In a full‑circle moment, Toys “R” Us Express opened its Grapevine Mills Mall pop-up on Sept. 20, taking over the former Skechers spot and welcoming shoppers with aisles of Legos, Barbies, Funko pops and Geoffrey the Giraffe front and center.
Once a casualty of the 2018 mass shutdown, the brand has since been resurrected under WHP Global, which acquired a controlling stake in its parent company, Tru Kids, in 2021. The revival strategy has included standalone stores, toy “shop-ins” at Macy’s and a presence in airports and other high‑traffic locations.
The Toys ‘R' Us and Baby ‘R' Us superstore on N. Kimball Avenue in Southlake closed its doors in 2018. Haverty's Furniture moved into the space in 2020 and is still open, next to HomeGoods and Staples.
Toys “R” Us has a rich history in American retail. Founded in 1948 by Charles Lazarus, it grew from a baby furniture shop into a national toy empire. For decades, Geoffrey the Giraffe became synonymous with childhood joy, birthdays and holiday shopping binges — earning a special place in the hearts of multiple generations.
The brand’s 2018 bankruptcy and shuttering of 735 U.S. stores marked the end of an era, but the recent openings — including the Grapevine Mills pop-up — signal a nostalgic comeback. For Southlake families longing for that toy-store magic, Geoffrey is back, and the reign of the toy kingdom might not be over after all.