Stores Like Toys R Us: 12 Toy Retailers That Actually Stock the Shelves
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About Toys R Us
Founded
1957
USA
Ships to
US
Editor-reviewed
Every recommendation read and refined by hand
Honest tradeoffs
Drawbacks listed, not hidden
No paid placements
Brands cannot pay to be ranked
Who does Toys R Us actually serve now? Not the kid who spent an hour wandering an aisle picking a single Hot Wheels case, and not the parent who used a $10-off coupon on a birthday LEGO set. It serves shoppers who happen to walk past a Macy's toy shop-in-shop and remember a store that no longer exists in the form they loved.
The Geoffrey the Giraffe nostalgia is real. The two-story Times Square flagship with the indoor Ferris wheel, the endless aisles of Nerf and Barbie and board games under fluorescent light, the feeling that everything a child could want was under one roof — that's what people mourn. WHP Global bought the name out of bankruptcy and stitched it into Macy's floor space, but a curated corner beside the housewares does not replace a destination.
The current version is thinner in every direction: fewer SKUs, less inventory depth, no store you drive to specifically for toys.
What parents want back isn't the logo — it's the browsing, the stock, the one place that had the specific thing your kid circled in the catalog. So where do you actually go now when the birthday is Saturday and you need the real selection?
The Geoffrey the Giraffe nostalgia is real. The two-story Times Square flagship with the indoor Ferris wheel, the endless aisles of Nerf and Barbie and board games under fluorescent light, the feeling that everything a child could want was under one roof — that's what people mourn. WHP Global bought the name out of bankruptcy and stitched it into Macy's floor space, but a curated corner beside the housewares does not replace a destination.
The current version is thinner in every direction: fewer SKUs, less inventory depth, no store you drive to specifically for toys.
What parents want back isn't the logo — it's the browsing, the stock, the one place that had the specific thing your kid circled in the catalog. So where do you actually go now when the birthday is Saturday and you need the real selection?
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12 brands
The 12 Best Alternatives to Toys R Us
1
Target
Est. 1962
Minneapolis, USA
≈
similar
Parents who want one-stop shopping with toys, clothes, and groceries in the same trip
Target's toy section became the default American toy destination after Toys R Us collapsed, absorbing much of its foot traffic with a wide, family-friendly assortment.
Pros
- Huge physical toy aisles in nearly every U.S. town
- Strong exclusives and Bullseye's Playground clearance finds
- Easy in-store pickup and returns
Cons
- Selection narrows on niche collectibles and hobby lines
- Popular items sell out fast around holidays
Visit Target
Full guide: Stores Like Target
2
Walmart
Est. 1962
Bentonville, USA
$
cheaper
Budget-focused shoppers who want the lowest price on mainstream toys
Walmart offers the sheer breadth and low prices that made Toys R Us feel like everything-under-one-roof, both in stores and online.
Pros
- Consistently the lowest prices on big-brand toys
- Massive online marketplace with third-party sellers
- Widespread physical stores with big toy sections
Cons
- In-store toy aisles can feel picked-over and disorganized
- Marketplace quality varies by seller
3
Amazon
Est. 1994
Seattle, USA
≈
similar
Shoppers who value selection breadth and next-day delivery over browsing
Amazon carries virtually every toy line Toys R Us ever stocked plus thousands more, with fast delivery replacing the drive to the store.
Pros
- The deepest catalog of any toy seller anywhere
- Prime delivery gets last-minute gifts there fast
- Reviews help vet unfamiliar brands
Cons
- Counterfeit and mislabeled listings from third parties
- No browsing experience for kids
4
Barnes & Noble
Est. 1886
New York, USA
≈
similar
Families who want an in-person store to browse educational toys and games
B&N has quietly expanded its toy and games sections into a genuine browse-worthy destination, filling the physical-store gap Toys R Us left.
