When we last visited the Giant toy retailer Toys R Us in 2015, we had no idea that they had decided not to renew its lease for 2016.
If we only knew that was the last time we would get to play and explore the 110,000-square-foot flagship store with the life-sized T-Rex dinosaur, a 60-foot indoor Ferris wheel and a 4,000-square-foot Barbie dollhouse we would have lingered longer.
Toys “R” Us has been a proud resident of Times Square since the international flagship store opened there more than 10 years ago. With soaring rents up to $2,500 per square foot on the ground floor in the 150,000-square-foot building, it was not financially feasible to continue occupancy at this location.
Not bigger, but better!
So they are coming back as a “temporary holiday shop” in a much smaller – 35,000-square-foot (3,300-square-meter) store in the famous Knickerbocker Building on Broadway near 42nd Street.
The new Times Square store will help promote Toys “R” Us’s online-ordering service, which lets customers pick out products on the internet and then fetch them in this fantasy toy world – a thrill for all ages!
It also will have a scaled-down animatronic dinosaur, which I heard is puppy dog for the giant Tyrannosaurus rex that once loomed over a floor of the original store, and also feature play areas with out-of-the-box products, interactive elements and toy demos in play area for kids.
Toys “R” Us thoughtfulness extends to both city dwellers and visitors hosting products tailored to all their needs nurturing the playful minds of young and old, right here in New York, America and around the world.
Race you there! Going online now to make my first order.