Toys 'R' Us UK at Risk of Closing 25 Stores
Saturday, December 2nd, 2017 5:03AM CST
Categories: Company News, Store NewsPosted by: Va'al Views: 26,302
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It appears that, according to the BBC, out of the 106 stores currently open in the UK, at least 25 of them will be closed in the coming months due to issues of rental costs and the model of the stores themselves. You can read more about the issue here, but it seems as though holiday retail at least will not be affected, though several thousand jobs will be cut if no solution is found on time.
Worth noting: this is an entirely different issue than the Chapter 11 filing, and is limited to the UK locations of the retailer.
The closures would form part of a deal to renegotiate debts owed by the company to its landlords - which must be agreed by 75% of its creditors.
The toy giant, which has around 3,000 workers, is looking to move away from its "big-box" out-of-town store model.
Christmas trading and gift cards are not expected to be affected.
The company is seeking approval from its board and US parent company to enter talks with the landlords.
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Posted by Carnivius_Prime on December 2nd, 2017 @ 6:36am CST
Posted by Evil Eye on December 2nd, 2017 @ 7:00am CST
Posted by frogbat on December 2nd, 2017 @ 7:09am CST
Posted by Aimless Misfire on December 2nd, 2017 @ 7:13am CST
hurricane567 wrote:My local US TRU has a 4 foot wide Transformers section. [orders Misfire from Timmy's Toy Box/Amazon.com]
lol Same here! I got 2 Misfires & 1 Windblade from Timmy's.
Misfire is one of my favorites but I'll probably never see him in a store.
Posted by Cybertronius Primus on December 2nd, 2017 @ 7:32am CST
Posted by nemesisorion on December 2nd, 2017 @ 12:22pm CST
Posted by Prime Nova on December 2nd, 2017 @ 2:27pm CST
Posted by nemesisorion on December 2nd, 2017 @ 3:02pm CST
Posted by Prime Nova on December 2nd, 2017 @ 3:27pm CST
Posted by Carnivius_Prime on December 3rd, 2017 @ 1:17am CST
Prime Nova wrote:Don't worry we have Smyths Toy Superstore & The Entertainer that do stock toys & aren't empty like tru stores.
The Entertainer charges £23 for £18 Titans Return figures...And they have done since way before TLK Deluxes were £23 so doesn't seem like an error and I've pointed it out to them but they're like... "huh". Also their stock (at least going by the Cambridge store) of Transformers is far worse than the same town's Toys R Us.
Also unrelated to TFs but still bugs me is that Toys R Us is the retailer even remotely near me that stocks Mega Construx which I love to (and often pose with Transformers) so I really don't want to see them go.
Posted by Stuartmaximus on December 7th, 2017 @ 7:08pm CST
http://money.cnn.com/2017/12/06/news/co ... index.html
Posted by Va'al on December 19th, 2017 @ 9:32am CST
As you might remember, the UK branch of the retail chain has been facing some rough times entirely independently of the US branch's bankruptcy filing, and around a quarter of their stores in the country could be facing closure. The latest addition to that story, as reported by major UK national media, informs us that pension funds may also be in trouble. Apparently, whatever the outcome stores will not be closing until the spring, meaning that holiday shopping (and jobs) will be unaffected, but you can read more on this below.
Toys R Us UK is facing potential collapse this week with the loss of 3,200 jobs as it struggles to win the support of the state-backed Pension Protection Fund (PPF) for a planned restructure.
The PPF, the industry-funded, state-backed safety net, demanded that the troubled retailer pump about £9m into the ailing Toys R Us UK pension fund.
This is in order to gain the PPF’s support for the retailer’s planned company voluntary arrangement (CVA) procedure, which involves the closure of at least 26 loss-making stores. That deal would lead to the loss of up to 800 jobs.
[...]
Malcolm Weir, director of restructuring and insolvency at the PPF, said the body had yet to decide how to vote: ‘‘We are seeking to fully understand the current position of the company, including its future potential, position of the US parent and the reported historic financial transactions.
“The pension scheme is already underfunded and, if we were to vote in favour of the CVA, we would need actions taken that ensure the position of the pension scheme was not going to further weaken.
