The Toys R Us mascot will return this holiday season only at Kroger with Geoffrey’s Toy Box. The superstore will carry toy brands that was exclusive to Toys R Us.
I checked the list and my two Kroger locations in Texas isn’t listed… Bummer! But to you lucky shoppers out there, show your support.
I probably made my last trip to Toys “R” Us before they close down. As of writing this everything was 10-30% off. My main goal was WWE action figures and anything TRU Geoffrey related.
When I made it to the WWE figure aisle there wasn’t much, lots of empty pegs and SummerSlam two-packs featuring Ultimate Warrior & Honky Tonk Man. At this point, stop making Warrior figures. Save those figure slots for someone else. I did pick up a WrestleMania build up playset. It came with a basic Brock Lesnar figure which isn’t bad.
After about an hour searching the store for Geoffrey stuff I finally ask for help. Talked to one guy about plushies or Pop! figures and he said, the Pop! figs went fast and as for plushies, we don’t have any. He added, everyone has been coming in asking if we have that type of stuff since we are closing. He built it up as nostalgia.
I spent a couple hours in TRU taking pictures, SnapChatting, and giving play by play to Sometimes Mike about my adventure. So as I walked to the counter to checkout I spotted a row of Geoffrey gift card plushies, jackpot! I ask the lady behind the counter, those for sale? Yes they are… Give me two! And I got’em. I saved a couple dollars noting outrageous. The cashier said, the big sales will take place closer they get to closing the store.
The atmosphere wasn’t all that chipper. Sure I got the, hello when I walked in but it was kinda a ghost town. Saw maybe six customers and four employees. What I remembered the most is how hot it was in there. I’m guessing they shutoff the AC to save some cash… It’s sad seeing a store that’s been there for ages just closing and trying to get rid of everything. I remember going to TRU as a kid looking for wrestling figures and I’m still going to TRU looking for said action toys!
It’s being reported that all US Toys “R” Us stores are closing soon and it’s a shame. Toys “R” Us is every child’s dream, walking into a toy store finding that one action figure that you been searching for for weeks! If TRU didn’t have it no one did.
I’m still lucky enough to have my childhood TRU still open. I haven’t been in there in three years but I do have fond memories. I picked up the first Iron Man movie figure back in 2008 and one of my last times I went to TRU was in search for WWE Classic Superstars Series, Ted DiBiase. Didn’t find him but eventually ordered him online.
Speaking of ordering online, that’s one reason TRU is going under. Big box retails can’t compete with Amazon, or eBay. And I’m guilty like everyone else. Sure you may go look at Wal*Mart or Target for something but you failed to find it just order it online, it’s much easier picking up a package at a post office than dealing with dummies at a store.
One childhood memory that always stuck with me was when my mom, grandmother and I made a trip to TRU looking for Beetlejuice for NES. As I stood there looking through the glass searching for Beetlejuice I didn’t see it. I was told to get any other game I wanted but my heart was on Beetlejuice, I made the decision to leave empty handed. To this day Beetlejuice for the NES I’m still chasing in the wild.
The one thing about my TRU is, I don’t remember Geoffrey Dollars. I saw them advanced on Tv and in the Sunday paper but never at the store itself.
What I did see every time I walked into Toys “R” Us was their mascot, Geoffrey the Giraffe. He was always giving out hugs and high-fives. Nowadays he’s probably Too Sweeting people. But I digress. My experiences at Toys “R” Us has always been good, I hate to see them go out of business.
