When did Toys R Us close?

Key dates at a glance

Below are the most relevant, verifiable dates for Toys R Us in the United States. Specific event details and outcomes may differ in other markets.

Timeline: what happened and when

The sequence below explains how the well-known timeline unfolded, focusing on decisions, events, and outcomes rather than speculation.

Prebankruptcy context and early signals

In the years before 2017, Toys R Us faced mounting debt and increasing competition from larger online sellers and discounters. By early 2017, the company was exploring options such as spin-offs, sales, and refinancing. In the summer of 2017, news reports highlighted that the company was considering drastic measures, including a potential Chapter 11 filing, to reduce debt and evaluate its store footprint.

September 2017: Chapter 11 filing

Toys R Us filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the United States on September 18, 2017. The move allowed the company to continue operating while developing a plan to repay creditors, often involving closing underperforming stores. At the time, the company stated it intended to keep as many locations open as feasible, but the filing signaled that retail exits were likely.

October 2017: First store closures

About two weeks after the bankruptcy filing, Toys R Us announced it would close approximately 26 U.S. stores in October 2017. These initial closures mainly targeted locations with weaker sales or high operating costs. The announcement clarified that more exits would follow as the company assessed leases and profitability.

Early 2018 to March 2018: Evaluating the footprint

Through the first months of 2018, Toys R Us continued to review its store portfolio. During this period, company executives and landlords discussed lease terms, and analysts estimated that a significant share of U.S. locations could close. In March 2018, liquidation sales ramped up at multiple stores, converting many facilities to clearance events.

March to June 2018: Widespread liquidation and closures

Throughout March and spring 2018, more locations began liquidating inventory and closing. By late spring, most U.S. stores had either shuttered or were in the process of liquidation. Industry observers and local news outlets documented dozens of closures each week as merchandise was sold to reduce liabilities.

June 28, 2018: Final U.S. stores close

On or around June 28, 2018, the last U.S. Toys R Us stores closed their doors. Company filings and news reports from that period note that the retail chain effectively exited the United States at that point. Remaining leases were terminated, and the physical presence of Toys R Us in U.S. shopping malls and neighborhoods ended.

After June 2018: Postretail status

After June 2018, Toys R Us maintained a minimal presence through its brand website operated by a licensing partner, occasional pop-up experiences, and limited international operations. In the United States, no conventional retail stores remained open under the Toys R Us name.

U.S. closures by the numbers

The timeline above is supported by the following summary, which distills key metrics from public filings and contemporaneous reporting.

Bankruptcy versus liquidation: clarifying common confusion

Many people ask whether Toys R Us closed because it went bankrupt or because it shut down abruptly. In reality, the company used Chapter 11 bankruptcy as a legal process to manage debt and orderly close stores. Liquidation sales were the mechanism by which inventory was cleared and leases ended. The distinction matters because bankruptcy allowed an organized exit rather than an immediate shutdown, but the practical result was the same: U.S. stores closed between early 2018 and June 2018.

How the closures played out regionally

Closures did not happen all at once across the country. Markets with weaker sales or higher operating costs saw exits earlier, while some locations remained open into late spring. Malls and shopping centers experienced differing timelines based on lease terms and negotiations. In many cases, one or two stores in a regional cluster would close first, followed by others as liquidation progressed. This staggered approach allowed the company and landlords to manage vacancies and reposition space.

What changed after the closures

With the shuttering of U.S. stores, Toys R Us shifted its focus away from brick-and-mortar retail in the United States. The brand continued to exist digitally through a licensed e-commerce site and saw occasional revival attempts, including pop-up shops. For consumers, the closures meant fewer options for in-person toy shopping, accelerating the shift toward online retailers and reshaping the holiday shopping landscape.

Key takeaways

• Toys R Us filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on September 18, 2017.
• The first U.S. store closures occurred in October 2017, with more announced through early 2018.
• Widespread liquidation took place from March through June 2018.
• The final U.S. stores closed on or around June 28, 2018.
• No physical Toys R Us stores remain in the United States under the Toys R Us name post-2018.

Closing summary

Toys R Us closed its U.S. stores in a phased process driven by its 2017 bankruptcy filing. The timeline ran from the September 2017 filing, to selective October 2017 closures, to widespread liquidation from early through late 2018. The last U.S. locations shut on or about June 28, 2018, marking the end of the brand’s traditional retail footprint in the United States.