Who May Replace Closed 'Toys R Us' Locations In CA

CALIFORNIA — Hundreds of Toys R’ Us stores closed in the United States in 2018, one of the most high-profile casualties of the so-called “retail apocalypse.” Now the question is which retailers will replace all those empty stores left behind by the once iconic toy chain.

According to a report in The Wall Street Journal, Hobby Lobby is a big player in the game. Burlington Stores Inc. and TJX Co., which owns stores like TJ Maxx, Marshalls and HomeGoods, are also among the retailers expected to take over those empty stores.

Here are the X Toys R’ Us stores that closed in California in 2018:

• Brea, 2575 E. Imperial Highway
• Brentwood, 5461 Lone Tree Way
• Corona, 3665 Grand Oaks CA
• Covina, 960 Lakes Drive
• Emeryville, 3938 Horton
• Fairfield, 1400 Gateway Blvd.
• Folsom, 2785 E. Bidwell St.
• Fresno, 3520 W. Shaw Ave.
• Indio, 42500 Jackson St.
• Mira Mesa, 8181 Mira Mesa Blvd.
• Mission Bay, 1240 W. Morena Blvd.
• Pinole, 1330 Fitzgerald
• Pittsburg, 4505 Century Blvd.
• Puente Hills, 1600 S. Azusa Ave.
• Riverside, 2550 Canyon Springs Pkwy S.
• San Jose, 2179 Monterey Hwy.
• San Jose, 865 Blossom Hill Road
• San Rafael, 600 Francisco Blvd.
• Santa Ana, 3900 Bristol St.
• Santa Clarita, 26573 Carl Boyer Dr.
• Simi Valley, 1189 Simi Town Ctr Way
• Stockton, 10640 Trinity Pkwy.
• Torrance, 20120 Hawthorne Blvd.
• Union City, 31250 Court House Drive
• Vista, 1990 University Drive
• Westminster, 530 Westminster Mall
• Yuba City, 700 "A" Onstott Rd.

Conor Flynn, CEO of Kimco Realty Corporation, said at a consumer conference in June that many of the larger big-box storefronts will be taken up by Hobby Lobby, according to the Journal. Kimco has interests in about 475 shopping centers. (Get Patch real-time email alerts for the latest news from your California neighborhood. Also, download the free Patch iPhone app or free Patch Android app. Also, be sure to follow your local Patch on Facebook!)

According to the Journal, Flynn said off-price retailers, fitness centers and specialty grocers are likely to go after the Toys R’ Us stores that are about 35,000 square feet each. The smaller stores, that are 20,000-25,000 square feet, are more suited for retailers like TJ Maxx and Marshalls, Flynn said, per the Journal.

In 2018, the number of announced U.S. store closures stands at 4,146, according to Fung Global, which tracks store opening and closures in the U.S. The number of announced store openings in the U.S. is 2,042. In the latest store closure news, Sears said it would close 10 more stores with liquidation sales expected to begin as early as July 13, according to Fung Global.

What company would you like to see replace the empty Toys R' Us stores in California? Let us know in the comments below or on Facebook.

Photo by Autumn Johnson/Patch; Story by Dan Hampton, Patch