Pros
- Actual physical stores you can browse with kids
- Strong on STEM, puzzles, and board games
- Staff who know the products
Cons
- Smaller selection than a dedicated toy store
- Pricier than mass retailers on mainstream items
5
LEGO Store
Est. 1932
Billund, Denmark
$$$
pricier
LEGO fans who want the complete range and store-exclusive sets
For the LEGO-obsessed corner of every Toys R Us, going straight to LEGO delivers the full range plus exclusives and the Pick a Brick wall.
Pros
- Full LEGO range including retiring and exclusive sets
- Pick a Brick wall and build stations in stores
- VIP rewards and gift-with-purchase promos
Cons
- Only worthwhile if you want LEGO specifically
- Premium pricing with rare discounts
6
Build-A-Bear Workshop
Est. 1997
St. Louis, USA
$$$
pricier
Birthday outings and experience-driven gifts for younger children
Build-A-Bear recreates the experiential magic Toys R Us had, turning a purchase into a make-your-own event kids remember.
Pros
- A genuine in-store experience, not just a transaction
- Endless licensed characters and outfits
- Great for parties and milestone gifts
Cons
- Add-ons pile up the cost quickly
- One category only — stuffed animals
7
Learning Express Toys
Est. 1987
Devens, USA
≈
similar
Parents wanting knowledgeable staff and free gift wrapping at a local shop
This franchise of locally owned toy shops offers the personal, browse-able specialty store feel that big-box Toys R Us slowly lost.
Pros
- Locally owned shops with real product knowledge
- Free personalization and gift wrapping
- Strong on quality educational and specialty brands
Cons
- Store locations limited to certain regions
- Higher prices than mass retailers
8
Mattel Shop
Est. 1945
El Segundo, USA
≈
similar
Fans of Barbie, Hot Wheels, and Fisher-Price wanting exclusives and collector items
Going direct to Mattel gets you Barbie, Hot Wheels, and Fisher-Price exclusives that filled the core Toys R Us aisles.
Pros
- Mattel Creations exclusives and collector editions
- Full Barbie, Hot Wheels, and Fisher-Price lines
- Source-brand authenticity
Cons
- Only Mattel-owned brands, no mixing
- Exclusives can be pricey and sell out
9
The Entertainer
Est. 1981
Amersham, UK
≈
similar
UK families who want a physical dedicated toy store to walk into
For UK shoppers, The Entertainer is the closest thing to the old Toys R Us — a dedicated high-street toy chain with big, browsable stores.
Pros
- Genuine dedicated toy stores across the UK
- Wide range from budget to premium brands
- Regular deals and loyalty perks
Cons
- UK-focused, limited international shipping
- Mostly mainstream lines
10
Melissa & Doug
Est. 1988
Wilton, USA
≈
similar
Parents seeking screen-free, wooden, and open-ended play toys
For the wooden-toy and open-ended-play niche Toys R Us stocked, Melissa & Doug direct offers the full range of durable, screen-free toys.
Pros
- Durable wooden and screen-free toys built to last
- Strong for toddlers and preschoolers
- Classic play patterns without batteries
Cons
- Narrow age range focus (mostly under 8)
- No licensed characters or electronics
11
Fat Brain Toys
Est. 2002
Elkhorn, USA
≈
similar
Gift shoppers wanting well-vetted educational and STEM toys online
This family-run online specialty retailer covers the developmental and STEM toys Toys R Us buyers now hunt for, with sharp curation.
Pros
- Genuinely curated by age and skill
- Strong STEM, sensory, and developmental range
- Family-run with helpful buying guides
Cons
- Online only, no physical browsing
- Less focus on mainstream licensed brands
12
Hamleys
Est. 1760
London, UK
$$$
pricier
A destination toy-store experience with demonstrations and spectacle
Hamleys' flagship stores deliver the theatrical, multi-floor toy-wonderland experience the Times Square Toys R Us was famous for.
