Defunctland: The History of Toys "R" Us Times Square 

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“ confronted by Jeffrey giraffe” is the equivalent of “A powerful rat named Charles entertainment cheese “

But the manager at the end was like the most New Yorker that ever New Yorked, is really sweet and caring, but sounds and acts like an upset mob boss all the time

The ending was so sweet. That guy seems like a genuinely amazing and kind human being who really wanted to see the store and everyone in it succeed. I hope he went somewhere great.

That guy's closing speech was so endearing, it could only have come from someone who worked in a store like that for years. He must've seen his fair share of awful shit in all that time. But something tells me he was having a lot of fun during those final moments.

“As guests enter they where immediately confronted by Geoffrey the giraffe” makes it sounds like Geoffrey was a boss fight

"As guests entered the store, they were IMMEDIATELY confronted by Jeffrey the Giraffe." That sounds hilariously threatening.

Fun fact: as they were gutting the building that housed Toys R Us times square, they discovered an old theater from the days of Vaudeville underneath the Foundation. I worked in Times Square (at another soulless big box store) at the time and remember being severely bummed they weren't going to preserve it in any capacity. Gap proceeded to pave over the theater and it sits beneath to this day.

"In order to improve customer service, Eyler approved wage increases for Toys R us employees." Holy shit, somebody who actually understands that compensation has a huge correlation with job performance. Who would have thunk that people do a worse job when they're not being paid enough...

"in order to improve customer service, Eyler approved wage increases for Toys R us employees"....holy crap they had a CEO that actually understood how to get better quality work from their staff.

>It was replaced by a GAP and an Old Navy Now that's just heart breaking. That's the real insult to injury to all of this. A giant toy store getting replaced by the absolute most boring stores in the world to get dragged to.

A place so cute, pretty and colorful. To be turned into a bunch of generic clothing stores and a fast food joint. Doesn't time square have enough of that?

Riding the ferris wheel in the middle of this store was amazing. Visiting this store in the early 2000s was like something out of a movie.

The use of the word “confronted” rather than “greeted” when talking about Geoffrey cracked me up

"Customers viewed Toys "R" Us as nothing more but dirty warehouses without character or charm." That is exactly what Walmart is.

I love Johnny Tammaro's thick New Yorker accent. Greatly enhances any comedic delivery

Blowing my mind to learn that this place only existed for 14 years. It was such a staple of my childhood and every visit to the city. I thought it was something that had been there forever.....or at least since the 80s or something. I have a lot of great memories of this store

The anti war toy grandma squad incident sounds like a skit from Monty Python.

That's a manager right there. You can see how he lasted there 14 years. For anyone that's ever worked retail, you know the big difference passionate caring managers can make not only for the experience of the customers, but also to motivate and inspire the staff. Thanks for this video!

That speech at the end was great. Never had someone that high up in leadership sound so genuine when my company has done layoffs/closures.

Its absolutely crazy to me to find out now as an adult, that this place never turned a profit. This was literally my favorite place in the world when I was little. I lived in Florida but we'd try to make a trip up to NYC every year or 2. Everyone knew we had to stop here for me and ride the ferris wheel. This place brought me so much happiness. I was allowed to get one thing every year and even if it was small souvenir, I was so proud to walk out of there with my toys r us bag. Definitely teared up watching this. Thank you for the great video!

the speech at the end was set up so perfectly. he makes you think he's still continuing to be comedic and the small paper is indicative of him not missing anything, but then he just went straight for the heart instead. beautiful and touching

Dinosaur: Brings smiles to millions of kids throughout the years Construction company: LETS BURN IT!

The ending made me tear up fr. It sounded so genuine :( i hope everyone involved is living an amazing life❤️

The fate of the Toys-R-Us T-Rex was the saddest thing I've heard all day. I was really hoping that an ambitious collector acquired him. R.I.P. Rex, I'll miss you. 😔

"Due to licensing issues, E.T. had to be covered up with a gift bag." That should not have been as funny as it was 😂

Props to the manager at the end I can’t even imagine what it feels like for your livelihood for 14 years to be shut down and then to still put on a good attitude about it.

