I worked at Toys R Us here in Canada throughout high school and university. To this day it’s still my all-time favourite retail job! When Toys R Us was shutting down in the U.S., the Canadian subsidiary was bought out by a Canadian investment firm and became an independent Canadian owned toy store which is still thriving and expanding more locations throughout the country. I’m so happy they were able to become Canadian and avoid the fate of Blockbuster and Sears, whose profitable Canadian subsidiaries were bled dry by their U.S. parent companies to save themselves at the Canadian businesses’ detriment. To this day I still shop at Toys R Us Canada, especially now that I have young nieces and nephews to shop for!
@francoisregis2155
2 жыл бұрын
Its still fun to go check for gifts after all those years I worked 11 years at a TRU in Québec and its still fun to see my old boss.
@xiaoka
2 жыл бұрын
Yes Asia franchises still open too. Japan, Hong Kong, etc.
@chrisbowman9578
Жыл бұрын
The hege fund that destroyed Toys R Us, loaded it up with debt and rook all the money. The company was always profitable. It was murdered by Wall Street.
@skyden24195
2 жыл бұрын
Being a kid in the 80s, I would sometimes imagine how great it would be to one day work for the "biggest toy store there is." In the fall of 1996, that fantasy came true. I worked for the company until spring of 1999, leaving just before the floorplan redesign. (fyi: the floorplan redesign was done in large part to eliminate a lot of the storage space of the stores, the logic being, of course, why keep product in a storeroom when it can be on the salesfloor.) I worked in the "big ticket" department, that is the department responsible for bicycles, cribs, swing sets, and all other large bulky items. At one time I even got to wear the Geoffrey Giraffe costume for a promotional event at the store. Overall, I really had a fun time working there, even getting to do something most kids only dream of: riding a bicycle through the empty aisles of the store after hours.
@francoisregis2155
2 жыл бұрын
Cool I did the same riding a skateboard while the store was closed. My boss even tried a 4wheel drive and toured the store. So many great memories
@skyden24195
2 жыл бұрын
@@francoisregis2155 nice. One of my managers liked to roller-skate in the store during "employee appreciation parties," or whatever they called 'em.
@francoisregis2155
2 жыл бұрын
Cool sometimes we even threw a nerf football who was making noise. It was cool to work there.
@the98themperoroftheholybri33
2 жыл бұрын
I loved toy r us, but I hated that giraffe
@skyden24195
2 жыл бұрын
@@the98themperoroftheholybri33 lol.
@TheLionheartcartoon
2 жыл бұрын
It was probably mentioned before, but Toys R Us didn't die in Canada, it was kept alive and the stores remained open. I'm glad to hear that other stores are opening up again, too :)
@JeepGarageCA
2 жыл бұрын
The Toys R Us I grew up with is the same one my son is now growing up with.
@lizsargent1554
2 жыл бұрын
I’m going to the SherwayGardens(Toronto,Canada,) ToysRUs today after work!
@ve2vfd
2 жыл бұрын
Yup, they never closed here in Canada. Makes shopping for my nephews sooo much easier.
@fildecristal
2 жыл бұрын
I think some have close, like the smaller ones, I have seen one being close, but larger one were still opens. I think it was somethings different about the law in Canada that help them to be still there even with the bankrupcy in the US.
@ButtersCCookie
2 жыл бұрын
That makes sense. Do your stores have Black or Brown Mangers? They didn't in America.
@aaaaaaaaooooooo
2 жыл бұрын
I've got fond memories of the old Toys R Us in the US. Shelves stacked with toys and board games, reaching all the way up to the high ceiling. Toys I've seen from the commercials, as well as toys I've never even heard of. It was a mind-boggling, fascinating universe of toys.
@maryannlockwood7806
2 жыл бұрын
When my husband & I were first dating he worked for Toys “R” Us in their IT area. It was great because if there was a hard to find toy that someone needed he was usually able to get it for them back in the 90s.🦒
@jayaskme2942
2 жыл бұрын
Yea, one of my uncles' worked at our local TRU and wore that same hat. Sadly I wasn't allowed in TRU as a kid because my mom was paranoid about stranger danger in a costume. But they did have the best selection. 1st time I remember actually going inside was with my favorite uncle around age 14, who promptly told me (this is our secret). Also TRU wasn't cheaper then our local toy stores usually, but If it was rare or super popular then they could nearly always get it. ;-)
@storiedworlds6261
2 жыл бұрын
That Haunted Toys R Us was my local Toys R Us. I remember learning about the ghost on the 80s show “That’s Incredible”. I never saw or experienced anything paranormal there, but the toys were awesome.
@djmexicanodetx2195
2 жыл бұрын
I loved Toys R Us as a kid especially during the Christmas time!
