Once-massive toy chain returns to Kansas City area with seasonal spot
A once-grand toy retailer Toys “R” Us is looking to make a comeback in the Kansas City area and beyond — temporarily, at least.
After filing for bankruptcy in 2017 and mass closures in 2018 — followed by a few unsuccessful attempts at reviving the brand — the company has opened a spot in Kansas City, Kansas, at Tanger Kansas City at Legends.
The 7,000-square-foot store in Suite T107 sits across from Old Navy, according to a press release from Tanger.
The Legends shopping center is located at 1843 Village West Parkway.
The shop will hold a temporary spot in the mall for the holiday shopping season, Tanger indicated, though it did not provide the date of its last day.
The shop will carry popular toy brands like Lego, Barbie, Hot Wheels, Nerf and more.
Toys “R” Us is planning to open eight flagship stores across the country and several more seasonal pop-ups, according to Newsweek. One of its permanent stores will open in Wichita at the Towne East Square shopping center.
The brand has been around since 1948, originally as baby furniture store Children’s Bargain Town. Toys “R” Us ballooned into a popular big box retailer. In the mid-1990s, it held a quarter of the global toy market.
Legends was acquired by Tanger in September for $130 million. The North Carolina-based company owns dozens of other shopping malls across the country.
This story was originally published November 3, 2025 at 4:01 PM.