That manager deserves an award. Also a gig voice acting

The speech at the end really hit hard for me, since the toy store I had worked at for 7 years just closed its doors due to leasing issues. Not only were the 'lists' entirely accurate (and something I plan on stealing for my last staff party's speeches), but it made me reminisce on not only my time working as a toy salesman, but as a customer to this Toys R Us in 2011. In both scenarios, I was delighted to be there. It was magic. Knowing what I know as an insider for the toy industry I can see how this place was doomed. But boy howdy, what a magical place it was. I hope all the staff can look back as fondly on this place as I do my store, and hope even more that wherever they are now, every kid who walked through the doors remembers it for what it was: fun.

I like how you said “confronted by Jeffrey the Giraffe” rather than greeted, makes it sound very ominous

The saddest fact about Toys "R" Us is that its founder, Charles Lazarus, died the day after the company he founded started closing all its stores.

Wild to hear that in the span of 12 years, the rent went up from $100 per sq/ft to $2500 per sq/ft. Does the GAP and Old Navy stores even turn a profit there?

As an adult with no children, this store looks really fun. Plus, the word "grambush" may sound clever at first, but upon more thought, it invokes something gray and gnarly.

"The dinosaur? We shredded it and burnt it to pieces." Wow, no love at all. Not even a love for money, as they could've sold it to a collector or museum.

8:53 nothing screams early 2000's like tony hawk and hillary duff at a toys r' us promoting videonow

Went to NYC as a child around 2003 and the only thing I truly remember is going to this Toys-R-Us store. Was an amazing experience.

We went to NYC in 2006 because my brother had a terminal diagnosis, and we wanted to give him some good experiences before we couldnt. We spent the better part of a whole day in the Times Square Toys R' Us. It was one of the best days of my life, and it's sad to know its no longer around. I wish every kid could experience that.

The speech from their manager was great (added bonus with his accent) and really wholesome. You can tell that despite having to deal with some bad costumers and having their store be called a dirty warehouse, he's going to miss working with his co-workers.

I worked at Toys R Us Times Square for 7 years. I started in the "Action" department hearing the T Rex roaring every 2 minutes. I graduated to being an Ambassador whose whole job was to make memorable customer experiences directly under Johnny. It really was a unique experience.

Growing up in NYC, the Times Square Toys R Us was genuinely one of my favorite childhood memories. It was so surreal as a kid seeing all your toys come to life in there. The enormous dinosaur, the pink Barbie House, and constantly begging my parents for one more ride on the Ferris Wheel. It was heartbreaking when I heard they were closing down, especially since it was my family go to place to hang out in when in Times Square. Miss it🥺😢

I went to the Toys “R” Us in Times Square once when I was 11. I got to experience stepping in the door, looking around and wanting to explore every inch of the store, seeing the massive Ferris wheel and wanting to ride it, and having to leave because we had to be somewhere. That should be considered child cruelty in someway, especially now since it closed and I never had another chance to go back to it to actually explore.

“Due to licensing issues, E.T. had to be covered up with a gift bag” LOL 😂

That customer service manager, Johnny Tammaro, at the end, really is just wholesome. He just made my day.

The tribute to the employees at the end is the best send off.

As a little girl born and raised in NYC, I have so many great memories here. My Russian immigrant grandma would take me on the ferris wheel and I would try to translate between them to figure out how to pay. My twin sister and I would run around for hours using all of the toy playstations. I have a distinct memory of my getting my hair painted with those colored chalk pressers and feeling like I owned the world after. Toys R Us was special and even now that I'm older I still think about how happy it made me!

The Chad Toys R Us vs the Virgin Megastore.