@jamesperkins4632
2 жыл бұрын
This hit me right in my gut. We had a massive store in my town where I always spent my Fridays after school. I still remember buying toys from TMNT, Batman, MMPR, wrestling like WCW and WWF, the bikes, toy cars, NES and SNES games so many happy memories. After the company closed, the building was used as the main local Spirit Halloween store location. The huge building made it seem epic with many Halloween supplies and animatronics. Sadly, now it is a giant Bargain store which I have yet to visit. These videos of stores like Toys R Us, Blockbuster, and any major 90s store always make me feel as if my world has been erased by the big tech companies and feel as if it was all for nothing. But I am so happy you do these videos as I hpe it inspires people to relive the past when things were more fun and exciting.
@varanid9
2 жыл бұрын
The one near me in Hixson, Tennessee, became a bargain store too. It was also said to be haunted by the college kids working in the Books-a-Million next door.
@odudi
Жыл бұрын
I would always clean up on their 3 old games for 15 bucks deal.
@RemyJackson
2 жыл бұрын
I especially miss the Toys R Us of the 1980s, when if you collected GI Joe or Transformers, there were entire aisles full of those, rather than the few pegs that became common later
@setaside2
2 жыл бұрын
The wall of Hasbro goodness. I was a Transformers freak (guess I still am) and the surface area they were allowed would never fail to leave me frozen in awe. I miss that, even now. My wallet probably doesn't 🤣
@andrewlowden322
2 жыл бұрын
yup, just like going through the hordes of GI Joe characters looking for the 1 we were allowed to get, reading their bios etc...when they had like 6 rows wide by 5 high you could spend a day looking
@FWDSUXARSE
2 жыл бұрын
I remember those days. 😊
@thisisnotachannel
2 жыл бұрын
Kay-Bee (where I got most of my toys... TRU was too expensive) was smaller by a wide margin, but they always had a seemingly never ending stock of... well, everything. I specifically remember walking inside many, many times to see that they had so much stock that they ran out of room on the shelves, and had stuff stacked on the floor in front of the display shelves, on top of them, out in the main hallway of the mall in which they were located, and even hanging from the frigging ceiling! Kay-Bee is where I got literally every Ninja Turtle, Ghostbusters, He-Man, and WWF action figure I ever owned (all lost in a basement flood... RIP). Same with my NES, SNES and all the games... but luckily they weren't in the basement when it flooded. I went to Wal-Mart for my N64, and all others... Toy Stores became too expensive in the shadow of Wally World...
@dirtygerty577
2 жыл бұрын
you know i was just thinking this the other day... i was digging through some old stuff in box's and found my old gi-joes from like the 90s.... and i remember as a kid going into Toys R us and there just being a massive row of just Gi Joe and Gi Joe stuff and just got a sad feeling cause there really are no toy stores that do that anymore and just the crazy feeling it gave you when you walked in and just saw massive rows of stuff like that.... the Lego rows always blew me away too and back then its not like you could easily see every lego set that was made or that is coming out so going into toys r us and seeing all these sets you have never seen before.... it really was something special lol...
@tempestfury8324
2 жыл бұрын
I've been to the "haunted" Sunnyvale store....nothing weird happened. And we all know how reliable Sylvia Brown was with her "psychic" predictions. My first job was at Toys R Us in 1984. We had these ridiculous uniform shirts that were orange and white stripes but looking back it was innocently charming.
@PB-tr5ze
2 жыл бұрын
Store 5814! Lol I worked there in the mid 90's and wierd stuff happened all the time lol
@salomonlopez5788
2 жыл бұрын
Minty mentioned a show from the early 90s, but I remember the show “That’s Incredible” in the early 80s talking about the haunted Toys R Us
@GA-sb9sz
Жыл бұрын
That was the store I went to as a kid.... never seen shit
@galebailey5583
2 жыл бұрын
When Toys R Us closed down in 2017, it hit me like a punch to the stomach. An important element of my childhood was gone. Now I’m glad they are returning. But will it really be the same, battling the big box stores and Amazon? It’s an entirely different world from the one I grew up in. I wish them good luck in their partnership with Macy’s.
@JusNoBS420
2 жыл бұрын
Apparently Toys R Us still has locations in Canada
@kyohel3
2 жыл бұрын
When me and and my husband found out that it was going out of business we rush over to the one near us when we live in Colorado. I knew my husband wanted a star wars star destory Lego set. Well once we got there. All the Legos were sold out. Every single Lego was gone. The last toy I got from toy r us. Was a the avengers loki figure. Still in the box. The last thing my husband got. Was a tie fighter Lego set. A week before the store closed. He wanted the star destroyer at the time. I told him let's wait till payday to get it. We'll neither of us knew that toy r us was gonna closed. So yeah..If we knew. I would let him get a star destroyer Lego set
@mario-mario822
2 жыл бұрын
I'll never forget my memories like it. From creepy crawlers,goosebumps & dinosaur toys and it hosted the Pokemon trading card league☺️
@continuallyblessed44
2 жыл бұрын
I took my brother to one of those leagues. Wow blast from the past!
