Toys 'R' Us Coming To Macy's Stores In Illinois In Time For Holidays

ILLINOIS — A major retail chain hopes to resurrect a classic toy superstore in Illinois just in time for the holiday season, and Chicago will have a flagship location.

Macy's, in partnership with Toys "R" Us parent company WHP Global, announced plans this week to bring the beloved Toys “R” Us brand to every Macy’s store in America over the next few months.

There are 15 Macy's stores in Illinois, including locations in Aurora, Bolingbrook, Chicago, Gurnee, Joliet, Oak Brook, Orland Park, Schaumburg and Skokie. To find a Macy's store near you, click here.

Chicago's State Street Toys "R" Us location will be one of the company's 11 flagships.

Beginning late July and rolling out through Oct. 15, Macy's representatives said the in-store shops will range from 1,000 square feet and span up to 10,000 square feet in flagship locations in Chicago, Atlanta, Honolulu, Houston, Los Angeles, New York and San Francisco.

According to Macy's, the footprint of stores may flex up to an additional 500 to 3,000 square feet during the holiday season to offer an even wider assortment of products.

The Toys “R” Us brand will come to life in-store with playful colored fixtures as well as hands-on demonstration tables for customers to interact with various toy assortments, Macy's reps said.

The Toys “R” Us shops will also feature a life-size “Geoffrey on a Bench” photo opportunity for families, the company announced.

To celebrate the openings, all Macy’s stores will host nine days of in-store events, beginning Oct. 15 through Oct. 23, which will include family-friendly activities and daily giveaways from brands like Barbie, LEGO and more, Macy's officials said.

“Macy’s cannot wait to bring the Toys 'R' Us experience to life in our stores,” said Nata Dvir, Macy’s chief merchandising officer, in a news release. "We hope Toys 'R' Us kids of all ages discover the joy of exploration and play within our shops and families create special memories together. The customer response to our partnership with Toys 'R' Us has been incredible and our toy business has seen tremendous growth.”

Toys "R" Us, which was once considered the "king of toy stores," filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy 2017. A year later, the toy chain permanently closed all of its remaining U.S. locations, after 70 years in business, CNBC reported. Macy's is now hoping to breathe new life into the iconic toy store.

In 2018, the company announced it would sell or close its remaining seven stores in Illinois.

By Nikki Gaskins, Patch Staff