“Whatever the outcome of the CVA, the pension scheme members can be reassured that they remain protected.”
Posted by Rodimus Knight on December 19th, 2017 @ 9:47am CST
I wouldn't be surprised if Toys R Us wasn't around next holiday season.
Posted by Carnivius_Prime on December 19th, 2017 @ 11:20am CST
Posted by nemesisorion on December 19th, 2017 @ 1:27pm CST
Posted by Deathsaurus1 on December 19th, 2017 @ 1:57pm CST
So really why would i go there when i know walmart and target usually get in the newer waves about 2 weeks later at a cheaper price? And those two stores are alot closer.
Nothing about toysrus is great or gives much incentive to go there.
Even there masterpiece prices are insane.
Mpm-3 bumblebee is $90 at toysrus vs bbts $79.
Posted by Carnivius_Prime on December 19th, 2017 @ 4:29pm CST
Posted by Asepticon on December 19th, 2017 @ 7:01pm CST
Posted by william-james88 on December 21st, 2017 @ 11:31am CST
Bloomberg states that the holiday shopping season has not yielded the numbers Toysrus was hoping for, though with the season not being over and the numbers for this quarter not released yet, we do not have a clear view at what numbers they are actually referring to.
Toys “R” Us Inc., which filed for bankruptcy in September, is considering closing at least 100 U.S. stores in the face of weak holiday sales, according to people with knowledge of the situation.
U.S. sales have declined about 15 percent this Christmas-shopping season from a year earlier, according to people recently briefed on the matter, who asked not to be identified because the information isn’t public. The number of closed stores could reach approximately 200, one of the people said, but no decision has been made.
Toysrus themselves have commented by simply stating that any real number for stores closing is pure speculation at the moment and probably inaccurate:
“Final decisions about our real estate portfolio will be done only after careful consideration about the best interests of our business,” said spokeswoman Amy von Walter. “Any speculation on that figure is premature and likely to be inaccurate.”
Posted by nemesisorion on December 21st, 2017 @ 11:47am CST
Posted by That_Guy on December 21st, 2017 @ 11:58am CST
Posted by o.supreme on December 21st, 2017 @ 12:04pm CST
I just hope the couple stores I have a lot of sentimental attachment to stay open. They are in the heart of densely populated areas. especially THIS ONE, though it is over 120 miles from where I am currently, I have some history with it...
https://backpackerverse.com/haunted-toysrus/
Posted by dragons on December 21st, 2017 @ 1:02pm CST
nemesisorion wrote:Bye bye shits r us
Would you prefer shopping at walmart they don't sell master piece figures and there selection sucks no matter what prices are on all figures
Posted by dragons on December 21st, 2017 @ 1:03pm CST
nemesisorion wrote:Bye bye shits r us
Would you prefer shopping at walmart they don't sell master piece figures and there selection sucks no matter what prices are on all figures
Posted by gothsaurus on December 21st, 2017 @ 1:51pm CST
Posted by Kyleor on December 21st, 2017 @ 4:17pm CST
But this is also the same company who thinks it's OK to regularly not have anyone at any register or anywhere else in the front of the store.
Fingers crossed the restructuring includes replacing upper management with better decision makers.
Posted by fenrir72 on December 21st, 2017 @ 6:37pm CST
Also, major bummer for the TRU employees.......
Posted by fenrir72 on December 21st, 2017 @ 6:38pm CST
Kyleor wrote:I'm always amazed when companies work their way to be a big/major name in their category/field, then somehow manage to self destruct, usually with a 'we're too big to fail' type attitude from the upper management.
But this is also the same company who thinks it's OK to regularly not have anyone at any register or anywhere else in the front of the store.
Fingers crossed the restructuring includes replacing upper management with better decision makers.
It's called cost cutting.
Posted by Editor on December 22nd, 2017 @ 1:22am CST
Posted by Ultra Markus on December 22nd, 2017 @ 9:17pm CST
Editor wrote:It's going to end up being closing a bunch of locations in areas where a few stores are too close to each other, and stand alone babiesRus shops that will get merged into the TRU locations. It's crap for the employees, and for some communities that could lose their stores but honestly what did we expect when they filed for bankruptcy protection.
lets just hope that we dont see them go down like KB toys
Posted by Jelze Bunnycat on January 24th, 2018 @ 8:57am CST
Full list of stores to close, sorted by state
And man! My local one is targeted! That means I'll have to go another town over for any TRU exclusives!
