Toys “R” Us filed for bankruptcy in 2017 and closed its remaining U.S. stores the following year.
The retailer filed for Chapter 11 protection in the United States on September 18, 2017. It later announced plans to liquidate its U.S. operations, and the last U.S. stores closed in 2018. The company continued operating in some international markets under separate arrangements.
Toys “R” Us had been a major specialty toy chain since its first store opened in 1957. Its large stores and broad selection made it a familiar destination for generations of families. The retailer faced heavy debt, changing shopping habits, online competition, and pressure from large discount stores.
A common mix-up is that the bankruptcy instantly ended the entire worldwide brand. In fact, different country operations had different owners and outcomes. The brand later returned to selected U.S. retail locations, including stores associated with Macy’s, but the original nationwide U.S. store network was gone.