Retail Pulse: the end of the end for Toys R Us

Here it is: The End of the End for Toys R Us. The Iconic Toy Store Closes the last of its 700 brick-and-mortar sites today, June 29, 2018. Toys R Us has always said that specific store closures would vary based on inventory, but now the time is really come.

To avoid beating a dead giraffe, let us look ahead to some of the future occupants of these 700 liberated windows.

The short-term savior of retail business owners comes in the form of Party City, which announced We are showcases as seasonal Halloween and Christmas shops throughout the year. autumn. There is no plan yet to make these leases permanent, but at the very least, it is buying landlords time to find other tenants in the long run.

In terms of permanent solutions, CNN Money notes that there are some suitors.

TJX plans to open 238 new stores this year, including TJ Maxx, HomeGoods and Marshalls stores. Ross Stores plans to open 100 branches this year and Burlington Stores plans to add or move a total of 90. Similar to the Sports Authority liquidation, it is possible that some of these brands will appeal to Old Toys R Us stores that are strategically viable for business.

Dollar General is also planning 900 new stores this year, while competitor Dollar Tree is considering 650 new stores or branches of Dollar Tree and Family Dollar. However, both non-price retailers tend to opt for small-box stores, so Toys R Us stores may be too big to interest them.

Some properties can be rented to less traditional tenants such as clubs and fitness centers. while others may even be demolished and redeveloped.

In other words, the future of the favorite destination of all children in childhood is still very fluctuating.

In Other Brick News … [19659009] Los Angeles-based Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf announced plans to open 100 franchise stores in New York City during Next 10 years. In all, the company plans to triple its number of American coffees from 311 to 1,000 by 2028 – turning to some of the places where Starbucks has announced its closure. Currently, Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf owns most of its 1,200 stores in Asia

Meanwhile, speaking of Starbucks, the world's largest coffee chain has this week tripled its average annual store closings. However, these closures would be part of a grander system. Starbucks announces the opening of new stores (rather than franchises) in under-penetrated markets, while slowing the growth of licensed stores and improving digital relationships with customers.

Chipotle also announced store closures this week marketing efforts. The idea is to eliminate inefficient places and improve other aspects of the business, such as delivery and variety of menus. The company also plans to launch a loyalty program by the end of the calendar year. All in all, these moves herald a next stage of "aggressive growth" for Chipotle in the United States – and growth often begins with some adjustments.

Outside of the QSR category, the retailer of teen accessories Claire announced that she was closing 37 more locations at the 95 stores that he was already planning to leave. Claire has been able to leave 130 leases since filing for bankruptcy. Meanwhile, the brand remains afloat by setting up concession stands in other stores to sell Claire's products, and plans to expand this activity to 4,000 brick and mortar locations this year- the.