Toys R Us Returning Throughout NJ Soon: Here's When

NEW JERSEY — Just like children over the past 65 years, Generation Alpha will soon have the opportunity to enter Geoffrey the Giraffe's stomping grounds and become Toys R Us kids. The toy retailer's return to shelves came closer to reality, with Macy's announcing an expansion of the partnership that will bring Toys R Us to all of its stores by the holiday season.

Macy's and Toys R Us publicized their partnership last August, with plans for the latter to open inside more than 400 Macy's stores in 2022. Now there's a more precise timeline: Toys R Us shops will roll out in all Macy's stores from late July to Oct. 15.

Toys R Us has a lengthy history in the Garden States, with headquarters in Wayne and then Parsippany. But the brand hasn't been widespread since it filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and closed all remaining U.S. stores by mid-2018.

While the "retail apocalypse" was certainly a factor, some analysts cited the corporation's rapid increase in debt under private-equity ownership. Toys R Us's debt was downgraded to junk-bond status in 2005. One year later, investment companies Bain Capital, Kohlberg Kravis Roberts and Vornado Realty Trust announced a $6.6 billion leveraged buyout of the company. The transaction left Toys R Us with $5.3 billion in debt secured by its assets ended public-stock trading of the company.

As part of its comeback, Toys R Us opened its new flagship store last winter in the American Dream mall. The opening marked Toys R Us's first standalone store in the country since the 2018 closures. Read more: Toys R Us Celebrates Grand Opening Of New Bergen Co. Flagship

But for many young children, the Macy's partnership will mark the first time in their lives that they can get the Toys R Us experience near them. Macy's has 24 stores in New Jersey alone.

The in-store shops will occupy at least 1,000 square feet and may flex up an additional 500-3,000 square feet during the holiday season. Toys R Us setups will span up to 10,000 feet in flagship locations in Atlanta, Chicago, Honolulu, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York and San Francisco, according to Macy's.

Each Toys R Us will feature colored fixtures, hands-on demonstration tables and a life-size "Geoffrey on a Bench" photo opportunity for families. To celebrate the openings, all Macy's stores will host in-store events from Oct. 15-23, which will include family-friendly activities and daily product giveaways.