doing that throughout the entire store. Sad it's just gonna be a memory now :(
It is odd how the bean counters price everything so high at these liquidation sales. As a result a lot of the stuff just ends up in the bin.
Discount stores like Big Lots will come in and buy all the rest of the stuff. They dont usually throw brand new items away during a liquidation. If that were the case they would be better off selling everything for a dollar.
:( And so goes another childhood fixture.
The papers at 11:59 look like Modular Sheets. They're instructions on where ti put shelving, pegs, and items. Generally each 4 foot section will be represented by it's own sheet.
It's how to set up the Mod, for sure. Different retail outlets have different names for the Modular Sheets, of course.
I grew up a Toys R Us kid, and while it’s sad to see the stores close, I understand why it’s happening. A store that has to keep the lights burning, employees paid, and taxes assessed just can’t keep up with online availability and pricing. It’s sad that kids today have so few toy stores to let their imaginations run wild in. So to all the Toys R Us employees who are losing or have lost their jobs, I wish you best of luck in the future. Thank you for letting me be that pain in the butt kid who played with all the displays that you had to put back up.
Sad day indeed no more Toys R Us near me. Closed for good had lots of memories..
Today was my last time going to my childhood store. It’s very sad to see Toys R Us go. Especially when you’ve grown up going to a specific store
The pieces of paper shows the inventory of what goes on the shelf, as well as how to stock the shelf for display looks. (where everything should go, how to showcase it off) Wal-Mart has those as well.
I used to be an unloader @ Wal-Mart and sometimes would have to stock shelves.
I went over the weekend. To say 👋
Oh, you got to get some toys r us displays dude, they go great on a wall, I managed to grab the Welcome/Exit signs from my local's closure over here in the UK.
Also, was there much in the way of Star Wars merch there? See a lot of YT channels blaiming the saturation of the new SW movies on the clsure of the company.
But it truly is the end of an era, I was lucky to have a store reasonably near me in the '80s when Toys R Us were testing the waters of running here, so I got loads of memories of birthdays going there. such a shame :(
Larry Bundy Jr There was a lot of Star Wars stuff at the beginning of the liquidation sales, but at the time when this was filmed all the Star Wars stuff was pretty much gone.
this is so desperate and sad. :(
Herbert N it's the memory surrounding it and also the fact that they sell the furniture seems so desperate.
They sold the furniture because it has no use for them anymore,instead of letting it rot they gave it another life
Herbert N dude with your comment you obviously don’t understand it wasn’t just the toys it was the memories as a kid of the excitement of going memories of my mom ect fuck online it ruined the world
I live across the country from my childhood Toys R Us, so sadly I won't be able to make a final visit. My mom did go there yesterday and bought one of the shopping baskets with the old early 90s style logo/Geoffrey on it. So now, not only do I own a little piece of my childhood store, but it is actually from the era when I enjoyed it! A cool parting memento.
Those papers at 11:58 are what are called "planograms". They show how to set up product on shelves.
Michael Niemiera a fellow person of retail:)
Yep. Former Radio Shack employee here; seeing a stack of fresh Plan-o-Grams in the backroom would be my cherry on top of an awful day.
I found my Stores MPS (Merchandise Protection Standards) from 2013 under some base decks on Saturday.
I think I mentioned this when you tweeted it out, but I'm so jealous you found Pokemon Y for that good of a price.
nWoreviewer that was a steal. Even used its like a 20 dollar game.
Its crazy to see how old some of that stuff was. The R-Zone really got me as that console was discontinued over 20 years ago and was really only hyped in like 95. Babies who were born then are now college grads. I have a feeling most of the people who are sad about this are those of us who are now old and grew up with them in the 80s/90s/00s and not so much the kids.
I was born in 2004 and although I am still a kid (just turned 14) I have fond memories of buying all my wooden Thomas and Friends engines at my local Toys R Us when I was really young
Your videos are the cleanest, best pleasure
The Almighty Cornholio Thank you so much!
Have a seat over here...