Posted by D-Maximal_Primal on January 24th, 2018 @ 10:18am CST
JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:It's official guys: Toys 'R Us has opted to close up to 182 locations across the US. Here's a quick link:
Full list of stores to close, sorted by state
And man! My local one is targeted! That means I'll have to go another town over for any TRU exclusives!
We are working on newsing this now.
But as I speak, I'm actually very surprised to see my local TRU is not on the list... interesting considering the size
Posted by william-james88 on January 24th, 2018 @ 10:41am CST
"The reinvention of our brands requires that we make tough decisions about our priorities and focus. The actions we are taking are necessary to give us the best chance to emerge from our bankruptcy proceedings as a more viable and competitive company."
As you may recall, Toysrus Canada had also filed for bankruptcy protection independently from its American parent. Those stores, which were later revealed to be very profitable and a crucial asset to Toysrus, will remain open. The president of Toysrus Canada, Melanie Teed-Murch, said that their Canadian operations "will be taking additional steps to improve the overall customer omnichannel experience with compelling promotions, continued improvements to mobile and digital marketing and enhancements to our baby registry and loyalty programs."
Now here is a list of all stores closing in the US. Please note that several of these are solely Babiesrus stores:
Alabama
2600 McFarland Blvd. East, Tuscaloosa AL
335 Summit Blvd., Birmingham AL
Arizona
801 W. 32nd Street, Yuma AZ
12801 North Tatum Blvd., Paradise Valley AZ
9139 Indian Bend Rd., Scottsdale AZ
4619 N. Oracle Rd., Tucson AZ
7000 E. Mayo Blvd., Scottsdale AZ
US 60 and Signal Butte Rd., Mesa AZ
Arkansas
2616 S. Shackleford Rd., Little Rock AR
California
42500 Jackson St., Indio CA
1189 Simi Town Ctr. Way, Simi Valley CA
26573 Carl Boyer Dr., Santa Clarita CA
960 Lakes Dr., Covina CA
1600 S. Azusa Ave., Puente Hills CA
2575 E. Imperial Highway, Brea CA
530 Westminster Mall, Westminster CA
20120 Hawthorne Blvd., Torrance CA
2550 Canyon Springs Pkwy S., Riverside CA
700 "A" Onstott Rd., Yuba City CA
2785 E. Bidwell St., Folsom CA
1330 Fitzgerald, Pinole CA
4505 Century Blvd., Pittsburg CA
600 Francisco Blvd., San Rafael CA
5461 Lone Tree Way, Brentwood CA
1400 Gateway Blvd., Fairfield CA
3938 Horton, Emeryville CA
2179 Monterey Hwy., E. San Jose CA
865 Blossom Hill Rd., San Jose / Almade CA
3520 W. Shaw Ave., Fresno CA
31250 Court House Dr., Union City CA
10640 Trinity Pkwy., Stockton CA
3900 Bristol Street, Santa Ana CA
3665 Grand Oaks, Corona CA
1240 W. Morena Blvd., Mission Bay CA
8181 Mira Mesa Blvd., Mira Mesa CA
1990 University Drive, Vista CA
Colorado
1150 S. Ironton, Aurora CO
Connecticut
376 North Universal Drive, North Haven CT
275 Union St., Waterbury CT
3491 Berlin Turnpike, Newington CT
169 Hale Road, Manchester CT
Florida
1625 Apalachee Pkwy., Tallahassee FL
1900 Tyrone Blvd., St. Petersburg FL
3908 West Hillsborough Avenue, Tampa FL
6001 Argyle Forest Blvd., Orange Park FL
Spring 708 West State Rd. 436, Altamonte FL
21697 State Road #7, Boca Raton FL
10732 SW Village Pkwy., Port St. Lucie FL
