Toys “R” Us Canada is plotting a major expansion this summer with new store concepts opening across the country.
The retailer will open nine new 25,000-square-foot Toys “R” Us stores and two new 24,000-square-foot Babies “R” Us locations. Both Babies “R” Us stores will include a 1,500- to 2,500-square-foot Toys “R” Us shop-within-a-shop. In total, this expansion adds more than 300,000 square feet of retail space and brings the company’s store fleet to 107.
Toys “R “Us Canada is a subsidiary of Putman Investments and owns the Toys “R” Us and Babies “R” Us trademarks in Canada,
“The acquisition of the majority of Canadian Bed Bath & Beyond locations gave us the opportunity to open Toys “R” Us stores in new neighborhoods across the country. Our new locations will have an elevated in-store experience with bigger retail shops from our vendor partners,” says Doug Putman, CEO of Putman Investments. “Our first two dedicated Babies “R” Us stores will open in Edmonton in former buybuy Baby locations, filling a big gap left in the market when buybuy Baby closed.”
The retailer is also plotting a category expansion for some existing stores with new, 6,000-square-foot books and gifting sections for adults at its stores in Burlington and Newmarket.
“We create our product assortment based on what our customers demand,” says Nick Muriella, Vice President of Merchandising & Supply Chain, Toys “R” Us Canada. “For example, Toys “R” Us increased its books assortment in 2022 and now with our 10,000-square-foot book sections, we are ‘Canada’s Big-on-Books Toy Store.’ With rooms and spaces now part of Doug Putman’s portfolio of retail brands, there will be even more opportunity to partner with our vendors to bring new and unexpected brands and products into our stores.”
While Toys “R” Us and Babies “R” Us are owned by WHP Global in the U.S. and licensed for business opportunities around the world, their Canadian counterpart has been an independent entity since being spun off to affiliates of Fairfax Financial Holdings following the collapse and closure of the original Toys “R” Us in the U.S. back in 2018. Putman, the owner of Everest Toys, FYE, Alex Toys, HMV, and Sunrise Records, purchased the iconic retail brands from Fairfax in 2021.
In the U.S., the Toys “R” Us Canada team has been working to introduce a new retail concept under the Alex Toys name. A 22,000-square-foot Phase Two concept store opened this month in Schaumburg, Illinois outside of Chicago. Backed by the resources of FYE and Everest Toys, the vast assortment is akin to what Toys “R” Us previously offered, including dedicated space for collectibles, books, bikes, and outdoor toys with additional updates.
Top Photo Credit: Patrick Morrell / @patmorrell_drone | Source: CNW Group/Toys “R” Us (Canada)