+The Almighty Cornholio "Cleanest best pleasure"? I see what you did there.why don't you take a seat over there...I'm Chris Hanson😉
I can just imagine if that store had like really old Transformers toys sitting in storage and collecting dust. Like how you mentioned that there were merchandise of Spider-Man 2 that is from over 10 years ago, then I can imagine toys from the first Michael Bay Transformers movie or Energon figures that had been long forgotten in the storage.
Thank god the TRU stores are fine in my country
Skywarp / Swedish Seacon I found those same Spider-Man 2 augmented things in my store today 🤣😂😪
That ancient stuff that was pointed out in the video actually wasn't owned by Toys R Us. That was owned by the Liquidators. I am working at a different liquidating chain, BonTon, and we have the same liquidators here. Same signs, same stickers, and I can recognize the UPC design. The Liquidators have probably owned that ancient stuff for years when they liquidated a different place, and now they're trying to shove it on Toys R Us so they can get rid of it. We've got some of the same thing going on at Bonton, although we are getting new merchandise as well since the Liquidators own or have stock in some still-living brands.
Ohhh, more content to kick off my weekend!
Wasn't going anywhere today, but this video inspired me to go visit my local Toys R Us one last time.
Seeing this made me sad. I know for a fact that many American gamers got their first console from their local Toys R Us, and I for one remember seeing some ads of the chain selling video games, I assume there is a very large subset of the American population sad to see it go.
For whatever reason though, Toys R' Us is still in business where I am from, though that being said, I never remembered it being particularly fond of video games, just your educational games and what not. The Babies R' Us section however, is still pretty popular.
Nothing held back, 40-60% off, except lego which is 30%....sneaky, sneaky.
Went for one last trip today. 75 % of the store is gone with only a few days left. Sign said 6 days but an employee said Tuesday is the last day. I didn’t grow up with TRU in my small town. Didn’t encounter one till I moved to a larger city as an adult. Even so I will miss it and remember all my time looking for reproduction vintage GI Joes and Captain Actions and later on finding many Marvel Legends. It’s just sad.
My nearest Toys-R-Us (Fairfield, CA) was one of the first to go out of business back in the mid-2000s. The last thing I ever bought from them was a Player's Choice copy of "Megaman 8". Couldn't beat it as a kid, but then sold it on for the Megaman anniversary collection on Gamecube instead.
We grew up, that's why we arn't Toy R Us kids anymore.
Yep, and places like KMart, Walmart, Target, etc.. over the years have had more convenient locations, and better pricing even if it's a smaller selection, and for my family's budget growing up that meant a lot, and still hold true today with my girlfriend's daughter, along with my nieces, and nephews.
Commodorefan64 Your user name reminded me of our Commodore64 coming from Children's Palace that Toys are Us undercut, put into liquidation after bankruptcy. Just as WalMart did small stores in communities, Lowe's did to local hardware store.
Less choice in past 25 years....sorry I like to look at, touch things to purchase so cheap Chinese junk from online doesn't cut it for me.
Don't grow up. It's a trap.
Commodorefan64. Kmart is also closing.
Savage logan 36 lucky mine closed in april.
Im going to miss toys r us. Bought a pikmin and jirachi plush, baymax figure, mewtwo amiibo and Cozmo there.
i from a small town and my family would drive like 3 hours to the nearest toys r us just to look at video games thats where i got the playstation 1 really good memories there
I made my last trip out to my local Toys R Us last Friday and it was depressing. My store didn't even have that many action figures or video games left, but they still had a crapload of dolls left. Also, I'm wrestling figure collector, and I'm kinda jealous of your TRU's WWE section because it had still had more figures left than mine did. I only found like 10 or less actual WWE figures in the entire store but they had a lot of the WWE fashion dolls though (which are probably still there as of now).
Anyways, thanks for making a great video. I'm gonna miss Toys R Us. :'(
#RIPToysRUs
Thank you for this last look at the Superstition Springs Toys R Us. So many memories.
That last shot was sadly beautiful
I miss Toys R Us I wish it worked out where they could ironed themselves out and stayed open for generations to be Toys R Us kids
Decided to stop by the one near me today. If anything it seemed even worse off. There were about three aisle of toys left up front. The rest of the isle were not only stripped, but also roped off with caution tape. Nearly the whole store looked abandon except for those of us picking over the remains. Much like yours, all the fixtures were stuffed in the back and they were selling pretty much anything anyone would offer to buy. The good news is, I did score some of those brand signs you mentioned that used to be in the isles. They were selling them off for $1.50 each. Got a couple of tech toys ones and an Imaginarium sign. Not quite sure what we'll do with them, but we'll figure something out. They confirmed their last day is this Thursday. End of an Era.
