Toys R Us May Close Dedham Location

Toys R Us could sell or close its 735 U.S. retail stores, including its Dedham location, according to three reports published on Wednesday.

The toy retailer could be winding down its operations six months after it filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in federal court.

The "winding down" includes all 735 of its U.S. and Puerto Rico stores and their inventories.

The company confirmed the reports that Chief Executive Dave Brandon had shared the despairing news with employees in a conference call, according to The Record. Brandon told employees it was a sad day and that customers and others would be sad to see the brand disappear, a spokeswoman for Toys R Us told The Record.

Toys R Us is in the process of drafting a court motion for its liquidation plan and could file it as early as Thursday.

The company is studying one proposal that could keep the business alive and keep open roughly 200 U.S. and Canadian stores open after the retailer liquidates, the company said in a press release issued Wednesday.

The Dedham spot was initially among 182 stores nationwide and six Massachusetts stores slated for closure in January. It was saved from shutting down the following month after a lease renegotiation.

By Daniel Hubbard, Patch Staff

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