Toys ‘R’ Us Attempting A Comeback With 24 New Stores

In early 2021, Toys 'R' Us closed their last two stores (New Jersey and Houston); they filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in 2017. Now, the home of Geoffrey the Giraffe is attempting a comeback once again. CNBC reported that Toys 'R' Us will be opening 24 new brick-and-mortar stores across the country.

Their parent company  WHP Global, announced the company's plans on Friday. “The Toys R Us brand is growing fast, and our expansion into air, land, and sea is a testament to the brand’s strength,” Yehuda Shmidman, chairman and CEO of WHP Global, said in a press statement.

The reference to "air, land, and sea" refers to the initiative where Toy 'R' Us will open smaller stores in airports, cruise ships, and pop-up outlets. The first airport store will be in Dallas at Terminal A of Dallas Fort Worth International Airport. The plan is for this to roll out in November.

What has brought Toys 'R' Us to this point is fascinating. The first official store opened in 1957 in Rockville, Maryland. This location saw much success, and by the '70s, there were numerous locations across the country. By 2017, there were 1,691 stores. Unfortunately, that year, the toy chain filed for bankruptcy and sold off many of their stores. Eventually, in 2021, WHP struck a deal with Macy's to open approximately 400 stores within select Macy's locations. There are now 452 of these pop-ups.

Post-pandemic, Toys 'R' Us started their comeback prior to last week's announcement. A new flagship store was opened in New Jersey's American Dream Mall in 2022.

Now, Toys 'R' Us is attempting to adjust to the landscape of their industry and bring toys to the people as opposed to requesting customers come to them. "The stores for the cruise industry will sell cruise-themed merchandise, though Toys 'R' Us did not specify on which cruise lines or where the stores will open," CNN explains.

In the meantime, as plans continue to develop for these new 24 brick-and-mortar Toys 'R' Us locations to open, customers can visit ToysRUs.com to explore by age, category, or brand.

'Tis the season for haunted houses in America. I love the spooky season, even though I'm more of a spring girl. I actually wish Halloween fell in the spring. But, fall is a good time for all things haunted. America has some incredible haunted attractions. Getting scared is definitely an American thing. So, what are the best haunted houses in America?

What's neat about haunted houses is that they are popular across American, not just in one part of the country. In a sense, a love for Halloween and spooky things brings Americans together. Often, folks overseas haven't celebrated Halloween much until recently, though. In fact, I was shocked to learn that my friends in Europe have never heard of or tried candy corn. What's wrong with this world?

Even though Europeans may not be as familiar with Halloween, or at least the Europeans I know, it's worth noting that Borley Rectory, in England, was widely considered the most haunted house in the world. "This particular rectory was built on the same site as a Cistercian priory perhaps several hundred years older in what is now Borley, Essex, United Kingdom," according to Skeptoid.com. Is it still haunted today? Who really knows, right?

When it comes to haunted houses in America, different outlets have their favorite picks. I've decided to do some research and pick five must-see haunted attractions across the U.S. that I think you should visit this year. I picked a selection of haunted attractions geographically across the country, so hopefully you live near one. I would love to visit all of these at some point, but truth be told, I'm easily scared, so maybe I'm best to try kiddie haunted houses. Reach out to me with your favorite haunted houses and attractions across America here.

Netherworld is known around the country as being a super popular haunted house in Atlanta. It's extra scary, offering special effects, live actors, lots of blood and gore and more. Not for the faint!

https://www.fearworld.com/

Pennhurst Asylum is a super scary haunted house in America. It an institute for the mentally and physically disabled back to 1908. It closed in 1987, and today, it's a famed haunted house that draws people from all over the state and beyond.

https://www.pennhurstasylum.com/

Scream-A-Geddon Horror Park offers six attractions that are perfect for the spooky season. You can even add on Zombie Paintball, in addition to all the typical thrills and chills. This one can be fun for the whole family. Just do your research on the attractions before you go.

https://www.screamageddon.com/

Everyone in Michigan knows about Erebus Haunted Attraction. It's the biggest haunted attraction in the state and one of the biggest in the country. Detroit folks, especially, flock to this spot, as do people from Flint, Grand Rapids, Lansing and beyond.

The Asylum and Hotel Fear is a very popular and terrifying haunted house duo in Las Vegas. It's a favorite for Las Vegas tourists and natives, too. Get ready to get your scare on.

https://www.vegashauntedhouses.com/halloween/asylumhotel-fear-ny.html