By Mike Hazlip—
The Macy’s store at Sunrise Mall is preparing to feature a new Toys R Us store-within-a-store concept this fall.
The mall anchor retailer already has a well-stocked toy section with some Toys R Us branding visible at the Sunrise Mall location, but more is coming, according to Macy’s Senior Director and Store Manager Greg Bazarnik.
The manager said a national launch of Toys R Us inside Macy’s stores will take place in October, including at Sunrise Mall. Bazarnik said plans will include new fixtures and additional visual elements to “create the new environment,” which will be installed prior to the official national launch date.
Signs announcing the move have been on display at the location since last year, Bazarnik said. The toy section is on the first floor of Macy’s south location at the mall, also known as the women’s Macy’s.
The location currently features a Geoffrey the Giraffe sign that stands more than six feet tall over merchandise displays featuring the latest items from Harry Potter and Buzz Lightyear.
The national toy retailer had a presence in Citrus Heights at Sunrise Avenue and Birdcage Street for decades until a 2018 bankruptcy forced the closure of stores nationwide. That location has since become a Hobby Lobby.
USA Today reports the Toys R Us brand is seeking a comeback with the new concept. More than 400 Macy’s stores will feature a Toys R Us footprint in 2022, according to the report.
The move comes after brand management company WHP Global acquired a controlling interest in Toys R Us parent company, Tru Kids, USA Today reports. The acquisition also gives WHP Global control over Babies R Us and Geoffrey the Giraffe brands.
The Store-within-a-store concept has been popular with other national chains as Disney closed their retail locations in favor of a smaller footprint stores inside more than 100 Target locations in 2021, USA Today reports.