@aaronacevedo8693
2 жыл бұрын
Oh man still gets me upset that I can't bring my kids to toys r us
@homestead503manormob3
2 жыл бұрын
Maybe it's the xanax talking but this made me break down an cry wit how vivid our childhoods were... I'm glad I was able to purchase an ouija board from them in 2017.. rip Toys R' us
@dandobrasz2555
2 жыл бұрын
Thanks Minty. I love when you do totally different episodes like this. This one was so heartfelt. I'm glad that Toys R Us hung in there just long enough for my kids to experience. Thanks again friend!
@grapeshot
2 жыл бұрын
I remember an episode from Tiny Toons when they had this little song saying I don't want to grow up because I'm a Toy R Miser brat. I'll be running through the store screaming give me this and that.
@kokonut1350
2 жыл бұрын
I remembered hearing that as a kid when I was at Robinsons Galleria on the weekends!! There's a Toys R Us too, but the iconic Geoffrey the Giraffe isn't there sadly ._.
@darklink539
2 жыл бұрын
Here in Canada Minty I'm happy to report that Toys R Us is still going strong. I think they are franchised out.
@jacotromp59581
2 жыл бұрын
They are also running here in South Africa.
@ScooterinAB
2 жыл бұрын
I don't think the stores are franchises. I think the international branches of the company were managed differently and in more isolation, keeping them separate enough to avoid the US company imploding. The company survived pretty much everywhere else in the world except in the US.
@beauwalker9820
2 жыл бұрын
God, I loved going there as a kid, even to just look around. So many good memories like getting "Yoshi" for Gameboy, looking at the huge TMNT shelves, and getting excited over getting a coupon for Nickelodeon slime. Had no idea it was around for so many decades.
@kaylacolgan
2 жыл бұрын
My favorite Toy Store when I was a child.
@bdso9593
2 жыл бұрын
I still get a little chocked up when I see those 🔴🟡🟢🔵boards on a building that was previously a TrU. RIP U.S. TrU. Never grow up!
@Choralone422
2 жыл бұрын
I have fond memories of TRU as a kid in the 80's. It was THE place to go to look at toys but growing up in the Midwest US which was hit hard by the farm financial crisis of the 80's we didn't buy a lot of toys there. They were always the place to go during the NES days to see what new games were out but were also always higher priced on video games than other stores like K-mart, Sears, Venture or Target. Sadly by the end of the 90's after Walmart came to town both the TRU's in the metro area I live in seemed seriously out of touch with prices. It seemed like everything was 10-40% more expensive at TRU than anywhere else. Even Target, which still had somewhat higher prices than Walmart, was still less expensive than TRU. If you wanted video games Best Buy was the place to go along with a couple of local independent game shops as they were always less expensive than TRU. The leveraged buyout in the mid 2000's is what REALLY killed TRU. Saddled them with an incredible amount of debt and all but guaranteed their failure.
@OldMan_PJ
2 жыл бұрын
I used to go to the haunted TRU in Sunnyvale, CA all the time in the 80's. We were poor so we always shopped the orange clearance tags. It was a reliable place to get a great toy for under $10. Once they did their "boutique" redesign in the 90's it was the end. They dropped all the affordable toys and tried to focus on expensive name-brand items. We shopped at KayBee Toys and another store called Kiddie World equally as much as TRU though. KayBee had better deals on videogames and Kiddie World was the best place to go for Halloween costumes.
@brandonpage7087
2 жыл бұрын
Cool. We had Kaybee's Toys here, too. Wow, do you ever remember hearing about the place supposedly being haunted, back when you were going there, as a kid?
@dorkknight413
2 жыл бұрын
I shopped at the Sunnyvale location all the time. I never saw anything but did hear the stories about toys being moved and played with. I for some reason when I first heard the stories thought it was the one that was close to the Winchester Mystery House. Kaybee was good and did kiddie world a few times but I'm a toys r us kid still.
