Toys R Us Set to Open Stand-Alone Store on Long Island’s Tanger Outlets Deer Park
Toys R Us is making a notable return to Long Island with plans to open a new stand-alone store at Tanger Outlets Deer Park this November. This move is part of a broader expansion that includes 10 permanent New York stores and locations across seven other states.
The Deer Park location will occupy a 7,000-square-foot retail space at 152 The Arches Circle, marking the retailer’s first independent Long Island store since its nationwide closures in 2018. The chain will also launch 20 seasonal pop-up shops across 16 states in time for the holiday shopping season.
Expansion Highlights and Store Details
Toys R Us has previously established “global flagship” stores at major retail hubs such as American Dream in East Rutherford, New Jersey, and the Mall of America near Minneapolis, along with locations at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, Chicago Premium Outlets, and Texas’ Tanger Outlets San Marcos. These five flagship stores opened between late 2021 and 2024.
- The new Deer Park store opening scheduled for late November 2025
- Includes popular toy brands like LEGO, Barbie, Hot Wheels, NERF, and Paw Patrol
- Owned and operated by WHP Global in partnership with Austin-based Go! Retail Group
Industry Insider Commentary and Context
Jamie Uitdenhowen, executive vice president of Toys R Us under WHP Global, remarked, “This next phase of growth brings the magic of Toys R Us to even more communities across the country — just in time for the holidays — and delivers the joyful shopping experience that has made us a trusted destination for generations.”
From a wildlife perspective, it is interesting to note the store’s location at Deer Park, a community named after local natural features historically rich in white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus). This convergence of a commercial revival within an area symbolizing thriving wildlife points to ongoing human-wildlife interactions in suburban environments.
Corporate and Retail Partnerships Expanding Brand Footprint
Since acquiring the Toys R Us and Babies R Us brands in 2021, WHP Global has been expanding the brand’s presence through strategic retail partnerships.
- Partners with Macy’s stores, including all seven on Long Island, hosting Toys R Us sections since 2022
- Exclusive licensing deal signed with Kohl’s in March 2024 to introduce Babies R Us divisions in 200 U.S. stores
- On Long Island, nine of eleven Kohl’s stores include Babies R Us sections
WHP’s strategy reflects the importance of brand recognition in evolving retail ecosystems, somewhat akin to how species adapt to changing habitats in fragmented landscapes.
Historical Background and Previous Closures
Following a Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing in September 2017, Toys R Us Inc., then based in Wayne, New Jersey, shuttered over 800 stores nationwide, including the Babies R Us divisions.
The revival of Toys R Us stores signals a return to the retail landscape with potential impacts on local economies and possible changes in suburban land use patterns—an area wildlife experts monitor due to habitat alteration concerns.
Additional reporting and sources from: Toys R Us opening stand-alone store on Long Island – Newsdaynewsday-tv-logonewsday-tv-logo
