The final day of Times Square's Toys 'R' Us

A few weeks late with this post, but I finally got around to editing some photos I took during the last day of business for Toys R Us in Times Square. Since 2001, Toys R Us has been one of the largest retail stores sitting in the Times Square bowtie. It's location housed an indoor ferris wheel, a dedicated candy shop, a Barbie dreamhouse, and a moving T-rex straight out of Jurassic Park. It was the FAO Schwarz of the common man, putting forth normal toys at normal prices over extravagantly priced gifts (though to be fair, FAO Schwarz is technically owned by Toys R Us anyway, so it all goes in the same pocket at the end of the day).

I can't say that this Toys R Us was a regular in my shopping itinerary, but it is sad to see such a staple of the "new" Times Square go away (post-Red Light district). Especially since FAO closed earlier this past summer.

While the closing of the store was said to be due to high rent (originally, the store leased space at $400 per square foot compared to the asking price now of $2500 per square foot in the same location), the real reason seems to be that more people are shopping online and visiting physical stores less to do their toy shopping.

Here are a few photos of the last time you'll ever see Toys R Us in Times Square.