RIP Mr. Lazarus, RIP Toys R Us

The last two weeks have proved to be very sad for the retail world of toys and dolls.  Toys R Us announced they would be going out of business completely, and their founder,   Charles   Lazarus, died at age 94.  How Ironic that this Saturday is the feast day of  Lazarus, and that  MGM Inc., and CEO Larian are stepping forward with a $100 million bid to save Toys R Us.  As they said there is still a lot of value in the name.  See the link at the end.

Founder of Toys R Us with First President Bush.

A good age, to be sure, and he saw his dream come true, but at the same time, I can't wonder if all the negative excitement hastened the poor man's death.


Where have all the toy shops gone!  We had a local chain called Toy Fair for many years; my mom bought me Furga dolls, Shackman porcelain reproductions, now vintage themselves, Sasha, Madame Alexander and more.  I can't even find a local store any more that carries Alexanders.  Then we had KayBee, which may be coming back to the malls.

Public Domain Images

In California, where I first wandered into Toys R Us, there we also had King Norman Toys and The Magic Kingdom.  Grants had phenomenal dolls as did Woolworth's.  Our department stores all had major doll and toy departments, but these have disappeared, too. Oh, you can find a few plush dolls, some Alexander 18 inch type dolls, Thomas toys, a few Beanie Babies, but it isn't the same.


Some blame the demise of Toys R Us on a copycat law suit they dealt with over Gene; there doll lookalike, Hayley, had to be yanked from the shelves.  It reminded me of the Huret-Rohmer lawsuit over doll bodies 160 years ago or so.  I remember rushing to Toys R Us at twilight, just before they close, to find Hayley.  Alas, I was too late. If anyone out there has one, I'm still interested.

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My mom and I loved the sales they had, and we routinely wandered Toys R Us aisles.   In Marion, IL, I watched a couple bring their chimp, a little boy in overalls, to select toys.  He sat in the cart, and held his toy as if he were reading the label 


I was in my heyday when the dolls from Mattel came in printed cardboard boxes, and the doll houses and dishes were displayed ceiling high. 

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On my last visit before the announcement, I noted that the FAO Schwarz area was no more. They apparently reopened after being bought from Toys R Us.  The reopening took, place Dec. 2017, see article in links below.  None of  the FAO toys were to be seen.  How I wish I'd ought that all plush coral reef!


Sales are only 5-30%, with most in the 10% range.  I don't see any really old stock,, but there are still bigger sales than this on clearance, with no further discount.  They were not taking checks locally, but cash and credit cards.  All sales are final at our stores.    I did find what I think was an older stock Power Puff girl cloth doll with accessory for $2.90.  Some action figures were only $1.98.   Lots of people were there this past Wednesday, but not many were buying.


I bought a Toys R Us Exclusive Belle.  My advice is, by the TRU exclusives first.  I will be back in about a month.  I was told they were gearing up to close in May.


Buying on line is fun, and a great way to fill in spots of your collection.  I live by it, and by social media.  Yet, we need toys stores.  We need to get out and to walk, and to see each other and interact.  Soon, we're going to be like those flabby space cruise ship passengers in Wall-eye


The thrill of the hunt involves physical activity, and I have memories of taking our son there to choose toys, and my little cousins.  Our boy even worked there a couple Christmases ago. 


I hope KayBee comes back, and that Macy's, Von Maur, and some of the other stores that used to carry toys will again, at least go for the collectors dolls and Madame Alexanders.  We like to look at them, and you  will reach a whole new market, and encourage exercise.


I leave you with some links to read more.  If you want particulars on the court case, I'll explain them happily.


As for me, though, I will miss Geoffrey the Giraffe, and I have to say,


"I don't want to grow up; I'm a Toys R Us Kid!"


Links:


Toys R Us Champion Larian  steps up to save stores: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-03-23/toys-r-us-champion-larian-steps-forward-with-100-million


Toys R Us Founder Charles Lazarus dies . . . . http://money.cnn.com/2018/03/22/news/companies/toys-r-us-founder-obituary/index.html


Toys R Us Closing All US Stores. http://www.businessinsider.com/toys-r-us-stores-closing-sales-2018-3


Toys R Us Files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Protection. http://www.businessinsider.com/toys-r-us-could-file-for-bankruptcy-this-week-reports-2017-9


Toys R Us Says a Perfect Storm Killed the Toy Chain. http://www.businessinsider.com/toys-r-us-could-file-for-bankruptcy-this-week-reports-2017-9


FAO  Schwarz returns after 2015 Closure. http://pix11.com/2017/10/27/fao-schwarz-returns-after-2015-closure/