Popular toy store pulling out of Buckhead.
Wayne, New Jersey-based Toys"R"Us plans to close its Buckhead store at Buckhead Station September 6th. The store was one of the center's original tenants from when the center opened in late 1996.
The liquidation sale reportedly began this past Sunday. Current discounts range from 10-40% off retail prices with plenty of merchandise still available. While I noticed an area marked "Sports" completely cleared out, new Minions and Star Wars merchandise was still available in quantity.
Toys"R"Us mascot Geoffrey has greeted patrons on Lenox Road at GA 400 from the building's second floor since opening. The toy store occupies 45,000 square feet on the center's ground floor. Buckhead Station is also home to DSW, T.J. Maxx, Nordstrom Rack, Old Navy, Bed Bath & Beyond and Ulta Beauty, among others.
A store employee cited "high rent" as the reason for the store's closure. While I'm sure rent factored into the decision to close, it's strange the store would not stay open through the lucrative holiday shopping season.
The last remaining ITP Toys"R"Us store will now be on Cobb Parkway near Cumberland Mall. Toys"R"Us also operates stores in Kennesaw, Duluth, Buford, Lithonia, Alpharetta and Douglasville, among others.
With mounting competition from the likes of Amazon.com and Walmart, Toys"R"Us has been reducing its store count in recent years. Earlier this year, the retailer closed its longstanding store at Northlake Festival near Northlake Mall.
Having grown up in metro Atlanta, I have fond memories of Toys"R"Us stores at Northlake and Buckhead, FAO Schwarz (now owned by Toys"R"Us) at Lenox Square and various locations of K.B. Toys (later purchased and liquidated by Toys"R"Us ). I have only the faintest memories of Lionel play world. Zany Brainy, Store of Knowledge, Discovery Store, Learningsmith were also favorites, but have have all gone the way of most cool stores of my childhood, and closed.
While there will be no replacing The Toy Store, a locally owned and super cool shop at Ansley Mall, Kazoo Toys in Powers Ferry Square has a nice selection. The store is a franchise, but has local owners who are involved in the community.
What was/is your favorite Atlanta area toy store? What would you like to see open in place of Toys"R"Us? Did you know that the "brains" behind Zany Brainy are responsible for the far less exciting Five Below?
Please share your thoughts below.