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MONTGOMERYVILLE, PA — Local dad Justin Simpson took a trip to the mall on Christmas Eve to begin his Christmas shopping, only to find a vacant lot where the mall once stood. "Oh man, I've been coming here forever," Simpson said. "I mean, it's been a few years, but I used to love getting malts at the Woolworth soda fountain. Then my mom would always make us buy some educational books over at Borders." A distraught Mr. Simpson had reportedly planned to shop for his entire family at the mall this year. "I figured I could get the older kids...

Tens of thousands workers laid off when Toys R Us went bust last year have a politically powerful new ally in their fight to win severance from the bankrupt retailer: Sen. Elizabeth Warren. The Massachusetts Democrat, who is rumored to be weighing a run for the White House in 2020, is pressing the financial firms behind the decision to liquidate Toys R Us to contribute to a fund for affected employees. "The liquidation of Toys R Us -- reportedly at the urging of your firm -- caused more than 30,000 American workers to lose their jobs without the severance they...

oys R Us isn’t paying severance to its 30,000 workers who will lose their jobs as the retailer shuts down, even though it doled out millions in executive bonuses a week before it filed for bankruptcy. Now, some workers are calling on lawmakers to create new rules that would require bankrupt companies backed by private-equity firms to provide compensation to their workers.

Toys R Us, otherwise known as heaven for us kids who grew up in the 80’s and 90’s, is closing all 800 of its stores’ doors. One of the nation’s largest and oldest toy retailers, the toy chain made the announcement last week. In its annual filing, the company pointed to online competition like Amazon, as well as traditional retailers like Walmart and Target, as the major reasons for its bankruptcy. But Toys R Us (which also runs Babies R Us) cited another and much more troubling reason for its collapse: sagging birth rates. “Most of our end-customers are newborns...

It's rumored that Amazon.com (NASDAQ:AMZN) is looking to occupy the vacant stores of bankrupt Toys R Us. Having played a large role in the toy retailer's demise, Amazon now wants to acquire the toy store's skeletal remains to expand its own brick-and-mortar footprint across the country.

Maybe he was trying to get a jump on the company’s upcoming liquidation. Long before Toys ‘R’ Us announced plans to go out of the toy business, an employee at a store in Virginia stole nearly 3,000 toys before flipping them on eBay for nearly $123,000, authorities said. Obaid Sheikh, 25, stole 2,970 toys during his four years of working at a Toys ‘R’ Us location in Fairfax and then sold the items online, WJLA reports. An asset protection manager for Toys ‘R’ Us launched an investigation in October 2017 after a string of thefts at the store. He later...

Charles Lazarus, who founded Toys "R" Us 70 years ago, died Thursday, a week after the company announced it will be forced to shut down its U.S. operations. Lazarus, 94, no longer held a stake in the chain. He started the company in 1948 when he was 25, anticipating that the post-war baby boom would create demand for baby supplies and toys. He remained CEO until 1994. "He was the father of the toy business," said Michael Goldstein, who succeed him as CEO. "He knew the toys and loved the toys and loved the kids who would shop in the...

FULL TITLE: Toys R Us says millennials not having kids hurt the company — and it could be because of a looming 'demographic time bomb' Millennials are not like their parents. Typically defined as those born from 1981 to 1996, millennials are more racially diverse and more college-educated and marry later than previous generations. Millennial women are also increasingly delaying parenthood or forgoing it altogether, as reflected by the US's declining fertility rate. Fertility hit a record low in 2016, bringing the rate among women ages 15 to 44 to 62 births per 1,000 women. Many economists are wringing their...

The failing toy chain recently revealed that it is going out of business after it filed for bankruptcy last fall. Daily Wire writer Paul Bois said the business deserves a “humiliating end.” After all, it did promote the group that is aborting more of its customers than any other group in the U.S., Planned Parenthood. Though Bois expressed sympathy for the employees who will lose their jobs, he said the business has itself to blame for its failure. “I shed not one tear for them, and neither should you: For the past decade, the organization has joined the ranks alongside...

If you're a parent, you've had at least one passing discussion on the closure of Toys R Us. The mega-giant toy chain that ruled the childhoods of many of today's parents is shuttering nearly 200 stores this month. While bankruptcy is the official reason, it isn't the only or perhaps even the biggest reason why Geoffrey the Giraffe is being sent to the big zoo in the sky: Debt. Competition from online retailers like Amazon, as well as cheaper big-box stores like Wal-Mart and Target. Yes, bad customer service, too. All of these are the most commonly cited reasons...

