Toys "R" Us to open store in China
by Alan Rose 
{ Sep 21st 2006 at 1:30PM }
First Best Buy took the plunge in China, now Toys "R" Us is following suit. In December, the North American toy retailer will open its first Chinese store at The Super Brand Mall in Shanghai Pudong. I noticed some construction activities when I was there a few weeks ago, but the store space didn't look very big. Store sizes are somewhat limited given the mall's Guggenheim-ish floor structure. Still, this should help spur console and handheld game sales in a market that has been traditionally dominated by PC gaming. Toys "R" Us will provide a nice complement to the mall's Lotus Supercenter, which sells only PC titles.See also:
Get a WordPress.com Blog
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Matt @ Sep 21st 2006 1:36PM
Yes but how will the new mascot "Chairman Maoffrey" go over with the kids?
Zero @ Sep 21st 2006 1:40PM
PC gaming dominates there through the ease of piracy... I don't think a retail store selling actual copies of software at MSRP is going to get much attention.
darko82 @ Sep 21st 2006 1:44PM
True, it might take more than a few stores to turn the tide. But with Best Buy there also, there will actually be places to play with demos and get hands on with the console and handheld hardware.
Blu Ray owns your Soul @ Sep 21st 2006 2:00PM
theres millions said Maoffrey all under one regime. its called toys r us!
Andy @ Sep 21st 2006 2:16PM
I cant remember the last time I saw a Toys 'R' Us in the US for gods sake
Powdered-ToastMan @ Sep 21st 2006 5:01PM
Toys "L" Us.
unimental @ Sep 21st 2006 3:17PM
They've but shutting down US stores by the buttload during 1Q 2006 as part of "restructuring" (read: trying to figure out how to compete with Target/Wal-Mart and the big box electronic stores).
http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/retail/2006-01-10-officemax-toysrus-closures_x.htm
I've got fond memories of Toys R Us. Anyone else remember spending hours poring over the game selection on the old "flip-wall" setup, then pulling a ticket and finally getting the game at the secure storage area past the checkout?
Pseudo99 @ Sep 21st 2006 4:27PM
Toys 'r Us...packing up and moving to China. Wal-Mart patiently waiting to come and drive these new stores out of business.
American consumers don't want variety; they want to be given a limited selection to make purchasing easier. The kids can go pick out a video game or toy whilst Mommy or Daddy buys groceries.
I will miss toy stores.
Christian @ Sep 21st 2006 4:27PM
Maybe my world geography is messed up, but I was in Hong Kong last year and there was a gigantic Toy R' Us there. And after 1997, in spite of being a Special Economic Zone, isn't it still technically China?
I'm guessing the one in China will be like the one in HK, that is to say overflowing with Hello Kitty, Videogames, and Gundam. In other words? Awesome.
Devilmachine @ Sep 21st 2006 6:09PM
There has been a Toys R Us store in Hong Kong for over 10 years!!
I remember visiting it when I was 10 years old (now 22).
I guess its mainland China's turn to experience Toys R Us now...
jordan @ Sep 21st 2006 10:56PM
haha.
the toys 'r' us in my town just closed down.
Ru @ Sep 22nd 2006 5:34AM
I live in Beijing near Chongwenmen, and there's tons of Toys "R" Us adverts along the outside of a new set of shops they're opening across the street from my apartment. Think they're opening multiple locations on the mainland?