@elizabethgrey9157
2 жыл бұрын
19 1/2 year Toys R Us veteran here. We had our own Mr. Johnson in our store. I never saw him, but two of my managers did ... well, OK, they never saw anything but they each told me something weird happened to them. One manager said that he was putting bikes (in boxes) on deep shelves in our back room. When the task was done, he walked away. When he reached the corner, he heard a noise. He turned around, and one of the bike boxes was on the ground. The other manager told me that one night, she had just finished re-arranging the collector's Barbie showcase. It consisted of two locked, glass-fronted cases, individually locked with their own key. She had the only key. She came back in the morning and nothing was re-arranged in there, except one doll was laying down, and one shoe had "magically" gone from one case to the other. Now, I do not believe in ghosts. I am just relaying what they told me. However, I know that I often straightened up the same aisles day after day. More than a few times, I saw one of our odd items moved from its normal peg or shelf, to somewhere else, the exact same place three or more days in a row. I found that weird. That's all I'm saying. Now I work in another retail place. I still have the habit of jokingly admonishing "Mr. Johnson" when something falls off a shelf without someone visibly knocking it down, for example.
@janicielle
2 жыл бұрын
I worked at the haunted Toys R Us in Sunnyvale during the Christmas season one year. Going into the stockroom creeped me out as there was always an eerie silence and I always got that feeling that I was being watched. Ironically, after it closed, it opened up as a Spirit Halloween store a few times. Today it's a sporting goods and camping store.
@gilga3554
2 жыл бұрын
The Birmingham, AL store I worked at had a few spooks too. I'd be stocking shelves in the baby food aisle and suddenly random things would fall off the shelf and I'd catch glimpses of shadows darting off.
@vezhopkins714
2 жыл бұрын
I only got to go to a toys r us when I was 28 but I still enjoyed it as I collect my little pony and have a lot of G1s (my little pony from 1983 - 1995 )
@NemeanLion-
2 жыл бұрын
I’m glad you were able to experience a little of the Toys R Us magic before it was gone. It was heaven for me as a kid back in the 70’s and 80’s. Nice jacket btw Minty. 👍
@wstine79
2 жыл бұрын
I remember working at Toys R Us from 2000 to 2003. It was a fun job when you get to demo toys for families and help kids find toys, but definitely not during Black Friday or dealing with Karens.
@nsasupporter7557
2 жыл бұрын
I almost worked there in 2010, but it didn’t work out. that was when it conjoined with Babies R Us
@macecrawford2860
2 жыл бұрын
When my nephew was born I had the best time going to toys r us. I bought alot of baby toys that day.
@ll7868
2 жыл бұрын
I've seen things like Toys R Us, Blockbuster Video, cassette tapes & Walkmans and Hard Rock Cafes come and go. I've seen the bellbottom jeans fad twice in my lifetime and lived through the Disco era. I feel old now. Thanks Minty.
@veteranredbeard6222
2 жыл бұрын
The workers at my Toys R Us hated kids and were so rude. But the Legos were my go to.
@nostalgicwiz3977
2 жыл бұрын
I took my kids to the Toys R Us in Times Square, NYC and we rode the Ferris Wheel. That was a great memory for me. I'm glad Toys R Us is making a comeback. It's not the same world without Toys R Us. Plus, Minty rocks. Keep making more videos and I'm binge watching your videos tonight!!
@Rinavani
2 жыл бұрын
Damn, this video hit me in the feels. As a 40yo I grew up with this store. It saddens me that my youngest child was born the same year they closed down and didn’t get to experience it.
@jeremiahallyn4603
2 жыл бұрын
I'm also 40 and have many fond memories of going to Toys R Us and being overwhelmed with delight. The theme song is also nostalgic 👍
@megatronjenkins2473
2 жыл бұрын
43.....
@BrimmySP
6 ай бұрын
well now they can with the american dream mall location
@roddmatsui3554
2 жыл бұрын
Minty has gone CRAZY! Toys R Us was pretty awesome, huge places, and in 1975, around October, the front area of the store went FULL HALLOWEEN, with masks and costumes, records (this was before CDs, so 12” vinyl records were visible on large displays) and decorations. This has been topped with Party Stores and Halloween Stores - but nothing can top that feeling of being a kid and, around October 10, say, because you’d be foolish to miss out on all the enthusiasm - of seeing those shelves full of monsters and creatures and superhero costumes - oh my goodness. 💜💜💜💜💜
@richardboone5464
2 жыл бұрын
Absolutely love you and your show. Thanks for the entertainment Minty.
@isaacheres1354
2 жыл бұрын
Thank you Minty for this episode. I have been to the TRU in Times Square, NYC many times as a tourist whenever I visit New York. I was sad to see it closed down. It is now a GAP clothing store.
