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  4. I visited the Toys 'R' Us revival store in Macy's. It had every toy you could think of, and it made me feel like a kid again.

I visited the Toys 'R' Us revival store in Macy's. It had every toy you could think of, and it made me feel like a kid again.

I visited the Toys 'R' Us revival store in Macy's. It had every toy you could think of, and it made me feel like a kid again.
Ann Matica/Insider
  • Macy's is on track to launch more than 400 Toys 'R' Us locations in its US department stores.
  • The partnership is the revival the toy retailer has desperately needed since going bankrupt in 2017.

This holiday season, Macy's launched over 400 in-store Toys 'R' Us shops in select locations across the country in an effort to expand the toy portion of its business.

This holiday season, Macy
AP Photo/David Zalubowski

Source: Insider

For Toys ‘R’ Us, the newly formed partnership is a second chance at a comeback. After failing to refinance its mounting debt in 2017, the company was forced to shutter its over 700 locations for good.

For Toys ‘R’ Us, the newly formed partnership is a second chance at a comeback. After failing to refinance its mounting debt in 2017, the company was forced to shutter its over 700 locations for good.
Getty/Spencer Platt

Source: Insider

I decided to check out the revival store to see if the collaboration has what it takes for Toys 'R' Us to be able to reclaim its toy-store throne.

I decided to check out the revival store to see if the collaboration has what it takes for Toys
Ann Matica/Insider

To get the full experience, I went to the Herald Square Macy's flagship store in New York City, which is the site of the largest Toys 'R' Us shop, spanning 14,000 square feet.

To get the full experience, I went to the Herald Square Macy
Ann Matica/Insider

Source: Forbes

Once I entered the building, it wasn't hard to find signs pointing me in the right direction.

Once I entered the building, it wasn
Ann Matica/Insider

I took the elevators embossed with the Toys 'R' Us logo up to the seventh floor.

I took the elevators embossed with the Toys
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The entrance, which was in the women's-clothing section, was hard to miss.

The entrance, which was in the women
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The store layout is cleverly designed so that shoppers have to walk through Macy's children's clothing section before reaching the toy store.

The store layout is cleverly designed so that shoppers have to walk through Macy
Ann Matica/Insider

Children's outfits ranging from sports jerseys to winter coats were on display.

Children
Ann Matica/Insider

I also passed an in-store Carvel ice cream shop…

I also passed an in-store Carvel ice cream shop…
Ann Matica/Insider

…and an Auntie Anne's pretzel shop.

…and an Auntie Anne
Ann Matica/Insider

After walking through the clothing section, I finally came across more signs reassuring me that I was headed in the right direction.

After walking through the clothing section, I finally came across more signs reassuring me that I was headed in the right direction.
Ann Matica/Insider

A brightly lit Toys 'R' Us sign glowed overhead.

A brightly lit Toys
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I recognized a statue of the Toys 'R' Us mascot, Geoffrey the Giraffe. I hadn't seen an image of Geoffrey since my childhood.

I recognized a statue of the Toys
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From my first steps into the toy section, I could already tell it was designed to be a kid's paradise.

From my first steps into the toy section, I could already tell it was designed to be a kid
Ann Matica/Insider

There were shelves stacked high with Spiderman and Thor figurines from the Marvel franchise.

There were shelves stacked high with Spiderman and Thor figurines from the Marvel franchise.
Ann Matica/Insider

Also available for purchase were wands and stuffed-animal owls from the 'Harry Potter' series.

Also available for purchase were wands and stuffed-animal owls from the
Ann Matica/Insider

The 'Star Wars' area featured Boba Fett helmets and lightsabers.

The
Ann Matica/Insider

I thought the Baby Yoda dolls were particularly cute to look at.

I thought the Baby Yoda dolls were particularly cute to look at.
Ann Matica/Insider

The store had a large collection of Legos, including a human-sized Statue of Liberty...