450 South SR 7, Royal Palm Beach FL
2601 W.Osceola Parkway, Kissimmee FL
6001 West Sample Road, Coral Springs FL
3214 N John Young Pkwy., Kissimmee FL
Georgia
2601 Dawson Rd., Albany GA
2955 Cobb Parkway, Smyrna GA
6380 No. Point Parkway, Alpharetta GA
1155 Mt. Vernon Hwy., Dunwoody GA
6875 Douglas Boulevard, Douglasville GA
8160 Mall Parkway, Conyers GA
221 Newnan Crossing Bypass, Newnan GA
132 Pavilion Parkway, Fayetteville GA
Indiana
3928 E 82nd Street, Indianapolis IN
8800 US 31 South, Greenwood IN
Iowa
1211 E. Army Post Rd., S. Des Moines IA
8801 University Ave., Des Moines IA
Illinois
1610 Deerfield Rd., Highland Park IL
16 East Golf Rd., Schaumburg IL
295 Center Drive, Vernon Hills IL
5001 Lincoln Highway, Matteson IL
6420 W. Fullerton, Bricktown IL
7750 South Cicero Avenue, Burbank IL
5660 Touhy Avenue, Niles IL
Kansas
4646 W. Kellogg, Wichita KS
8500 W 135th Street, Overland Park KS
Kentucky
4900 Shelbyville Rd., St. Mathews KY
1155 Buck Creek Rd., Simpsonville KY
1965 Star Shoot Parkway, Lexington KY
Louisiana
137 Northshore Blvd., Slidell LA
Maine
6 Bangor Mall Blvd., Bangor ME
200 Running Hill Road, Portland ME
Maryland
8401 Mike Shapiro Drive, Clinton MD
Massachusetts
302 Providence, Dedham MA
70 Worcester Providence Tpk/Rt. 146, Millbury MA
50 Holyoke Street, Holyoke MA
217 Hartford Ave., Bellingham MA
6110 Shops Way, Northborough MA
Shoppers World Plaza, 1 Worcester Road, Framingham MA
Michigan
5363 Harvey Street, Muskegon MI
2620 Crossing Circle, Traverse City MI
5900 W. Saginaw Highway, Lansing MI
4923 28th Street South East, Grand Rapids MI
3725 Carpenter Road, Ann Arbor MI
3725 Washtenaw, Ann Arbor MI
Minnesota
14100 Wayzata Blvd., Minnetonka MN
170 89th Ave., Blaine MN
8236 Tamarack Village, Woodbury MN
900 West 78th Street South, Richfield MN
Mississippi
1003 Bonita Lakes Circle, Meridian MS
200 Bass Pro Dr., Pearl MS
Missouri
1901 Bernadette, Columbia MO
201 Silver Springs Rd., Cape Girardeau MO
5590 St. Louis Mills Blvd., Bridgeton MO
220 THF Blvd., Chesterfield MO
Nebraska
3505 S. 140th Plaza, Omaha NE
Nevada
2150 North Rainbow Blvd., Las Vegas NV
7020 Arroyo Crossing Parkway, Spring Valley NV
New Mexico
45 Hotel Circle, Albuquerque NM
North Carolina
801 Fairview Road, Asheville NC
7001 Fayetteville Road, Durham NC
3300 Westgate Drive, Durham NC
New Hampshire
29 Gusabel Avenue, Nashua NH
New Jersey
1280 Rt. 22 & St. James Ave., Phillipsburg NJ
137 Route 35, Eatontown NJ
100 Promenade Blvd., Bridgewater NJ
2700 Route 22 East., Union NJ
909 US Hwy 1 South., North Brunswick NJ
Rt. 541 & Cadillac Road, Burlington NJ
2135 Route 38, Cherry Hill NJ
7 Wayne Hills Mall, Wayne NJ
545 Route 17 South, Paramus NJ
98 Route 10 West., East Hanover NJ
Kids World 900 Center Drive, Elizabeth NJ
50 International Drive South, Mt. Olive NJ
New York
139-19 20th Ave., College Point NY
24-30 Union Square E, Union Square NY
5181 Sunrise Hwy., Sayville NY
5214 Sunrise Hwy., Massapequa NY
2335 Marketplace Drive, Henrietta NY
1569 Niagara Falls Blvd., Buffalo NY
401 Frank Sottile Boulevard, Kingston NY
708 Upper Glen St., Glens Falls NY
221 Wade Road Extension, Latham NY
2700 Central Park Ave., Yonkers NY
66 Metropolitan Ave., Middle Village NY
