Toys ‘R’ Us was an absolute emporium when it came to toys, however it was a sad day when the toy shop had to close its doors, leaving behind a treasure trove of childhood memories. Despite going into administration six years ago, the iconic toy brand is not lost forever as Toys ‘R’ Us has announced that it is making a comeback to the high street, with a new Manchester store arriving soon.
Toys ‘R’ Us will be returning to the Trafford Centre in Manchester but not quite as we knew it back then… While we were used to the roadside palaces (warehouses) in the Toys ‘R’ Us heyday, they’ve taken a different, more subtle approach this time around.
The company is now owed by WHP Global, which has partnered with WHSmith to bring a number of Toys ‘R’ Us shop-in-shops across the UK. With nine locations already up and running, Toys ‘R’ Us has announced further stores to come this year, including one inside WHSmith at The Trafford Centre, set to bring joy to kids and nostalgia to parents.
When will Toys ‘R’ Us open in Manchester?
Toys ‘R’ us will open in The Trafford Centre, Manchester on Saturday 13th July, with a grand opening event for customers taking place between 10am and 2pm.
Plus, Geoffrey the Giraffe will be joining the WHSmith team for an official ribbon cutting when the store opens, before greeting visitors to the store throughout the morning. The first 100 children visiting the store will also receive a free Toys ‘R’ Us goody bag worth over £20.
What will the toy shop sell?
The new shop-in-shop will feature a variety of products and activities from top toys brands including Barbie, Bluey, Hot Wheels, LEGO, Marvel, Paw Patrol, Peppa Pig, Squishmallows, Star Wars and more. Kids can enjoy hands-on play at demonstration tables, and a life-size Geoffrey the Giraffe sculpture will be a perfect spot for photo opportunities.
Ian Sanders, group commercial development director at WHSmith, said: “We’re really excited to be opening Toys R Us in Manchester. WHSmith is known for being the hub of the high street by providing customers with a range of great products and services.
“Partnering with Toys R Us gives us a leading toys and games range in our stores and means customers have even more reasons to shop with us. We look forward to welcoming many more customers into our store.”
The Trafford Centre store is one of 30 WHSmith locations slated to open before year-end, expanding on the initial nine launched in 2023. Toys ‘R’ Us launched in the UK in 1985, when it emerged as the ‘world’s first toy supermarket’, however the US parent company filed for bankruptcy in 2017 and 2018.