The store had a large collection of Legos, including a human-sized Statue of Liberty...
Ann Matica/Insider

…and a replica of the annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade…

…and a replica of the annual Macy
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…complete with the turkey float.

…complete with the turkey float.
Ann Matica/Insider

While the displays were off limits, there were Lego play stations close by for kids to enjoy.

While the displays were off limits, there were Lego play stations close by for kids to enjoy.
Ann Matica/Insider

There was also no shortage of stuffed animals on the premises.

There was also no shortage of stuffed animals on the premises.
Ann Matica/Insider

I came across a giant tiger, a llama, and a brown bear enjoying each other's company.

I came across a giant tiger, a llama, and a brown bear enjoying each other
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Some large statues of popular children's TV show characters, like this one of Thomas the Tank Engine, offered parents the perfect place for a quick photoshoot with their kids.

Some large statues of popular children
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There was also a 'Paw Patrol' display that was a perfect prop for a photo opp.

There was also a
Ann Matica/Insider

Like the original Toys 'R' Us stores I grew up going to, this one had toys for a wide range of age groups...

Like the original Toys
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... although many of the toys for sale didn't exist when I was a kid, such as these LOL Surprise! Dolls.

... although many of the toys for sale didn
Ann Matica/Insider

There's also a large play structure for kids inside the Toys 'R' Us store.

There
Ann Matica/Insider

The area is called 'Geoffrey's Playground' and was complete with a bright yellow taxicab with Geoffrey himself sitting in the passenger's seat.

The area is called
Ann Matica/Insider

A traffic light and a sign warned shoppers that there were 'kids at play' in the area.

A traffic light and a sign warned shoppers that there were
Ann Matica/Insider

There were also large craft tables for children and parents to play with toys like Play-Doh or Mr. Potato Head.

There were also large craft tables for children and parents to play with toys like Play-Doh or Mr. Potato Head.
Ann Matica/Insider

A kinetic sand station was set up close by, too.

A kinetic sand station was set up close by, too.
Ann Matica/Insider

Older children can stop by the Nerf tent and participate in an aiming game.

Older children can stop by the Nerf tent and participate in an aiming game.
Ann Matica/Insider

The outdoor-play area had all the usual recreational toys, like skateboards and Razor scooters.

The outdoor-play area had all the usual recreational toys, like skateboards and Razor scooters.
Ann Matica/Insider

I was taken off-guard by the hoverboard section close by, which made me realize how much children's toys have changed since I was a kid.

I was taken off-guard by the hoverboard section close by, which made me realize how much children
Ann Matica/Insider

Even the Barbie Dreamhouse I remember longing for as a child has been upgraded.

Even the Barbie Dreamhouse I remember longing for as a child has been upgraded.
Ann Matica/Insider

The house now features a water slide and an outdoor pool.

The house now features a water slide and an outdoor pool.
Ann Matica/Insider

As children ran around the store enthusiastically, some parents took a moment to relax.

As children ran around the store enthusiastically, some parents took a moment to relax.
Ann Matica/Insider

The checkout line was relatively fast, even though just one employee was ringing customers up while I was there.

The checkout line was relatively fast, even though just one employee was ringing customers up while I was there.
Ann Matica/Insider

On my way out of the store, I saw a sign that perfectly summed up my experience at the revival store. It was the iconic jingle: 'I don't want to grow up. I'm a Toys 'R' Us kid!'

On my way out of the store, I saw a sign that perfectly summed up my experience at the revival store. It was the iconic jingle:
Ann Matica/Insider

The Macy's collaboration nailed its mission to appeal to a new young customer base by offering a vast selection of toys and large play areas to keep them entertained. It also satisfied the nostalgic feeling for adults of walking into a Toys 'R' Us that I hadn't even realized I'd been missing.

The Macy
Ann Matica/Insider

As I left the store, my only complaint was that I wasn't able to travel back in time so that my kid self could have enjoyed it too.

As I left the store, my only complaint was that I wasn
Ann Matica

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