Toys "R" Us is going out of business in the U.S. The iconic chain announced early Thursday that it's seeking bankruptcy court approval to start closing its 735 U.S. stores and liquidating their inventory. Some 33,000 employees will lose their jobs as a result. Toys "R" Us Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Dave Brandon said in a statement, "I am very disappointed with the result, but we no longer have the financial support to continue the Company's U.S. operations."

The chain — whose history traces back to a post-World War II baby furniture store — has spent many decades as the country's largest dedicated toy emporium. Today's parents are the millennial generation who grew up with the Internet and approach purchasing decisions and time they spend with children differently from baby boomers. Generally, foot traffic is falling at brick-and-mortar stores. And children are playing differently than they used to decades ago.

Bankrupt retailer Toys "R" Us may shut all its US stores as soon as next week, according to several reports. That's terrible news for the two biggest publicly traded toy companies. Investors are clearly preparing for the worst. Shares of Hasbro (HAS) fell 3.5% Friday morning while Mattel (MAT) plunged 7%. Smaller toy company Jakks Pacific (JAKK) fell nearly 5% too. Canada's Spin Master, which owns the popular line of Hatchimals toys, was down about 3% as well on the Toronto Stock Exchange. And everything isn't awesome for privately held European toy giant Lego either. The plastic bricks maker reported...

Toys ‘R’ Us Inc is preparing for potential liquidation if its negotiations with creditors do not result in a deal that can help the struggling toy retailer to emerge from bankruptcy, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters on Thursday. These talks are continuing and no decision has yet been taken. The company is also considering other options, including a potential sale in bankruptcy if possible, according to the source.

After recalling that most dolls or action figures in toy stores tend to be white, he further complains: "Those toy aisles are a painful walk through the first stages of cultural white supremacy, and Toys R Us has been a big part of that problem."

Toys 'R' Us is working to put together a loan to fund its operations in a potential bankruptcy filing that could come before the holiday sales season, according to people familiar with the matter. The toy merchant's move underscores the deep distress rippling through retailers of all sizes as consumers increasingly shop online at sellers such as Amazon.com Inc or go to discounters such as Wal-Mart Stores Inc . A spokeswoman for Toys 'R' Us did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The people could not be identified because the bankruptcy plans are not yet public. The Wall...

Toys 'R' Us is working to put together a loan to fund its operations in a potential bankruptcy filing that could come before the holiday sales season, according to people familiar with the matter. [Snip] The retailer had already said it was working with an investment bank to assess options for about $400 million in debt that comes due next year. Buyout firms KKR & Co LP and Bain Capital LP, together with real estate investment trust Vornado Realty Trust, took Toys 'R' Us private for $6.6 billion in 2005. The deal saddled the company with debt, limiting its ability...

oys"R"Us Inc has hired law firm Kirkland & Ellis LLP to help weigh restructuring options ranging from a bankruptcy filing to raising financing as bricks and mortar retail goes through a major downturn, according to a person familiar with the matter. The privately held toy retailer had previously said it was working with investment bank Lazard Ltd to help address its approximately $5 billion in debt, of which roughly $400 million comes due next year. The person could not be identified because the law firm's hiring is not yet public. In a statement, the company said it would provide an...

This morning was not a good start to New Years week. I decided to go horseback riding, something I haven't done in many years, and which Mrs. Chandler warned me was not a good idea, but I refused to let her hold me back. It turned out to be a big mistake! I got on the horse and started out slowly, but then we went a little faster; and before I knew it, we were going as fast as the horse could go. I couldn't take the pace and fell off, but caught my foot in the stirrup with the...

The Toys R Us store in Ferguson, which was burglarized during last year’s unrest, will close at the end of March, the company confirmed Tuesday. The store, open since 1989, will close “to prepare for the sale of the property,” said company spokeswoman Alyssa Peera. The store was “not meeting the needs of the business,” Peera said. “That is separate from the events that took place,” she added, referring to the protests and looting. “We have enjoyed serving the Ferguson community for many years. At this time, we do not have any plans for a new store in the Ferguson...