Toys “R” Us is making its largest U.S. comeback since its bankruptcy nearly a decade ago, with plans to open 120 new standalone stores in time for the holiday shopping season.
The expansion will increase the iconic toy retailer’s number of standalone U.S. stores from 40 to 160. The company has not yet released a complete list of locations or specific opening dates for the new stores.
The expansion is being carried out in partnership with Go! Retail Group and represents another step in a years-long effort to rebuild a brand that once operated hundreds of stores across the country.
The new locations will sell toys, collectibles and gifts from major brands and entertainment properties, including LEGO, Barbie, Hot Wheels and Pokémon. Some stores will also feature candy shops and cafés. Select locations will include Creator Studios designed for influencers, content creators and toy companies to film content, introduce products and hold special events.
The expansion comes nearly nine years after Toys “R” Us filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in September 2017 while carrying about $5 billion in debt. The company liquidated its U.S. operations and closed its remaining stores the following year.
Efforts to revive the chain began soon afterward. Smaller Toys “R” Us stores opened in New Jersey and Texas in 2019 but closed in 2021. Brand management company WHP Global later acquired a controlling interest in Toys “R” Us, and a 20,000-square-foot flagship store opened at the American Dream mall in New Jersey in December 2021.
The company expanded again in 2022 through a partnership that placed Toys “R” Us shops inside hundreds of Macy’s stores. It has also opened locations at airports and through the Navy Exchange Service Command.
The comeback comes as the U.S. toy business is growing. Toy sales increased 17% during the first half of 2026, the industry’s strongest first-half performance in six years, according to market research firm Circana. Adult demand for collectibles and trading cards has also become an increasingly important part of the market.
Even with 160 standalone stores, however, Toys “R” Us will remain considerably smaller than it was before its bankruptcy, when the chain operated hundreds of U.S. locations.
Source: People