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.

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Tags: china, game retailer, lotus supercenter, pudong, shanghai, super brand mall, Toys R Us, toysrus, tru

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

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?

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.

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.