@konstantinkoverchenko9587
2 жыл бұрын
Kiddie City, Toys R Us and Kay Bee toy stores were so awesome! Going to Sears, K-Mart, Woolworth and Caldoor was always fun. To have stores dedicated to only toys was super cool. >_
@NGMonocrom
2 жыл бұрын
Nice one, Minty. Living in NYC, I've been to the store located in Times Square a couple of times. You're right.... a HUGE tourist hot-spot. Too much so. Horrendously crowded, barely able to walk through there. It just didn't feel like a typical Toys-R-Us. I used to love going there as a child. Always exciting. (Obviously I don't mean to the one in Times Square.) BTW, Sylvia Brown was exposed as a fraud many, many years ago.
@battle_p9291
2 жыл бұрын
Thanks for this video Minty Comedic Arts! I'm a former Toy's R Us employee, and I worked at the Sunnyvale California store during the holiday season of 1997. Yes, it's the "Haunted" store that you included as #4 in your video, and knowing that it was said to be haunted sometimes gave me chills after the closing shifts late night. Plenty of good memories aside from that. To be honest, I only knew 4 out of the 10 things about Toys R Us you featured.
@christophermichael.w.7577
2 жыл бұрын
I always liked the story about the Rooftop man.He was a burglar who broke into businesses by cutting a hole in the roof.He lived inside a toys R US store for some time. He found a large space behind some shelves. He would come out at night and play with the toys. Eventually he robbed them and did not go out the front door so they started looking around and they discovered his hideout.
@gryphonlaw2138
2 жыл бұрын
Hahahaha I remember that story! I thought, holy shit he never wants to grow up 🤣
@bluesman9832
2 жыл бұрын
I still remember everything about our local store. I can still tell you exactly where the TMNT and video games were located and I will always remember buying Mario 3 there like it was yesterday. ❤️
@Vek_Zythe
Жыл бұрын
I remember going through the isles when i was 5, seeing all the stuffed animals that were 4 to 5 feet tall hanging on the shelves. They had Disney characters, Looney Toons, Snoopy, Pink Panther, Garfield, Dr Seuss characters, Padington, Corduroy, Babar, name it. And some non brand name stuffed animals. But years later they didn't have those anymore. Toys R Us was at it's best in the 80's and early 90's. I noticed a decline as the years went on. It's sad how it went out. Btw, does anyone remember Kids R Us? That was a fun store.
@VoiceUnder
2 жыл бұрын
There is still a Toys R Us in Bellevue WA, abandoned building not used for anything, the parking lot is just a pay to park lot, with original TRU decor covered in graffiti. I don't want to grow up, I'm a Toys R Us kid.
@malkilroy
2 жыл бұрын
Minty, thank you for this wonderful and nostalgic video! I enjoyed visiting Toys "R" Us often as a child to buy toys and video games. The store also bought back some video games for cash (before FuncoLand/GameStop existed). It's rival, KB Toys, was located across the street and sometimes had items that Toys "R" Us lacked, such as the 5-inch and 12-inch Mortal Kombat Trilogy action figures. I miss Toys "R" Us.
@Kidsmtvslvback
2 жыл бұрын
Star Wars Action Figures, ERTL Thomas Trains and Thomas videos are what I always got at Toys ‘R’ Us. There’s one trip I’ll always remember that makes me nostalgic.
@sammylane21
2 жыл бұрын
Good to see good ole Geoffrey and fam back in form...BUT....for how long? Nothing beats the ole TOYS'R'US sweet Xmas commercial jingle from the '80's.
@anneildana
2 жыл бұрын
Great documentary. I was a manager for TRU 95-98. Great memories. Spot on facts.
@littlemiss_76
2 жыл бұрын
Toy World next, the Australian version.
@ceasarmartinez1774
2 жыл бұрын
Every decade has its ups and downs, but I feel that a great year for kids was definitely the 80s.
@dustinmarciniak4131
2 жыл бұрын
I went to one of their stores their last day, you would have thought everything would have been 90% off, it was still all only 50% off. I was pissed.
@TedofBrowns
2 жыл бұрын
I was heart broken when Toys R Us went out in 2018, still hits me today. All the iconic retailers when out, this one hit me the most. I still miss it today. Although it's back in some form, no where near what it use to be. A damn shame....
@PhillyPhilmBuhl1
2 жыл бұрын
TRU was a big part of my childhood. Initially it was my second favorite toy store behind Lionel Kiddie City. Kiddie City was a smaller chain that couldn't keep up with the larger TRU chain. So, eventually in the early 90's they closed their doors for good. But, what I loved about both chains were they were grand experiences for all children with wall to walll toys, bikes and games. Stepping into those doors and going down toy isle after isle was like a kids dream come true. Thankfully until just before my daughter's 6th birthday I got to see her experience a little of the youth wonder TRU was able to bring. I'm glad you did this video Minty. I love hearing about that place. It brought me many joys as a kid. I did want to add part of their down fall was the amount of money in the 90's they spent on rebranding all their stores from the original look. Also, Toys "R" Us Canada didn't close. I'm not sure why they were able to continuously make a profit and the stores around the rest of the world weren't.
