US EditionIndependent Toy Shops Ready to Fill Void From Toys “R” Us Canada Closures
Independent toy stores across Canada are stocked and ready to serve customers after Toys 'R' Us Canada closed 53 stores and warned 22 more may shut, risking 654 jobs.
- On Tuesday, Toys "R" Us Canada filed for creditor protection, and independent toy shops say they are ready to fill the retail void left by the chain.
- Ownership by Putman Investments and 53 store closures in two years have driven Toys "R" Us Canada toward restructuring, with millions owed to suppliers and landlords.
- Independent retailers are relying on curated and niche product mixes, with Bob Siemens's Cowtown Kids Toys & Candy spanning four buildings and jammed with more than 30,000 toys.
- Further closures would threaten 654 jobs and leave communities without the big-box toy retailer, while independent toy store owners expect a boost from increased customers.
- Published Feb. 4, 2026, the report notes the company warned 22 remaining stores may close during Putman Investments' restructuring effort while hoping to preserve the chain.
14 Articles
14 Articles
Winnipeg Free Press
Independent toy shops ready to fill void from Toys "R" Us Canada closures
Breaking News, Sports, Manitoba, Canada
On February 3, Toys "R" Us, a well-known Canadian toy retailer, officially filed for creditor protection in an Ontario court. This once market-dominating retail giant is now facing the prospect of restructuring its business, reducing store counts, or even being sold off entirely, as it is caught between inflation, the impact of e-commerce, and massive debt.
Toys R Us Canada files for restructuring as debts pile up
Toys “R” Us (Canada) commenced proceedings under Canada’s Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act on Tuesday following an initial order granted by the Ontario Superior Court of Justice. The initial order includes a stay of proceedings in favor of TRU Canada for an initial period of 10 days, with any extension to be determined by the Court. TRU Canada stated the restructuring initiatives will include reducing its retail footprint. Operationally, TRU…
Toys“R”Us Canada Files for Creditor Protection
(And Millennials Everywhere Feel Personally Attacked) If your childhood involved circling toys in a paper catalogue like it was a legally binding contract, this one hurts a little extra. Toys R Us Canada has officially filed for creditor protection, confirming what many Canadians have quietly feared every time another location went dark. The toy giant now operates just 22 stores nationwide, after shuttering 53 locations over the past two years. …
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