Customers reviewed Toys "R" Us stores as dirty warehouses. Whereas Wal-Mart was seen as a kingdom of pure imagination inhabited by strange and magical creatures with exotic names like Bubba and Brandeen gliding around the store on their enchanted mobility sleighs on quests to find legendary .22 ammunition and Dew of the Mountain.

The fact that Walmart was looked as being higher class then Toys R Us shows just how trashy we are as a country. Really miss the Times Square Store, such a great place.

“The dinosaur? we shredded it and burned it to pieces.” Marc Heiman saw it move and knew it was possessed by a witch

“What did you do with the hopes and dreams of the children?” “We shredded them and burned them to pieces...”

The customer service manager is the most New Yawk man to ever live. The accent, the attitude, the fact his name is "Johnny"... very appropriate for the location.

I grew up through the 80's and 90's. Kids nowadays will never have any idea what Toys R Us was like. There weren't toys in every store, only there. To go there and see a whole store full of toys, that you never saw anywhere else...it was like the best thing in the world.

Toys R Us being such a great part of my childhood, this got me a bit teary-eyed. It was beautiful and just full of whimsy. It's too bad that was prohibitively expensive.

Imagine your friends saying "me and a giant crowd of other people are going downtown to scream at a dinosaur, wanna join?"

Oh my god the speech at the end is way too relatable for retail workers lmao. "Where's the bathroom?" "Is this free?" "Can you check the back?" Uuuuuuugh 🙄

Man that place looked spectacular! 6 year old me would have been ecstatic to step into that life sized Barbie dream house. I loved seeing each intricate detail they put into the entire store. Must've been a fun experience for those who went! Toys R Us shutting down made me realize how big of an it had on me. Most things are online, and sure it's convenient, but that feeling of physically being in a Toys R Us is unbeatable.

How did I get chills listening the speech of a closing toy store employee from a country I’m not even from and a store I never visited and didn’t even know it existed when I was a kid. He legitimately seems like such an amazing guy.

That Customer Service manager's speech at the end gave me some real feelings, I gotta say.

I don't know why, but "due to licensing issues, the ET had to be covered up by a gift bag" may be the funniest thing I've heard all year

I live in the Netherlands, and I've been here. It was one of the most magical places I've ever been. The idea the video game section was the size of its own store, was legendary.

My heart breaks watching this. It was my favorite job. It's hard to imagine the impact something has on the world when you're in the front lines, boots on the ground. I worked here seasonal once, and then again for like 3 years after that cause I loved it so much. Then I moved to Staten Island and started working at another TRU. It's definitely not the same. I will never forget this place. Wish I ad been more involved in the big stuff like the celebrity appearances. Ahh well.. I'm definitely a Toys R Us kid, for life.

"due to licensing issues, ET had to be covered with a gift bag" stay classy Steven

"They considered the experience of the store to be worth the loss." Man. Companies don't seem to ever think that way. Makes this loss even sadder.

Props to the manager man. You knew he cared and had a positive outlook on things despite what's been going on.

FAO Schwarz was the biggest casualty here. The Times Square location was magical

"Flash mobs" "Pepper sprays" "Granny protests" "Anti semitic elmo" "Geoffrey the Giraffe" New York, New york, it's a helluva town....

“There is only one word.” “You.” God I loved that place.

i’ve been to this store many times as a child and it was always the coolest thing. i’d never seen an indoor ferris wheel before. to hear about it like this breaks my heart. as much as the dinosaur scared the crap out of me on my way to the barbie dream house, hearing how they disposed of it made me cry :,) i don’t want to sound like a grumpy old person but i feel sorry for todays children. i feel like we’re running out of those whimsical places made just for children now.

Man I remember visiting here as a kid, shit was the coolest thing EVER, I adored the T-Rex. Its closing was a true loss for my childhood.

Seeing the crowd at 10:23 be so densely packed together is genuinely alien to me now. It looks wrong

That speech at the end? Genuinely teared up at how heartfelt that seemed and that it felt like a team. Beat out most of the 'Christmas' movies I've seen this year, without a doubt

This store was so cool even as a teenager I was stoked to go visit anytime I was visiting my family in NY.