@Shannonbarnesdr1
2 жыл бұрын
Lionel was awesome too ! i always loved how they often had demo stuff set up to try and explore, at least they did at our store, fun times ! kb toys , lionel, toyrus, great memories !
@sharkattackmedia
2 жыл бұрын
I loved the Kiddie City that was in King of Prussia. They turned that frown upside-down!
@missmaryhugs
2 жыл бұрын
I worked at a Toys R Us back in 1999 and one day i was having the worst day at work. Its time for my break and as I’m heading towards the break room I hear someone singing the theme song. I walk around the corner and see 65+ yr old man singing the theme song while riding a tricycle. It made my day.
@Bulbasaur617
2 жыл бұрын
Epic! My favorite place to visit for toys. My childhood! Thanks for doing a video on this. Now I know some facts on my favorite store as part of my childhood.
@jonsprong1842
2 жыл бұрын
I absolutely adored TRU. I got a job there for a brief period, and that sucked. The pay was atrocious and the workload was insurmountable. However that hasn't ruined my beloved childhood memories of the place. God, I miss it. You've really done this very special place a wonderful job, Minty.
@Vehl
2 жыл бұрын
Kind of makes me sad to know my son will never be a toys r us kid. This was a big part of my life growing up in the 80s and 90s.
@nsasupporter7557
2 жыл бұрын
Remember In 1997, Tickle Me Elmo dolls were HUGE and they were $1000 each during Christmas time
@flautalee3090
2 жыл бұрын
As a young parent, I remember shopping at ToysrUs at 11 or 12MN before Christmas. That place was happening! Full of adults because of their extended hours for the holidays. We bought our daughter’s crib and mattress there, and 7 years later, a bicycle which they assembled for free.
@joeyorsini8677
2 жыл бұрын
Great video Minty, brought back some good memories. I live in Canada and we were very fortunate our toys r us stores remain open to this day. I love bringing my kids to the store and watching them go into toy overload.
@chippo69au
2 жыл бұрын
Toys R Us Frankston, went there heaps of times. Damn, I miss those days. Thanks for the nostalgia trip!
@edwardlambert3246
2 жыл бұрын
I greatly miss Toys R Us! It wasn't just about shopping for toys, it was the experience. I remember going to the one closest to where I live; (I believe that it was in 1986) because I still have to this day the Transformer, and GI Joe figures that my mom let me have. I can remember being in awe of the brown and colored exterior with the tall orange Geoffrey on the outside. Then walking in to see the toys stacked from floor to ceiling! (They seemed like they were 8 foot high!) The big expensive playsets were usually at the top, if I remember right. Some were actually assembled, and on display too. Thank you so very much for sharing this! It makes me that much more grateful that I grew up when I did. (Wait, I didn't grow up. I am, and forever will be "A Toys R Us kid"!)
@nsasupporter7557
2 жыл бұрын
I remember around 1997 or so, Tickle Me Elmos were huge and they were $1000 each around Christmas time
@Banankos
2 жыл бұрын
The "haunted" Toys R Us in Sunnyvale was my go-to toy store throughout my childhood along with Kiddie World in San José and Kay Bee Toys in Cupertino (yes, the same Cupertino that's home to Apple). 🙂 Beginning in Fall 2021, the Sunnyvale building is now occupied by an REI Co-op sporting goods store, which itself had moved from a smaller building in nearby Mountain View.
@nsasupporter7557
2 жыл бұрын
Yes! I miss Kay Bee Toys at the mall
@PB-tr5ze
2 жыл бұрын
Kiddie world! San Jose born and raised... I worked that the tru on Winchester (5813) Sunnyvale (5814) and East San Jose (5819). I miss the old bay area... surfers, skaters and all the laid back locals... now it's all transplants and insufferable techbros...
@NekoFallen
2 жыл бұрын
Luckily for us up here in Canada, we never lost our Toys R Us stores, which was great news when they were closing down in the States.
@nsasupporter7557
2 жыл бұрын
I remember “Kids R Us.” Which was a clothing store for kids. Was there ever a Kids R Us in Canada?
@jesspayant1667
2 жыл бұрын
I'll never forget going to Perth / Fremantle in '95 when I was in the navy. I was shocked to find toys r us in Australia. I thought it was the coolest thing!
@shainewhite2781
2 жыл бұрын
I miss Toys R Us! I wished they hadn't got bankrupt. But at least I'll have fond memories of going g there with my dad every Christmas or evey Birthday.
