Toys "R" Us Canada

Last updated
Toys "R" Us Canada Ltd.
Toys "R" Us Canada
Company type Subsidiary
Industry Retail
Founded1984;40 years ago (1984)
Headquarters Concord (Vaughan), Ontario, Canada
Number of locations
81
Area served
  • Canada
Products
Brands HMV Canada
Owner Doug Putman (2021-present)
Parent Toys "R" Us, Inc. (1984-2018)
Fairfax Financial (2018-2021)
Divisions
  • Babies "R" Us Canada (1996–present)
    Rooms + Spaces
Website www.toysrus.ca

Toys "R" Us Canada Ltd. is a Canadian chain of toy stores. It was founded by the Canadian franchise of U.S. toy retail chain Toys "R" Us; as of 2018, however, it operates independently and is based in Concord, Ontario.

It was owned by its American parent company from 1984 to 2018. In September 2017, Toys "R" Us filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, and closed all U.S. locations in March 2018. [1] Toys "R" Us pursued a sale of the Canadian division, including the possibility of bundling them with top-performing U.S. stores. The Canadian unit had annual sales of $1.08 billion at the time of the filing, and had to file for protection from its creditors due to the default of its U.S.-based businesses. [2]

In April 2018, it was announced that Fairfax Financial would acquire the 82 Toys "R" Us locations in Canada for $300 million, with the stores continuing to use the Toys "R" Us name. [3] [4] In 2021, Sunrise Records owner Doug Putman, through his Putman Investments, announced he would buy Toys "R" Us Canada (which now comprised 81 locations) from Fairfax Financial. [5]

In January 2024, the chain announced that it would revive the HMV brand in Canada (which Putman had acquired via Sunrise in 2019) [6] as a store-within-a-store concept at Toys "R" Us Canada locations, stocking music, home video, and memorabilia such as books and clothing. The departments began to launch at selected locations in the Greater Toronto Area, and are expected to be deployed at other locations during 2024. [7]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">FAO Schwarz</span> American toy brand and store

FAO Schwarz is an American toy brand and retail chain. The company is known for its high-end toys, life-sized stuffed animals, interactive experiences, brand integrations, and games.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Toys "R" Us</span> American international toy, clothing and baby product retailer

Toys "R" Us is an American toy, clothing, and baby product retailer owned by Tru Kids and various others. The company was founded in 1948; its first store was built in April 1948, with its headquarters located in Parsippany-Troy Hills, New Jersey, in the New York metropolitan area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bed Bath & Beyond</span> American houseware big-box retailer (1971–2023)

Bed Bath & Beyond was an American big-box retail chain specializing in housewares, furniture, and specialty items. Headquartered in Union, New Jersey, the chain operated stores in the United States and Canada, and was once counted among the Fortune 500 and the Forbes Global 2000. The chain filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in April 2023 and liquidated all of its remaining stores, with the last closing on July 30, 2023. Following the retail chain's liquidation, its name was adopted by online retailer Overstock.com, which acquired the company's trademarks in a bankruptcy auction. The name is also still used by the chain's former Mexican division, which is now independent.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fairfax Financial</span> Financial holding company based in Toronto, Ontario

Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited is a Canadian financial holding company based in Toronto, Ontario, engaged in property, casualty, insurance and reinsurance, investment management, and insurance claims management. The company operates primarily through several subsidiaries, including Allied World, Odyssey Re, Northbridge Financial, Crum & Forster, Verassure Insurance, Onlia Agency Inc., and Zenith Insurance Company. The company was also the largest shareholder of Torstar with 40% of the Class B shares, as of May 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Big Lots</span> American furniture and home decor retail company

Big Lots Stores, Inc. is an American discount retail chain headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dollar Tree</span> American discount variety store chain

Dollar Tree, Inc. is an American multi-price-point chain of discount variety stores. Headquartered in Chesapeake, Virginia, it is a Fortune 500 company and operates 15,115 stores throughout the 48 contiguous U.S. states and Canada. Its stores are supported by a nationwide logistics network of 24 distribution centers. Additionally, the company operates stores under the name of Dollar Bills, as well as a multi-price-point variety chain under the Family Dollar banner.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">HMV</span> Public entertainment retailing company

HMV is a music and entertainment retailer, founded in the United Kingdom in 1921. As of February 2024, it is currently operating in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Japan and Belgium, as well as having concessions at Toys "R" Us locations in Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Party City</span> American party supply store chain

Party City Holdco Inc, commonly referred to as Party City is an American publicly traded retail chain of party stores founded in 1986 by Steve Mandell in East Hanover, New Jersey. The companies headquarters are in Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey. The company is the largest retailer of party goods in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The company operates over 850 company-owned and franchise outlets in over 70 countries around the world under the Party City, Halloween City, Toy City, Factory Card and Party Outlet brands.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zany Brainy</span> American childrens toy retailer

Zany Brainy was an American retail store chain owned by FAO Schwarz. Its merchandise consisted of educational toys and multi-media products aimed at children ages 4–13, such as games and puzzles, infant development toys, books, audiocassettes, CDs, videos, arts and crafts, building toys and trains, computer software, electronic learning aids and musical instruments, science toys, plush toys and dolls, and sports-themed toys. The stores offered daily events such as workshops, concerts, and author appearances.