It was always one of my go to places anytime I was in NYC. Such a cool store

There was nothin like goin to this toys r us around christmas time and seein that big ol dinosaur

“The dinosaur? We shredded it and burnt it to pieces.” Jesus Christ.

what a wholesome store manager

Gosh, the Toys R Us Times Square location is so cool. It's a shame that it no longer exists, as I would've loved to go there while it was still around. This is easily one of my personal favorite Defunctland episodes. It's always nice to rewatch this every once in a while!

“No....we’re number 2” oh man, the crushing shame felt in that quote

When I was about 7 I got lost in this store for about 2 hours. My parents freaked out and called the police because they couldn't find me. I was busy playing wii sports in the game section.

I live across the street from this location for 30 years, i watched Toys R Us be built, was invited to a party before the store opened to the public.. the place was magical.. all the staff were so sweet.. I would go in once a week just for fun.. the staff would teach you how to use the toys.. always a magic show going on.. I miss it dearly. Thank you for making this video. 💗

There is something so sad about a closing toy store. I grew up in northern New Jersey, so NYC and Times Square were common weekend trips for my family. I remember this store, and its seeming permanence. Creating a creative and immersive store like that is so priceless to kids, and it breaks my heart to see it lapse into such an unimpressive space. Also that last clip was so wholesome. I loved it

I didn't know I wanted to know the history of the Toys "R" Us on Times Square. I guess I did because that was hella interesting!

"ET had to be covered up with a gift bag." To be fair? Pretty on-brand for ET.

That store looks absolutely incredible, I’m blown away. What a magical place.

Im not gonna lie, I truly miss this place lol I remember walking through the Wonka area looking at all the candy. My mom never bought me anything but I was just so happy to be in there.

"The flash mob craze that swept the nation...for some reason" That's the best way to describe it.

18:10 Damn, he's a good public speaker. I hope that guy was a decent boss to those employees, seems cool.

I worked for Getinge who now resides in the old ToysRUs corporate building in Wayne NJ. Really interesting campus and it was cool to see the old relics that had been left behind. There is a neat statue called "Looking through the eye of a child" that is still there.

I remember going there as a kid in 2003 on our family vacation to New York. I rode the Ferris wheel with my brother. We didn’t have a lot of time to see the whole store but it was very impressive and fun to see. I have fond memories of that place and wanted to see more there but my family wanted to see something else that day so we had to keep our visit short and brief. So glad I rode the Ferris wheel but now this place exists in my memory.

loved that speech at the end. that guy could put on a show. he was funny, too.

Man that ending...Made me miss my "R" us Family. I didn't work at that location, but everything he said was spot on.

"A grambush, if you will" never change, Kevin. Every other thing that comes out of your mouth is iconic

My dad used to work at Toys-R-Us Headquarters for a few years until the company went bankrupt. I only went to the Times Square store once and I don't remember much, but that Ferris Wheel was ingrained in my memory.

Wasn't expecting this from Defunctland, I actually worked at the Time Square Toys R Us for its final few months of operation in the electronics sections. I actually completely forgot about Johnny Tammaro's speech until I saw the video, but yeah, I was there when he was giving that speech in person.

"Am I really nostalgic for 2003?" Man, that hits hard.

Being there at Christmas time was a dream! It was always so crowded but truly impressive. Times Square really isn’t the same without it.

I went there as a kid and it is really impressive when you first walk in, I also got a Nintendo DS from there back then

Coming into this video: Whyd they close it? That store was iconic and such good advertising for the company Video: Their $12 million rent was quadrupled Oh I see yes I would close too

"A grambush, if you will." No, I don't think I will.

I remember visiting my Great Aunt and Uncle in NY when I was a kid, and being blown away by this store. It was a dream. I wandered around, looking at the hottest new toys and marveling at the ferris wheel. I only saw the place once, but it's forever ingrained in my mind. Now that's good design.