Toys "R" Us is cutting the number of stores that are scattered throughout the United States as a result of filing for bankruptcy back in September of 2017.
A total of 182 Toys "R" Us stores, which include Babies "R" Us stores, will be closing down as part of a launch of 'financial restructuring' for the toy store conglomerate.
The CEO of the company said the decision to close down the stores comes down to restructuring their business plan to be more competitive and it gives the company a chance to bounce back from bankruptcy.
Georgia will say good bye to 8 stores which include:
- Albany (Toys "R" Us): 2601 H-1 Dawson Road
- Alpharetta (Babies "R" Us): 6380 North Point Parkway
- Smyrna (Toys "R" Us): 2955 Cobb Parkway
- Douglasville (Babies "R" Us): 6875 Douglas Boulevard
- Dunwoody (Babies "R" Us): 1155 Mount Vernon Highway Suite 300
- Conyers (Babies "R" Us): 8160 Mall Parkway
- Fayetteville (Toys "R" Us): 132 Pavilion Parkway
- Newnan (Babies "R" Us): 221 Newnan Xing Bypass
Meanwhile, shoppers are disappointed to see the iconic children's toy store start to disappear.
"I'd hate to see them go but sometimes just got to save some money," Stephen Marino said.
For Tonya Marino, both the company's problems and this tough solution appear to come down to people trying to save money.
"Financially, everybody's struggling," she said. "I think it's a way for them to save money and some people like the ease of shopping online."
Shoppers at the Cobb Parkway location see it as the latest retail giant to bite the dust losing the digital competition.
"Market offices dictate that they need to close their retail outlets," Angie Sheldon said. "Obviously, some are still going to be around."
It's a case of brick stores being replaced with a click, she explained.
"They're on their phones all day long shopping and communicating," Sheldon said. "And people don't hold conversations anymore."
In a post published to 11Alive's Facebook page, viewers in the comments section were quick to share the disappointing customer service they had experienced.
To clarify information from a previous story that was published on 11Alive, the location of the Toys "R" Us on Turner Hill Road in Conyers will remain open, however, the Babies "R" Us located on Mall Parkway will be liquidated.
The City of Stonecrest sent this statement,
"Today, several media outlets reported that Toys “R” Us™ will be closing 182 stores as a part of its Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization plan. The company, headquartered in Wayne, NJ, listed 8160 Mall Parkway, Conyers, GA as one of its closing stores; however, there isn’t a Toys “R” Us in Conyers. Toys “R” Us also owns Babies “R” Us. Nicole Hayes, a member of the corporation’s public relations team cleared the confusion and announced that the Babies “R” Us on Mall Parkway is closing. The Toys “R” Us location on Turner Hill Road, will remain open.
A member of the Babies “R” Us management team confirmed the closure and said that the store will begin its liquidation on February 8th with a goal of being permanently closed by April."
A statement sent out from the CEO of Toys "R" Us was released stating their primary focus was re-imaging their business in addition to recognizing their relaunch of their price match program.
Stores will start to close in early February and continue through mid-April. In business for more than 70 years, Toys 'R' Us hopes to bounce back from the bankruptcy.
The company also wants to have better competitive prices - something shoppers are looking forward to.