My last purchase there was the NIB Jada Battle Machines Radio Control Laser Combat Tag (Silverado Vs Mustang) back in 2011. Nothing ever brought me more joy with toys than the ones from Toys R' Us, so sad to see them go😞
And... that's why you don't do risky leveraged buyouts.
I remember buying so many LEGO sets, and Atari 2600 games back in the day. Also, I can remember when they had a whole aisle dedicated to model trains and racing car sets. Sad to see them go.
Andrew Grabon I remember that aisle! They had the slot car tracks over there.
The motivational message video capture is almost more perfect an descriptive visual than one created on purpose.
Heart wrenching.
Used to go to toys r us all the time with my grandma up until she passed in 2016. When they started closing down everything, my folks and I went in one last time. Ended up buying a pokemon USUM Z-Ring bracelet as my last toys r us purchase. Hopefully some day toys r us will come back
I'm planning on going to my childhood Toys R Us here one last time this week as the store closes on the 26th or 27th I believe. Much as I know it'll be a heart-wrenching experience, being that I'll never set foot in one ever again, I feel it has to be done.
I still remember when as a kid I walked into our local store and they had you walk along a hallway where one side was board games up to the ceiling and the other was the glass cases full of electronics and video game systems. Then you went around the corner and there it opened up to all the toy aisles.
Who here remembers buying video games at Toys R Us by grabbing a sheet of paper from the envelopes under each game's box art, paying at the cash register, and then going to the video game counter and having the employee get your game from behind the glass cases?
This is sad to watch. This store was also my childhood Toys R Us store. I bought a lot stuff here in the 90's and 2000's. I remember in the 90's you would take the piece of paper tied to the toy, check out, and there was a pickup area. Also, Little Nemo Dream Master rocks!
I'm a grown ass man and when I saw that message on their web site it brought me to tears, so may great memory's flooded back to me about my childhood and even my young adult years when i worked for toys r us as a seasonal employee. I loved Toys R Us as many of us did. Here's to not growing up!
Unfortunately the Toys R Us where I live now closed three years ago and the land ended up being turned into a Subaru dealership, so a final visit isn't possible. While I was growing up the city where I lived didn't get a Toys R Us until 1990...and it was awesome! I grew up watching all the Toys R us commercials on the cable channels so I definitely knew all about it. I spent SO much time at my local one back before I moved 10 years ago; right after I finished watching The Lion King for the first time back in 1994 Toys R Us was the first place I went after leaving the theater. I also remember seeing The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening on display there and was blown away by it and being shown a Game Boy Micro and being amazed at how tiny it was. It is so sad to see it go.
bet you anything a lot of the left over stock will go to large buy out retailers like Big Lots to be sold at a discounted price.
LordIron Bargain Hunt is some new thing in past year, people buy pallet loads. Not sure why but always seems busy when I drive by. 1 is in old PNC mortgage(that was an old Best Products store)then 5 miles away is another in family owned grocery store that WalMart put out of business. Used to have a Big Lots in same strip that is a Dollar General.
Used to be a trip to Toys R US was like a trip to Disneyland, when I was a kid
great video! also your daughter is adorable and these trips with you are probably going to be core memories for her (:
also those brooms for sale at 4:05 are the saddest things I've seen in awhile haha
So sad. Used to go to this one all the time when I was little for legos. Great vid.
My Mom: So I've seen shipping pallets used to create interesting wall texture
Me: You know, I bet Toys R Us has those for cheap
My Mom: Way to squeeze in one last trip in there Sula
Maybe I'm manipulative, but I like Toys R Us and I will miss it. I haven't been this bummed since Bor (hacks of sadness) Border's.
Also, outdated iPhone Cases? Yes! Finally one for my iPhone 4!
