One of the country's most well-known toy store chains is closing its doors.
Toys R Us is exploring a plan to liquidate the company, closing hundreds of stores and laying off some 30,000 people.
The retailer announced Wednesday that it filed to liquidate and close all its 735 stores nationwide.
The company's CEO saying in a statement that, "This is a profoundly sad day for us as well as the millions of kids and families who we have served for the past 70 years."
The official announcement of Toys R Us closing all its U.S. stores means another business in the Galleria Complex will close for good.
It’s not just kids who are sad about the store closing, adults alike are upset the retailer is shutting down.
“It's kind of a bummer, I think.” says mom and local shopper Brittany Chippie. “We didn't come here often but sometimes you just need something that you can't find at the other stores that would be easy to just come here and get.”
A few years ago, Toys R Us bought out KB Toys, making them the only major, all-toy store left for parents and kids to enjoy.
Now, parents are saying they are losing quality time with their children and a major bargaining chip.
“My 4-year-old is devastated,” says mom Becky Smith. “This is his favorite place, it's what we bribe him with, 'behave and we'll go to Toys R US.'”
Toys R Us will join many other restaurants and retailers that have closed in Johnstown, leaving the mall complex with an empty storefront, and shoppers say it’s upsetting to see another major chain shutting down.
“It's very disheartening,” Smith says. “We are losing a lot of stores in this area and our choices are getting less and less, which leaves us from this area going to Greensburg or Altoona or Pittsburgh for the stores we want to shop at now.”
After hearing the news, parents are worried for Christmas later this year, when their only options are larger, less specific stores or shopping online.
“This is where we came for most of our Christmas gifts," Smith says. “I mean, I do some shopping online but we did the bulk of our Christmas shopping here.”
“I'd say we are probably do more online shopping,” Chippie says. “Probably would be the best bet at this point.”
Customers have 30 days to spend their Babies R Us or Toys R Us gift cards and returns will not be accepted once liquidation sales begin.
There is no official word when our store is scheduled to close its doors for good.
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