@JoesGeekShow
Жыл бұрын
I remember living in Alaska and watching the local Toy R Us go out of business. It was extremely sad because I bought a lot of stuff from there. Thats why when I moved to Japan I was struck to see that it still exists here. Granted I have to drive almost an hour out but its still great to shop there again.
@MtendoTheSkunk
2 жыл бұрын
I work in a department store that used to be a Toys R Us store and opened in late 2018. In the stockroom, way up along some of the walls someone wrote in red paint "Toys R Us forever" and I thought that must've been really sad for the people that worked there to have their store close down and this person that wrote that must've been really attached to the store. It's still there. We didn't cover it up or paint over it.
@gryphonlaw2138
2 жыл бұрын
Man that's sad
@moorebounce
2 жыл бұрын
When I was a kid we had Children's Palace. Toys R Us came after Children's Palace was on the way out.
@jonathanstancil8544
2 жыл бұрын
Third!
@LAH-oq7vx
2 жыл бұрын
😊
@jimmymelendez1836
2 жыл бұрын
Get a hobby.
@LAH-oq7vx
2 жыл бұрын
@@jimmymelendez1836 how old are you?
@MrBlockice22
2 жыл бұрын
80s was the best!! The toys r us that's by my home, the building is still there. Not to mention, Gold circle and Apple's was all by each other. DAMN, I miss that!!
@alexd1685
2 жыл бұрын
Toys R Us is still alive and well in Canada. I live 5 minutes away from one and took my 2 year old there for the first time recently.. he loved it!
@jasondollar3409
2 жыл бұрын
I was a true Toys R Us kid. My mom worked there in the early 90s and she would bring home video games for me to try and I would review them and tell her about it. She would in turn tell customers about them. Ahh those were the days.
@NiseyNikki80
2 жыл бұрын
The yearly Toys R Us catalog was the highlight of the year! Interestingly, I worked at FAO Schwartz in downtown Chicago in the summer of 1999 while on college break. I was kind of sad when Toys R Us closed in 1998 (and the downtown Chicago FAO Schwartz closed too).
@irishgotee
2 жыл бұрын
The greatest thing about being a kid in the 80's and 90's is that it was a childhood you could physically hold in your hands. It was as real as the kid you were back in those days. We were real kids who had real fun .
@JustinEvitable80
2 жыл бұрын
Minor fact: Before Jaleel White made it big as Steve Urkel on Family Matters, he was in one of the Toys R Us Kids commercials.
@samuelfawley646
2 жыл бұрын
I used to have the Ertl Toys 'R' US semi truck toy when I was a kid! I got it for my 2nd birthday in 1989 and I loved playing that toy!
@cristinacho7881
2 жыл бұрын
Yup. I remember going into that Times Square Toys R Us just for the hell of it as an adult. 😆 But it was the highlight of my life when I was a kid, growing up in the 80’s. We had one in Tom’s River, NJ across from the mall. Now it’s a Burlington Coat Factory.
@OneCatholicSpeaks
2 жыл бұрын
I, for a month during the Christmas season, worked as contracted security. It was at a Toys R Us just a few minutes away from where I lived. During then a parent asked me for an idea. He had everything that his kids wanted but just wanted one more item to round out their Christmas. I asked how old they were… grade school going into intermediate. My response was something my parents did for me. Get them wall calendars and make it of something they really like looking at. They could use this to keep track of school work and yet keep the excitement alive for fun stuff. I hope I helped some kids enjoy life that much more.
@skylined5534
2 жыл бұрын
Toys R Us was indeed a fantastic place! In particular it stocked loads of different Hornby Scalextric cars and cool 00 gauge train set stuff and not to forget a massive selection of Atari 2600 games... Good times! I'm really happy physical stores are now coming back, there's one about 30 miles from me now. Not as close as the previous 4 miles though!
@WyldMooN00
2 жыл бұрын
Toys r us in Canada never closed up. There is one nearby where we get all our baby supplies! Plus for some reasons, they offer discount for military personel. Love that store
@shareofmoney
2 жыл бұрын
Such good memories of TRU. It wasn't in my local area for long but I did get to enjoy it. I only wish kids could have had that experience of seeing a TRU store!
@scottspivey3786
2 жыл бұрын
Toys R US was the best in the 70s/80s I also remember Jafco which became BEST
@meropolis
2 жыл бұрын
Toys R Us is where my parents got my power glove, game boy and ultimately most of my console game cartridges. I loved getting lost in that sea of toys. Good times.
@CwL-1984
2 жыл бұрын
I have only been to toys r us just once, back in the mid 90's.
@hydrooxy84
2 жыл бұрын
Loved the toys r us exclusive figures and bundles!!
@thefantasticretroreviewer3941
2 жыл бұрын
Jaws the Ride, Blockbuster Video-Store, now a Toy Store.
