Toys R Us memories

The news of ‘Toys R Us’ closing down cut like knife through my heart, but it was also, and rather tragically predictable. Not only was it on the cards for the last few months, since the company's financial problems became public, but in hindsight, with the rise of Amazon and consumers changing their shopping habits, it was only a matter of time.

Without going into detail, I think the destruction of retail shopping and our high streets is a bad thing and one that we won’t see the serious repercussions of until some time in the future, both socially and economically.

But I’m not here to talk about that, I want to talk about why I’ll miss ‘Toys R Us’ and some of the childhood memories it gave me. Growing up in North London, my two local stores were Wood Green (which closed down many years ago), and Enfield.

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Whether it’s old or new, there is something awe inspiring and dare I say, magical about exploring a toy store, especially as child of course. An idealistic toy store in my mind is one that is old, with square windows and darkly lit, like something from a time that has passed by, or from another world entirely. This idealistic image is obviously my own imagination running away with me because I have never been to a toy store like this. However, walking into ‘Toys R Us’ as a child was a bit like walking into a another world from our own.

Yes it was a large open space, typical of any large retail store that stacks every inch of space from top to bottom with their products. But the way they organised the store was really unique, as exploring each of the departments felt like an adventure in itself. Starting from the small sweet section, through the boys section, and through the lego and to the bikes (I skipped on the girls section seeing as I’m a boy).

There is also something different about toys compared with other consumer products, even as an adult, there is an artistry to a toy that I don’t feel the same about with say a pair of trainers or a piece of clothing. A toy is more than just a product, I always imagine a story behind the toy, and the thought that goes into so it can be used to play with a child’s imagination.

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My fondest memories of ‘Toys R Us’ include buying Ghostbusters slime and half a dozen Red Power Rangers actions figures at various points. Unfortunately I was never able to get a Megazord, like Buzz Lightyear they were always sold out.

And let’s not forget the adverts, that little jingle as the car pulled up and the headlights hit the front of the big store, ‘Toy’s R Us, Toys R Us, Toys R Us!’. Even as I listen to it now on YouTube, it sends shivers down my spine.

And I am going to miss it now that it's gone, like so many things it will live on as a nostalgic memory for some, relegated to YouTube clips and retro forums. With the gradual evaporation of the high street and the homogenisation of popular culture in general, I feel sorry for children growing up now, at some point in the future they will not know what it was like to walk into a toy store and have the choice of what they want, and that saddens me.