1350 Corporate Drive, Westbury NY
108 Veterans Memorial Highway, Commack NY
461 Lycoming Mall Cir, Williamsport NY
1530 Ridge Rd. West, Greece NY
Ohio
6251 Glenway Ave., Western Hills OH
2661 Miamisburg-Centerville Rd., Dayton OH
7841 Mentor Ave., Mentor OH
3610 West Dublin-Granville Rd., Dublin OH
Oklahoma
1119 SE 66th St., Oklahoma City OK
5609-E Rogers Ave., Fort Smith OK
560 Ed Noble Pkwy., Norman OK
Pennsylvania
1061 N. Dupont Highway, Dover PA
100 Welsh Road, Horsham PA
6680 Peach St., Erie PA
3700 William Penn Highway, Monroeville PA
104 Bartlett Ave., Exton PA
2003 Cheryl Dr., Ross Park Mall PA
301 Oakspring Road, Washington PA
18/Valley View Dr., Beaver Valley Route PA
Rhode Island
300 Quaker Lane, Warwick RI
South Carolina
254 Harbison Boulevard, Columbia SC
South Dakota
450 E. Disk Drive, Rapid City SD
Tennessee
7676 Polo Ground Blvd., Memphis TN
5731 Nolensville Rd., Nashville TN
Texas
801 Mesa Hills Dr., West El Paso TX
9730 Katy Freeway, Katy TX
170 E. Stacy Road, Allen TX
7730 N. MacArthur Blvd, Irving TX
420 E. Round Grove Rd., Lewisville TX
13710 Dallas Parkway, Dallas Galleria TX
1309 W. Pipeline Rd., Hurst TX
5800 Overton Ridge Blvd., Hulen TX
Utah
4042 Riverdale Rd., Ogden UT
1122 Fort Union Boulevard, Midvale UT
Virginia
14173 Crossing Place, Potomac Mills VA
12153 Jefferson Ave., Newport News VA
Washington
3567 N.W. Randall Way, Silverdale WA
1325A S.E. Everett Mall Parkway, Everett WA
6104 N. Division Street, Spokane WA
Wisconsin
18550 W. Bluemound Rd., Brookfield WI
2161 Zeier Road, Madison WI
Posted by o.supreme on January 24th, 2018 @ 10:42am CST
Posted by Yotsuyasan on January 24th, 2018 @ 10:53am CST
Posted by That_Guy on January 24th, 2018 @ 11:01am CST
Posted by Terrsolpix on January 24th, 2018 @ 11:10am CST
Posted by no-one on January 24th, 2018 @ 11:18am CST
Posted by mooncake623 on January 24th, 2018 @ 11:25am CST
Posted by Asepticon on January 24th, 2018 @ 11:50am CST
Posted by william-james88 on January 24th, 2018 @ 11:51am CST
- 181 stores are closing in first quarter, starting in February
- This 181 number breaks down to 91 Babiesrus, 47 Toysrus, 37 Side-by-sides, 2 outlets, and 4 express stores
- There will be an opening/remodeling of 12 new co-branded stores, different from the Side by Side build.
- Massive liquidation effort of $200M+ in merchandise.
- Plans to map and improve customer experience, revamp/improve online.
- Less skus in Brick and Mortar.
- Creating a pricing model and promotional strategy that improves the price perception.
Here is the slide they shared.
This information only pertains to the US stores.
Posted by reluctantyouth on January 24th, 2018 @ 11:59am CST
I'm glad Peoria, IL (my store) is a combo store and well run as far as TRU goes.
Posted by TF-fan kev777 on January 24th, 2018 @ 12:06pm CST
reluctantyouth wrote:The Illinois list makes some sense, but Moline, illinois should be on there. The store looks like it was transported here directly from 1985...no updates. The Bloomington, Illinois store should also be on the list. I don't understand the Schaumburg closure...the store was recently renovated from complete craphole to almost decent. I'm sure the rent is just too much in such a swanky Chicago suburb.