@jamesbounds
2 жыл бұрын
I miss Toys R Us here at the states. It was one of my favorite stores to shop at.
@DonMachado
2 жыл бұрын
I remember when my TRU store opened, or at least when the commercials started on Saturday morning cartoons. It was built in the Birdcage Walk parking lot next to the Montgomery Wards. That was lucky for me as that was my dad's favorite store, so I would beg off to TRU when ever he went there. My first purchase was either some Hot Wheels or a Star Wars toy, I can't remember which - probably the Hot Wheels (Sizzlers) as they were not too expensive and a pretty easy get from my dad. I loved that store. I'm still a Toys R Us kid!
@sarlaccstapeworm990
2 жыл бұрын
The closest "Toys R Us" to MY house, was a little over 30 miles away, in Macon, Georgia (U.S.). My mom made several special trips to make sure that I got all the "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles"!! --Thank you Mom!!❤️👍
@ArtisanDragon
2 жыл бұрын
Thank you for making this video, I'm 39, so best believe I cried the day the Toys R Us in my home town closed down 🥺 I remember going there for my 10th birthday in 1992, and getting Sonic the Hedgehog 2 for my Sega Genesis, and a Tiny Toons Buster Bunny stuffed animal. I dont have Buster anymore, but I still have my original Sonic 2 with poster :) I'm glad they're starting to bring Toys R Us back, I hope we get one in the town I currently live in, because I would love to work there :)
@andrewsmall6834
2 жыл бұрын
As an Australian born in 1986 who ventured to the giant shopping centres of Sydney many times as a child I can honestly never remember seeing a "Toys R us," all I ever saw was "toy world."
@avlivinggolden
2 жыл бұрын
The Toy R Us Christmas commercials were magical ✨️.
@HALO-2304
2 жыл бұрын
It was a rare occasion to visit Toys R Us because it was an hour away. I remember the shelves being so tall, the ceiling was hard to see. It was where I got the original Nintendo NES for my tenth birthday. I also remember seeing the "six shooter" light zapper for the NES.
@odudi
Жыл бұрын
I miss that place. In the late 80's i found it to be the best place to clean up on videogames. I was always low on cash so i would look at the year old section for bargins. 3 unopened videogames for just 15 bucks just so they could clear them out for new games. Even when the snes came out they still had that year or older game deal. Rip ToysRUs.
@thetruthwillout9094
2 жыл бұрын
That end quote " Don't ever grow up, play on" properly brought a lump to my thought.
@nicolemarie6720
2 жыл бұрын
Wonderful video, Minty. I grew up in a rural area where we didn't have a Toys R' Us. However I loved the commercials & had the theme song memorized.
@JoE-kx7dw
2 жыл бұрын
I live in London Ontario Canada, I remember going to Toys R Us back in the mid 80s and got to meet David Hasselhoff. It was when he was staring as Knight Rider. And yes his car was there aswell.
@HighSierra1500
2 жыл бұрын
Thank you, Minty! This video brought back a lot of memories for me. I remembered some of the commercials and the story about the haunted ToysRUs store as I used to watch that show about ghosts! As a kid, I always wanted one of those huge Lego castles. They were $200, but I never did get one.
@KabukiKid
2 жыл бұрын
Another fun trivia bit: Jim Hanks, brother of Tom Hanks, was the voice of Geoffrey the Giraffe in TV commercials for some time... in the early 2000s, I believe. If you ever see those ads, you can definitely pick up the "Tom Hanks-ish" quality to his voice and laugh. Jim Hanks definitely sounded quite a bit like his brother... in fact, he even voiced Woody in Buzz Lightyear of Star Command: The Adventure Begins because his voice is so close to Tom's.
@JayBlackheart
2 жыл бұрын
I always remember going to Toys R US in Saint Louis, MO during the 90s... You want to talk about isles on top of isles of video games during the 8 bit, 16bit and 32bit era? Todays gaming a never come as close to what us 70s and 80s babies came up against. When the store I frequented over the years closed down which is now a Five Below Store my heart dropped. felt like my childhood died out. To be able to go to the store and get the video games and toys you want and then play the video games on the kiosk which i notice Gamestop tries to replicated but between that and Funcoland and the Tilt! arcade at the mall. We might never get to see that again. Thanks for the Memories Minty.
@mcgannahanskyjellyfetti6854
2 жыл бұрын
I always wanted to buy baby furniture and raise them to become adult furniture...
@captaingeneroddenberry8439
2 жыл бұрын
I still miss Toys R Us and everytime I can get a chance to go out to the mall and see that empty building and just be reminded of our childhoods. I will Geffory. I will play on.
Пікірлер: 1 М.