The Retrologist's Notebook: Ghosts of Toys 'R' Us in New York City
Daily tips, tricks and other gems from the American roadside for patrons of my newsletter
On Sunday, I hit the road, not going very far from my home in Queens, New York, but definitely traveling back in time.
Toys “R” Us, at least as we knew it for decades, went out of business in the United States back in 2018. The brand, in new hands, is now in its second comeback attempt, affiliating itself with hundreds of Macy’s stores and operating a single, two-story flagship store at the American Dream Mall in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
And though it will soon be almost five years since the chain collapsed in the United States, there are still ghosts of it all over the place.
Here are three I set about visiting on Sunday in Queens and Brooklyn, in a trip that took under 90 minutes, with some heavy traffic in spots.
My first stop was the former TRU in Whitestone, Queens, which, when spotted from I-678, appears to be open for business. It most definitely is closed like the rest of the original American stores, but it’s so well preserved that they could just as easily reopen.
This parking lot is normally empty, but there was a community event here that cluttered the lot with cars. Some timing I had. But at least I got the shot. One day, they’ll take the signs down and now I won’t feel that twinge of regret that I didn’t take pictures. I’m sure you’re familiar with that feeling. [Map]
Next, I was off to the abandoned Toys “R” Us in Little Neck, Queens, and was delighted to see that Geoffrey himself is still on the facade, a little worse for the wear but still there. But for how long? [Map]
Finally, I headed to South Brooklyn and captured this boarded-up Toys “R” Us near the Kings Plaza Mall. Of all three, this was the ghostliest, especially with the December late-day light and those long shadows it casts.
Just a few years ago at this time, this parking lot would have been jammed on one of the last Sundays before Christmas. Instead, it was just me and the potholes that dot this forlorn place. [Map]
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