My "last" TRU haul included this originally $70 LEGO Ninjago Movie set "Fire Mech" for 30% off. That was pretty cool.
Sula Mareska pallets ate always frew.. just go look near dumpsters
Damn, iphone 4? That's one survivor you have there.
I miss borders so much. Now the nearest bookstore is about ~1 hr from my house (Borders was 1/2 an hour). Definitely a childhood icon
This is so sad. I was planning on going to Baby’s R Us to pick up some things for my son when I go back to the U.S. for Christmas this year. But meh, at least we still have TRU and BRU in Japan!
NicoNicoleinTokyo Too bad TRU service isn't thay great even in Japan. Do not ever rely on a guarantee or warrantee from TRU Japan.
NicoNicoleinTokyo They still have Toys R Us in Canada
I thought you already knew its closed since you've talked about Japan's tru and bru are still going strong and you buy stuff for your child there?
Burn4Freedom420 yeah yru bru
its ok hun. we could do away with logistichs just fine. loved playing chopsticks the same
New subscriber 😬
I love your filming and your voice makes it relaxing to watch and enjoy 😊
Same scenes were here in the UK. Genuinely feel sad knowing that all those experiences I had as a kid has ended up very much like this... empty shelves. I'll never forget all the cool displays, funky sound effects and inviting lights I saw as a kid as I was running down the isles. I hope that I'll be able to share similar experiences with my children somewhere else one day.
Play on!
I remember Toys R Us very well... every week, when I was small, my father would take me there to buy a small Zoids figurine - until I got a big one! And, of course, the videogames. It's where I got my very own Pokemon Blue!
And now, both my father and Toys R Us are gone. (note: my fathers passing was not related to toys r us. but i could remember him when i went past the store.)
The ones in Australia are closing so very soon... I'd best go visit again. I wonder if they still have some of the very old game console stations...? Probably not, lol.
Austrailia is outliving the American brand by a couple of weeks so the process starts all over again but there (meaning you will likely still have the few months of liquidation like in the UK and now USA).
June 29th, 2018 😢😭 I have to be there on the last day. ❤️
kittenpawsbb I went the 27th last cause mine is closing on the 28th I’m also crying right now
Best of luck to you and your coworkers!
Mr. Krabs I went yesterday too, it was scheduled to close on the 29th. But it was actually the last day. Last week it still had a good amount of toys, but it was basically empty yesterday. I didn't want to start crying in front of my children, I know it would upset them even more. Hopefully you were able to get some memorabilia. Thank you!
GreenJeep1998 Oh I don't work at Toysrus, really wish I was able to though. I meant for sentimental reason, I felt like, I have to be there on the last day. I also wish everyone was able to find new employment. Almost did lose it when I saw a grow man wearing a t-shirt, "I'm a Toys R Us kid". 😔 He was very popular, practically everyone notice his shirt and giving him compliments. 🤗 Thank you
kittenpawsbb I was. It was super depressing.
One of my earliest memories of going to TRU was when I was around 4 or 5 and I went with my dad to one and I held his hand and we walked around looking at train sets. The train sets were inside glass cases way to high for myself to see so my dad picked me up so I could watch the trains go around and round. It was so cool to see the lights and the trains going inside tunnels and the whole diorama set up for the train. My local TRU moved from its original location years ago to a new location so even though TRU is closing, I can still enter the old TRU building and kinda remember it until whatever store is there now, also closes.
I just got back from what will probably be my last Toys R US stop, as there really is nothing left.
From March to now I've gone back every 2 or 3 weeks and watched as everything dwindled down. Also bought a lot of neat things.
It would be neat if the KB Toys thing comes through, until then though I've heard that Walmart, Target, Fred Meyer, and Party City are looking to expand their toy sections. Or in the case of Party City, create one.
I grew up going to the Toys R Us on Route 40 Pulaski Highway I guess from about 1983/84. I lived at this store when my dad came home on leave (Air Force). Most of my toddler American culture was in this store, where my dad would buy He-man, Sega Master System games, and Transformers, et al. I still live up the road from this location, and I plan on stopping by today as a final goodbye. Maybe I’ll pick up a video game...who knows.