I think they are looking more at coverage areas than anything else. That would help explain Moline's and Bloomington's survival versus Schaumburg, Highland Park and Vernon Hills.
Posted by Rodimus Knight on January 24th, 2018 @ 12:19pm CST
TF-fan kev777 wrote:reluctantyouth wrote:The Illinois list makes some sense, but Moline, illinois should be on there. The store looks like it was transported here directly from 1985...no updates. The Bloomington, Illinois store should also be on the list. I don't understand the Schaumburg closure...the store was recently renovated from complete craphole to almost decent. I'm sure the rent is just too much in such a swanky Chicago suburb.
I think they are looking more at coverage areas than anything else. That would help explain Moline's and Bloomington's survival versus Schaumburg, Highland Park and Vernon Hills.
It's probably based on Performance as well, not just location.
Posted by reluctantyouth on January 24th, 2018 @ 12:20pm CST
Posted by kurthy on January 24th, 2018 @ 12:22pm CST
TF-fan kev777 wrote:reluctantyouth wrote:The Illinois list makes some sense, but Moline, illinois should be on there. The store looks like it was transported here directly from 1985...no updates. The Bloomington, Illinois store should also be on the list. I don't understand the Schaumburg closure...the store was recently renovated from complete craphole to almost decent. I'm sure the rent is just too much in such a swanky Chicago suburb.
I think they are looking more at coverage areas than anything else. That would help explain Moline's and Bloomington's survival versus Schaumburg, Highland Park and Vernon Hills.
I don't think coverage is an issue there, as Davenport, IA is staying open, too (right across the river). I'm always able to find stuff there in stock the quickest, but it also looks transported here from the '80s.
Posted by Editor on January 24th, 2018 @ 12:33pm CST
william-james88 wrote:As you may recall, Toysrus Canada had also filed for bankruptcy protection independently from its American parent. Those stores, which were later revealed to be very profitable and a crucial asset to Toysrus, will remain open. The president of Toysrus Canada, Melanie Teed-Murch, said that their Canadian operations "will be taking additional steps to improve the overall customer omnichannel experience with compelling promotions, continued improvements to mobile and digital marketing and enhancements to our baby registry and loyalty programs."
This should not be surprising. The Canadian division filing for protection was a defensive measure to ensure creditors owed by TRU could not attempt to recoup losses by trying to bill the Canadian side for payments on American deliveries, or break orders/contracts with the Canadian side if they aren't happy with the US situation.
Long story short, it was done to have creditors treat the two divisions as separate entities, so the Canadian side doesn't "pay for the sins of the Father" so to speak.
That said, the Vancouver area could lose a store in the near future, as the Metrotown location could be impacted by developer (Concord Pacific) plans for the closed Sears that sat directly above that location. Of course the Target is still vacant if they just wished to increase in size and relocate to the other side of the mall, similarly to what they just did at their Willowbrook location.
Posted by ScottyP on January 24th, 2018 @ 12:52pm CST
Posted by Houstonian Prime on January 24th, 2018 @ 12:58pm CST
Posted by reluctantyouth on January 24th, 2018 @ 12:59pm CST
kurthy wrote:TF-fan kev777 wrote:reluctantyouth wrote:The Illinois list makes some sense, but Moline, illinois should be on there. The store looks like it was transported here directly from 1985...no updates. The Bloomington, Illinois store should also be on the list. I don't understand the Schaumburg closure...the store was recently renovated from complete craphole to almost decent. I'm sure the rent is just too much in such a swanky Chicago suburb.
I think they are looking more at coverage areas than anything else. That would help explain Moline's and Bloomington's survival versus Schaumburg, Highland Park and Vernon Hills.
I don't think coverage is an issue there, as Davenport, IA is staying open, too (right across the river). I'm always able to find stuff there in stock the quickest, but it also looks transported here from the '80s.
Davenport remaining open was one of the reason's I thought Moline would likely close and surprised it is not on the list. Both locations have been helped by Kmart closures too. TRU Moline has Target to contend with, but Davenport location is holding its own in that very weird/horrible traffic/corner lot. I do miss the Davenport Kmart. I missed out on Lego deals at both and very disappointed.