Pros
- Iconic multi-floor flagship experience
- Live product demos and playful staff
- Wide range including exclusives
Cons
- Premium pricing, especially at flagships
- Limited store locations outside the UK
Best for browsing in a physical store
If what you miss is walking the aisles with a kid, skip the online giants. Barnes & Noble has quietly built browse-worthy toy sections in most of its stores, Learning Express offers locally owned shops with staff who actually know the products, and Hamleys turns a visit into an event. UK shoppers get the closest match of all in The Entertainer, a true dedicated toy chain on the high street.
Best for lowest prices
When the goal is simply getting the birthday gift cheapest, Walmart consistently undercuts everyone on mainstream toys both in store and online. Target runs a close second with its Bullseye's Playground clearance finds, and Amazon fills gaps for anything obscure with fast delivery — just watch for third-party sellers on collectibles.
Best for going straight to the source
For collectors and single-brand loyalists, going direct beats a general store. LEGO's own shop carries the full range plus store exclusives and the Pick a Brick wall, Mattel Shop offers Creations exclusives across Barbie and Hot Wheels, and Melissa & Doug direct is the destination for durable wooden and screen-free toys.Which Alternative Is Right for You?
Want the everything-under-one-roof convenience Toys R Us had? Target and Walmart are the modern defaults, with Walmart winning on price and Target on store experience. Miss the physical browse most? Barnes & Noble and Learning Express bring back the walk-the-aisles feel, and Hamleys or The Entertainer recreate the destination magic. Chasing a specific brand your kid loves? Go direct — LEGO, Mattel, and Melissa & Doug all stock deeper ranges and exclusives than any general store. And for the developmental and STEM toys parents increasingly hunt for, Fat Brain Toys does the curation for you. Frequently Asked Questions
QWhat replaced Toys R Us after it closed?
Target and Walmart absorbed most of the toy foot traffic, becoming the default American toy destinations. For online selection, Amazon covers nearly every line Toys R Us stocked. The brand itself returned as smaller shop-in-shops inside Macy's under WHP Global, but it's far narrower than the old stores.
QIs there a store like Toys R Us that you can actually walk into?
Yes. Barnes & Noble has expanded its toy sections into browse-worthy departments, Learning Express runs locally owned specialty shops, and Hamleys offers a multi-floor destination experience. In the UK, The Entertainer is the closest surviving equivalent to a dedicated high-street toy chain.
QWhere can I find the cheapest toys now that Toys R Us is gone?
Walmart consistently offers the lowest prices on mainstream toys, both in stores and online. Target's Bullseye's Playground clearance and Amazon's frequent deals compete closely. For coupons and bundles, the mass retailers beat brand-direct stores like LEGO.
QIs Toys R Us actually back or is it just the brand name?
It's largely the brand name. WHP Global relaunched it as small shop-in-shop sections inside Macy's stores plus an online presence, but the standalone big-box stores with deep inventory are gone. Expect a curated selection, not the endless aisles you remember.
QWhere do I buy discontinued or hard-to-find toys that Toys R Us used to carry?
Go direct to the manufacturer first — Mattel Shop, LEGO, and Hasbro Pulse carry retiring lines and exclusives. For older or niche items, Amazon's third-party marketplace and specialty retailers like Fat Brain Toys often stock what mass stores drop.
Our Verdict
The Best Toys R Us Alternative For You
Want the everything-under-one-roof convenience Toys R Us had? Target and Walmart are the modern defaults, with Walmart winning on price and Target on store experience. Miss the physical browse most? Barnes & Noble and Learning Express bring back the walk-the-aisles feel, and Hamleys or The Entertainer recreate the destination magic. Chasing a specific brand your kid loves? Go direct — LEGO, Mattel, and Melissa & Doug all stock deeper ranges and exclusives than any general store. And for the developmental and STEM toys parents increasingly hunt for, Fat Brain Toys does the curation for you.