Nostalgic Toy Store Makes Comeback in Illinois Suburb

An iconic toy store many of us think of as synonymous with our childhoods is making its biggest comeback yet in a western Chicago suburb.

Toys "R" Us enjoyed a phenomenal run from the late 1940s through the mid-2010s. With the rise of brick and mortar competition and online commerce, Toys "R" Us struggled to compete. Coupled with a significant debt load as a result of a leveraged buyout, the domestically popular toy store filed for bankruptcy in 2017 and 2018 before closing all of its stores by 2021.

Toys "R" Us' Comeback Just Got Even Bigger:

Since then, Toys "R" Us has been making what you might call a "soft" comeback. Over 400 Toys "R" Us locations have opened inside existing Macy's locations, and flagship stores were erected in New Jersey and in the Mall of America in the last couple years.

Last October, Toys "R" Us opened a store in the Harlem Irving Park Plaza in Norridge, the "first" store to be reopened in Illinois. Now, the town of Aurora, IL is ready to welcome a brand new, 13,000 square-foot Toys "R" Us this weekend. On Saturday, September 20th, the Chicago Premium Outlets will be flooded with hundreds ready to experience one of the biggest Toys "R" Us locations since its relaunch.

Grand Opening Details:

Photo Credit: Canva

The store will be located at 1650 Premium Outlet Boulevard (Space 525), with a grand opening set from 10am - 4pm on September 20th.

The grand opening celebration is set to include:

An appearance from Geoffrey the Giraffe
Face-painting
Balloon-twisting
A full-sized Snoozimal plush for the first 25 people to come to the store
A "swag bag" for the first 75 people to come to the store

What Does a Toys "R" Us Store Look Like in 2025?:

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The modern day Toys "R" Us will have a slew of recognizable toy brands, including LEGO, Barbie, Hot Wheels, NERF, Paw Patrol, and more, per NBC 5 Chicago. The store will also have an arcade area with claw machines and, for the first time in America, Japanese gashapon machines that have gone viral on social media. There will even be a Babies "R" Us section, which offers baby clothes, gear, toys, and other essentials for newborns.

Read more about a 13,000 square-foot Toys "R" Us store coming to Aurora, IL on NBC 5 Chicago's website.