Toys R Us To Open 120 New Stores: What To Know In PA

From the ashes of childhoods past, Toys R Us has been resurrected.

The popular chain of toy stores is opening up 120 new standalone shops across the country ahead of the coming holiday season.

There are currently 21 locations confirmed in Pennsylvania. It's not clear how many additional stores will be added in the state, as the full list of locations has not yet been released.

"This holiday season represents an extraordinary expansion for Toys R Us in the U.S.," Gideon Schlessinger, CEO of Go Retail Group, said in a statement. "There's something special about walking into a Toys R Us store, especially during the holidays. The excitement of discovering the hottest toys, seeing favorite brands and characters come to life, and finding that perfect gift."

Forty stores are already open nationwide, so the expansion brings that number to 160. All stores are expected to be open before Christmas.

Toys R Us filed for bankruptcy in 2018, eventually closing or selling all of its 735 locations around the country. A small number of shops have since reopened in partnership with Macy's, but this week's announcement is a far more comprehensive "comeback."

Toys R Us’ bankruptcy filing came amid slumping sales and mounting debt, which grew to about $5 billion. The chain has faced increasing competition from Amazon, Walmart, and Target.

The comeback can be explained in two ways. First and perhaps most obviously, the Toys R Us brand survived the U.S. bankruptcy. Stores in other countries continued. Their acquisition by Go Retail Group and a wide variety of partnerships, like those with, Macy's have allowed them to rebuild profit.

Secondly, they are not the same Toys R Us store that a decade ago could not compete with Amazon's convenience or Walmart's and Target's prices. As the in-person shopping experience has become something of a novelty, they've focused on the physical aspect, rarer collectibles, specific fandoms, hotly anticipated product launches, and other unique in-person events.

Some of the new stores will also feature candy shops and cafés.

All 21 current Pennsylvania locations are listed below:

• Montgomery Mall
• Plaza at King of Prussia (a temporary "holiday shop" separate from the Macy's location)
• King of Prussia Mall
• Exton Square
• Willow Grove
• Springfield
• Oxford Valley
• Center City Philadelphia
• Logan Valley Mall
• Ross Park Mall
• Mall at Robinson Town Center
• South Hills Village Mall
• Frazer Heights Galleria
• Northeast / Roosevelt Mall
• Capital City Mall
• Westmoreland Mall
• Viewmont Mall
• Millcreek Mall
• Wyoming Valley Mall
• Lehigh Valley
• Monroeville Mall