Luke Dodge I actually know the one you are talking about. I went to that one as a kid also from about 1987 on till I moved away. I moved to the Rosedale area in 87. I was only 4. I used to live off of Philadelphia Rd close to Franklin Square Hospital.
Luke Dodge Best Transformers!
I need to take one last trip to the Tucson Toys R Us. There are only 2 locations here.
On a day like today, I'm guess I'm kinda glad I didn't grow up with Toys R Us. We moved to AZ in 1978 The Toys R Us was on Camelback at about the 500 block east. At the old age of 15, record stores held more sway then toy stores. Before moving here, my folks did more shopping in independently owned "Hobby Shops".I guess that's why I built models (loved the smell of Testor's glue), had Aurora slot car tracks and Estes Model Rockets (incredibly dangerous by today's standards). And big G. I. Joes, even though he was now on 'the Adventure Team' because of the anti-war sentiments after Vietnam. But I got a portable stereo (turntable flipped down and detachable blue plastic speakers) for Christmas about 6th grade. With that and an Elton John album (Don't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player), I left toys behind. And six months later, I remember tearing down my Elton John poster to put up a Kiss poster. I didn't realize music was my 'Adult' version of toy collecting. And it was 1975........
My dad was a teenager when this exact toy store was built. I grew up in this toy store I loved going to toys r us around Christmas time
I hate to see this. It’s truly depressing. My children (if that’ll ever happen 😂) will never get to experience actual toy stores. But I’m part of the problem. When I buy anything wether it’s a gift for a niece or something for myself, I get it online. We live such fast lives it’s so convenient to just one click order it on amazon and most of the time cheaper. This reminds me of when the hobby shops in my city all closed. I used to build RC cars circa 2008 and buying from a hobby shop was pointless when I can order anything I needed online and pay ~20% less.
---Btw I tried to buy the rug at the front entrance of my local Toys R Us, they basically told me to kick rocks. I was really upset lol. It was sick, it had the original geoffrey the giraffe art. 🤷🏽♂️
What?!? Seriously?! Eh I'd just befriend the staff or wait until they close and check the dumpster. Can't say no to thrown away shit.
Giovanni Santana I really wonder if our lives are truly that busy.
Toys r us was intentionally sabotaged. Worked there for the last 3 years. First christmas they couldn't keep the store stocked. There was nights I'd be there and we would literally just be condensing things from the top and bottom shelves to middle shelves for easier shopping. Second christmas they sent us too much. We just had mountains of things stacked around the store until the last christmas where it was a mix of the prior two years. We got very little product that was around the 15-20 buck mark. Which is what people most frequently look for. Having half a truck consisting of $99 items didn't help. Then there was the last summer where two weeks before we had the back to school reset coming they dropped two trucks of summer supplies on us because "stores were running low on stock". We donated a little under 1000 cases of summer product that was unable to be sold. The levels of mismanagement involved in those last years make me suspect it was intentional.
All assets were supposed to be auctioned off but after they dropped their responsibilities to employees, vendors, and creditors they canceled the auction to keep the brands. I don't understand how this process was legal. Toys R Us is coming back and I'm never going to be able to look at the company the same way for what they did to us.
I loved toy-r-us, that was the coolest store when I was younger. It’s sad to see it go.
Crazy that you used the music from little nemo and the dream masters. I got that game from toy r us back in the day and played it non stop. Thanks for that memory back man. Good video too.
2:48 S O M E T H I N G G O O E Y
Thankfully, with having moved, I don't have to see the store I have the best memories of in this shape.
Your video literally brought a tear to my eye. Its funny you picked little nemo for your music I remember my grandpa taking me their to look at the games and i wanted that game so bad.. it brought alot of memories flooding through my head- im 40 and my mom passed in November and when i was a kid she worked long hours as a waitress.. when ever she had some time to herself she would take me to toys R us to get a new GI joe or i would look through the glass of the video game section to see what new NES game came out or dreaming of getting the sega genisis.... its so super depressing thinking about this that its gone.. so many memories! Thanks for your video.
Last october the toys r us in Oklahoma City was turned into a decoration store for the season and I could still see old shelves and the layout and I actually got really sad, I know exactly how you feel when you said you felt emotional. This store was my childhood for sure.