I think the tristate area is a way better place to start than anywhere in the Midwest.

Sure MoA is a destination, but you'll still be accessible to way more people in NJ.

 

Yeah, more or less this. American Dream, while not yet complete, is already plenty large, and there are definitely many more people within striking distance of it than there are to the MoA.

And, really, going to Minnesota at this time of year strikes me as true madness.

 

The last two didn't work, the ones at Macy's have yet to open (and fail), and now they're opening this one. Putting the cart before the horse, I say. Let's see how the Macy's shops work out, first, then talk about actual locations. I just think this is too soon after the corpse of the last one, and they're pushing too hard. We're in the middle of a pandemic and people like me aren't going into stores, that number could grow. This is just bad timing if nothing else.

 

I find it strange for TRU to be partnering up with Macy’s, when the store is planning to close down a lot of locations across the country.

 

It's like the Kmart/Sears thing. They're hoping to bolster one another and get back into the black. I have many, many high doubts it'll work.

 

I have my doubts to, especially given with the current state of the world along with the current supply chain issues.

 

Well, when you got no other options and want to launch a small comeback into brick and mortar what else are you gonna do? Target and WMart already got toy aisles. Same with Walgreens. Maybe team-up with CVS instead of Macys? Macys probably saw this as a small and safe attempt to get more foot traffic into their stores. It’s like the two businesses were the peanut butter and chocolate to each other’s needs.

 

Well it would be a sound business decision for both, But like I said, with the current state of the world, along with the supply chain crises it’s anyone’s guess how this would work out.

 

If I were a betting man, I'd be betting against TRU. I'm sorry, I know that sounds cold and negative, but I've seen them fail before (twice) and their timing is awful. While not every town/area has a toy store, a lot of cities like mine (Youngstown metro) have smaller mom + pop toy stores that have filled the TRU void and they're doing quite well. With them existing, I'm not sure TRU is absolutely necessary. Plus, I just don't have the desire to go into a store full of people who won't protect themselves or you, and the stores aren't being cleaned/disinfected properly... No thanks, not over a toy. Heck, I don't even go into stores for food, anymore! Curbside/delivery or bust, man.

 

I don't think opening a single store, while also doing the Macy's thing, is too ambitious. As to the last two not working, COVID-19 was a significant factor in their failures, and shouldn't be ignored. Even though we are still "in the middle of a pandemic," it would be unfair to suggest things are the same now as they were in the period leading up to those closures in January, 2021.

It's probably also worth noting that the "they" behind Toys R Us has been different people in each of 2018, January 2021, and now.

 

They opened TRU in a mall that took 20 years to open, and said mall is still struggling with occupancy. Wouldn’t be surprised if TRU got the space for a bargain.

 

While it is fair to note that some people aren’t still going to stores, there’s still plenty of people packing malls and stores this holiday season and in general. Malls in my area have been busy so I don’t think it’s a bad time to open a single store front from that angle

 

That's a fair point. Man, I watched a YouTube documentary on the history of that place... What a mess! I don't even know how they pulled it off, but wow. lol
Hey, if they can make it work and save money, more power to 'em.

All true, there's plenty of foot traffic during this season and you can make big money during the month of December, but then comes January and you have all of that signage, all of those employees, all of the utilities, the rent, the acquiring stock, etc. I just hope, for their sake, they make enough to keep it going and make it worth it.

Guess that whole revival for KB is dead in the water, too. Haven't heard anything about that since the beginning of the pandemic. I'll give TRU the credit for having the balls to even try, right now.

 

Wow, that's a contender for "ridiculously delayed projects" alongside Germany's Elbe Philharmonic Hall, Berlin Brandenburg Airport and Stuttgart 21 central railway station.

 

Glad you still have malls. They are busy demolishing them here to replace with open plan marketplaces, Marketbasket & senior housing as the sheer square footage of empty tenants overwhelms the roads. Unless you are near a city, the malls are few & falling faster then the temp in MN...Do not know why they are pushing so hard in this time, to open in a climate where closure is the norm due to lack of traffic & stock...dunno where they plan to get the stock for Macys from, let alone the employees & the biggest matter of all: they have totally missed the Christmas season...

 

Oddly enough, I live near the best mall in Ohio and considered one of the best in the nation. (I know, I was shocked too because I've been in it and nothing about it wows me. I've seen better. I think the shark tank is part of what the draw is. Yes, real sharks in a tank in the mall. Not sure why or how, but here we are.) It has moments of massive foot traffic, then entire days where it's clearly quite dead. I see so many other towns where they converted the mall into businesses or living facilities, etc and I don't know how any mall is surviving right now, with or without the pandemic. It's insane how it works in one place but not in the other. I don't get it at all.

We have another mall, south of us by about 20 miles, and they're getting ready to close off an entire section because the anchor and all of the businesses next to it, left. (Well, they were going to. I haven't kept up with the news since reading that last year.) It makes no sense.

It makes less sense to do TRU right now. I hope it works out for them and people get jobs, but man...

 

Canada is a bit different, with a far smaller impact from Walmarts, but my smallish city (200k) has TWO malls that have successfully revitalized themselves by carving out their own niches.

One caters more to the older demographic, with some large tenants that used to live in power center type units, and the smaller stores again are a bit more niche and cater to older demographics.

The other mall has moved in the opposite direction, with a lot of designer brands and trendy clothing stores that younger demographics are interested in.

I think my point is, malls can be successful if they offer things that aren't available elsewhere. I dont know how that plays out in the US though, with stronger competition and perhaps a higher need for low-price retailers.

 

That’s exactly it, malls can continue to exist and even thrive but they can’t take their customers for granted any longer. I’ve seen some malls reinvent themselves and thrive, I’ve seen others barely clinging on and then there’s those that are at deaths door and simply waiting for someone to pull the plug.

If your mall looks like a glorified flee market with a food court that’s boring and with poor quality, it’s a sign to just close up shop.

 

The key thing Toys R Us used to offer for us was stock. They beat Wal-Mart and Target on variety and they beat Amazon on time. The first two will never stock the variety Toys R Us did and Amazon will never (in my lifetime) be able get anything I order to my house the same day I submit it.

 

More like all TRU, right? /s