Will Toys ‘R’ Us Be Opening Any New Stores in Maine or New Hampshire in 2026?

If you grew up in the 1980s or 1990s, there is a good chance that your idea of heaven was a trip to Toy 'R' Us.

While in reality, it was not any bigger than a Walmart or Ames, didn't it always feel like the store was truly monolithic?  There was aisle after aisle of action figures, Matchbox cars, dolls, bikes, video games, and more.

I remember watching the kids who won those Nickelodeon toy runs going absolutely wild inside a Toys 'R' Us store and I was so jealous!

Sadly, by the twenty-teens the stores had started to disappear.  Like many other retailers during that era, the chain had been dealing with a shaky economy and an increase in online shopping.  By 2019, the stores were basically extinct.

In recent years, though, we have seen them make a comeback.  Sorta'.  For the last few years, the chain has been opening kiosks inside Macy's stores.  There are also a handful of standalone stores.

Now, we are hearing that there will soon be over 100 new standalone stores.

According to an article on the WABI website, Toys “R” Us currently has about 40 standalone locations, along with smaller shops inside Macy’s stores.

Now, the company is adding another 120 standalone stores across the country, bringing the total number of standalone locations to 160 for the holiday season.

The new stores will feature a curated selection of popular toys and collectibles.  Some locations will also have candy shops and cafes, because apparently buying toys while eating candy is still a perfectly reasonable life choice.

Select stores will also include Creator Studios, which will give influencers, creators and toy companies dedicated spaces to make content, introduce new products and host toy reveals, launches and special events.

Go! Retail Group CEO Gideon Schlessinger says the expansion will bring the Toys “R” Us experience to communities across the country during what he describes as an extraordinary holiday season for the brand.

So, if you remember spending hours wandering through Toys “R” Us as a kid, you may soon have a chance to do it again, only this time you might be paying the bill.

Will we see any new stores opening in Maine or New Hampshire?  That remains to be seen, but you can visit the kiosks inside several Macy's stores in our region.  These include Portland in Maine.  Also, there are stores in Portsmouth, Manchester, Salem, and Nashua in New Hampshire.

Get the latest on these new standalone stores HERE