K·B Toys was an American chain of mall-based retail toy stores. The company was founded in 1922 as Kaufman Brothers, a wholesale candy store. The company opened a wholesale toy store in 1946, and ended its candy wholesales two years later to emphasize its toy products. Retail sales began during the 1970s, using the name Kay-Bee Toy & Hobby.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Earth Fare</span> American health and wellness supermarket

Earth Fare is an American health and wellness supermarket with 20 locations in eight states throughout the southeastern United States. It sells natural and organic food that the company claimed to have the highest product standards in the United States, and was one of the largest natural and organic food retailers in the country. After closing all stores in February 2020, three locations reopened in June 2020 and a total of 20 locations operate as of March 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wilko</span> British retail chain

Wilko is a retail chain owned by The Range since 2023, prior to which it was owned by Wilko Limited, founded in the United Kingdom in 1930.

Camelot Music was a mall-based American retailer of prerecorded music and accessories and was one of the largest music retailers in the United States based on store count. Camelot specialized in the sales of prerecorded music, especially vinyl LP, 45-rpm records, cassette tapes, CDs, and video/music accessories.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">FYE (retailer)</span> American chain of entertainment retail stores

2428392, Inc. is an American chain of entertainment retail stores headquartered in Albany, New York. Formerly owned by Trans World Entertainment, it began in 1993 and was expanded in 2001, 2006, and again in 2009 after buying out and rebranding mall-based stores Camelot, Sam Goody, Spec's Music, Strawberries, Record Town, Coconuts Music & Movies, DiscJockey, Saturday Matinee, The Wall, Suncoast Motion Picture Company, Musicland, Media Play, and His Master's Voice stores. There are 206 locations as of May 2019. As of 2023, FYE is a unit of 2428392, Inc. and retained its headquarters.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Buy Buy Baby</span> American retailer

Buy Buy Baby is an American big-box retail chain selling clothing, strollers, and other items for use with infants and young children. At its peak, it operated 137 stores across the United States. It was a subsidiary of Bed Bath & Beyond Inc., headquartered in Union, New Jersey, and closed all remaining stores following Bed Bath & Beyond's bankruptcy in 2023. However, Dream On Me bought 11 store leases via bankruptcy auction and has announced an intention to reopen stores by November 2023. The store is now distanced from Bed Bath & Beyond.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">HMV Canada</span> Entertainment retailer in Canada

HMV Canada Ltd. is a Canadian entertainment retailer, owned by Doug Putman under Toys "R" Us Canada. The company was originally a subsidiary of HMV in the United Kingdom until it was sold to Hilco Capital in 2011. HMV itself would later be bought by Hilco in 2013. HMV Canada's head office was located in Etobicoke. The retailer ceased operations in Spring 2017 and returned in February 2024.

Sunrise Records and Entertainment Ltd., operating as Sunrise Records, is a Canadian record store chain based in Ancaster, Ontario. Currently owned by Doug Putman, it currently operates in nine Canadian provinces. Originally operating with only 9 locations in Ontario, the chain announced a major expansion in February 2017, under which it purchased leases for 70 locations formerly occupied by HMV Canada. The chain runs approximately 85 locations across Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mastermind Toys</span>

Mastermind LP is a Canadian toy store chain based in Scarborough, Toronto, Ontario. It was founded in 1984 by brothers Andy and Jonathan Levy.

Douglas Robert Putman is a billionaire Canadian businessman, predominately trading in the retail sector across North America and Europe. Through his firm, Putman Investments, he owns numerous retail chains involving music, entertainment, toys and home goods.

References

  1. Bhattarai, Abha (March 14, 2018). "Toys R Us to close all 800 of its U.S. stores". The Washington Post. Retrieved March 14, 2018.
  2. "'Multiple' suitors line up with offers for Toys 'R' Us Canada". financialpost. Retrieved 2022-11-30.
  3. Reyes, Anthony (June 29, 2018). "No need to grow up, you can still be a "Toys 'R' Us Kid" in Canada". WKBW. Retrieved July 12, 2018.
  4. "Fairfax agrees $300 million deal to keep Toys 'R' Us Canada open". financialpost. Retrieved 2022-11-30.
  5. Toneguzzi, Mario (2021-08-19). "Toys R Us Canada Sold to Sunrise Records Owner: Interview with Doug Putman". Retail Insider. Retrieved 2022-11-30.
  6. Monaghan, Angela; Butler, Sarah (5 February 2019). "HMV reveals which 27 stores have closed after sale to Canadian music boss". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 5 February 2019.
  7. "HMV making comeback through Toys 'R' Us locations". CTVNews. 2024-02-01. Retrieved 2024-02-01.