1/1/2024 0 Comments Geoffrey toys r usThe store proved to be a hit with shoppers even after the Christmas season as seen in this review. The Geoffrey’s concept fit in perfectly and the new store opened in November just before the Black Friday shopping rush. It was one of the few full size toy stores in the area. This location was prominent sitting right across the highway from Deerbrook Mall and had always been a popular stop for shoppers. After being forced to demolish the store, a race was on to get it back open before the Christmas shopping season. As you can see in this video the store had to be gutted and stripped down to the bare walls. Rather, the Toys “R” Us location in Humble closed due to the flooding of the San Jacinto River during Hurricane Harvey on September 2nd, 2017. One other former TRU was converted to a Geoffrey’s Bargain Bin, however this was not done due to the lagging sales at the store. Including a location in California, and one in New Jersey that would never end up opening. A few other stores were underperforming locations that TRU had closed but not been able to sublet. Another location which you can see a video of was a reused Bed Bath and Beyond in Philadelphia Mills Mall which was open by Fall of 2017. It seems that one of the first stores to open was a pilot location in Virginia, although I’m unable to find an address. Around 10,00 square feet or about the size of a small Dollar Store. To save on costs TRU opened Geoffrey’s locations in existing stores, and only used a limited amount of space. Other costing saving measures included keeping the store minimally staffed, un-staged, not using displays, and limited signage. The differences however were many, for one the stores used temporary racks and shelving, similar to what you would find in a Halloween Costume Conversion. The concept was intended to serve as an outlet for “discount” merchandise which included a selection very similar to Toys “R” Us. This was a last-ditch effort by Toys “R” Us to raise funds prior to their bankruptcy. Don’t be fooled though, the investment firm who ended up with TRU found one last way to wring of the neck of a beloved mascot with Geoffrey’s Bargain Box of Toys. You might be thinking, oh I already know all about Geoffrey’s Toy Box, however that was deployed post bankruptcy! You might even think, oh well duh everyone knows about the rural, child-sized Wal-Mart stores simply named Geoffrey (You should really check out those photos). I wanted to take a look at a store that TRU opened in Houston only months before their bankruptcy. On the heels of Toys “R” Us second departure from the Houston area (which I unfortunately have no photos of).
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