The nostalgic toy store, Toys”R”Us, has finally returned with eight new permanent flagship stores after being closed since 2018.
At Tanger Outlets, Toys”R”Us is located near Bath & Body Works. Going to Toys”R”Us now can be a trip down memory lane or a chance to show others the joy one may have had as a kid. Toys”R”Us carries a variety of toys such as Nerf, Lego, and Barbie and it has a small arcade with claw machines in the store.
“Toys”R”Us was always a very special place for me because my grandparents would come and visit once a month from Brooklyn and they would stay the night. They would always take me to Toys”R”Us to pick something out and then [take me] to McDonald’s,” said English teacher Annmarie Marusevich.
Students share the same sentiment, as they remember having fun in the store and spending time with their families there.
“I used to go as a child like every Sunday. […] I used to run around the store,” said sophomore Cailyn C.
Other students remember when the store closed and the devastation it brought.
“I feel like I remember hearing about it a lot but I don’t think I went there too much before it closed, but when it closed I was like “ ‘aw man if I did go there I bet I’d be awesome ”,” said sophomore Magdalyn M.
After filing for bankruptcy in 2017, Toys”R”Us existed through its partnership with Macy’s and in various pop-up stores. Now that the store is back on its own, there’s the perfect opportunity to explore the new addition to Tanger Outlets and feel nostalgic.
“I would be very excited. I would want to see Geoffrey the giraffe. I would want to be going into that store, I would want to be looking at everything,” said Marusevich.
In addition to Toys”R”Us bringing back memories, it could also bring more business to the local area.
“I think it would probably be a destination point for some people, people with small children certainly,” said Marusevich.
Others are less sure that the introduction of Toys”R”Us to Deer Park could have such a positive influence. While the addition of Toy”R”Us could give residents more choice of toy stores it could also be negative for other toy stores in the area.
“I don’t know […] if [it would] be too beneficial […], I mean, definitely there’s other stores that sell toys. But […] having a spot for it might be nice, like this is a designated toy store. But I also know of […] Mom and Pop toy […] stores and I don’t know if that could be bad for them,” said Magdalyn.
There is also the struggle of online shopping versus in store shopping that could impact the store’s success.
“I was so disappointed [when Toys“R”Us closed]. I thought this is the end of an era […]. All shopping is going to be done online now and there isn’t going to be a toy store for kids to go to and actually look at the toys and wonder about them. You know have that sense of wonderment. […] I think unfortunately a lot of shopping is still going to be done on Amazon just because of the convenience, but I’m hoping that because people were so saddened to see Toys”R”Us go that it will be kind of a nostalgic trip to go to Toys”R”Us in Deer Park,” said Marusevich.
While online shopping is convenient there are also many benefits to shopping in store.
“I like browsing and I feel like Amazon makes it hard because […] sometimes it doesn’t show you what you want when you search for stuff but it shows you […] things that are annoying. […] When you go out to a store there’s more people that can help you and also […] you don’t have to be […] on the hunt for something if you’re walking around and it makes it easier,” said Magdalyn.
Particularly with Toys”R”Us, going in store could be helpful for parents and give children an exciting outing.
“They could just bring the child to Toys”R”Us to be like, (do you really want this?), so they can get the feel of the toy,” said Cailyn.
As Toys”R”Us has it debut at Tanger Outlets, members of the community are cheering them on and wishing them luck in this new chapter.
“I really hope that Toys“R”Us does well. I’m rooting for Toys“R”Us,” said Marusevich.
Whether one is a kid or not there is still something waiting for them at Toys”R”Us, no matter if they grew up with the store or had never been there at all. 
