Toys R Us Is Back: New Stores Now Come With Candy Shops and Cafes
Retail brands continue to test smaller, experience-driven stores as foot traffic shifts across malls, airports, and tourism hubs. Toys R Us is now part of that push, with new airport locations that add food and candy to the toy shopping mix. The new format gives the revived chain a more visible return in high-traffic travel settings across the U.S.
Toys R Us opens a new airport-focused store format
Toys R Us has opened new airport stores that include a candy shop and cafe, and the company confirmed the latest format on July 18, 2024. The new concept was launched through WHP Global, which owns the Toys R Us brand, and airport retail operator Duty Free Americas. The stores are designed for travelers, families, and gift shoppers moving through major terminals.
The company said the stores combine the traditional toy assortment with licensed merchandise, sweets, and drinks in one space. That makes the airport version different from the brand’s earlier comeback stores, which were mainly toy-focused. The confirmed scale is still limited, and the company has not announced a nationwide count for this exact cafe-and-candy format.
What is confirmed in U.S. locations so far
The confirmed locations are in U.S. airports, where Toys R Us is using travel traffic instead of a mall-only strategy. The company has announced stores at major airport sites, but it has not released a full list of every airport that could get the new concept. That means travelers may see the brand in select terminals before the format spreads more broadly.
What is known is that the new setup is aimed at places where families already spend time waiting for flights. Airport retail has become a key testing ground for compact stores, and Toys R Us is joining other brands that use those spaces for high-visibility openings. The company has not confirmed how many additional airport cafes or candy shop locations are scheduled to open in 2024.
Why the brand is using food and travel traffic now
Toys R Us has been rebuilding in stages since its earlier U.S. bankruptcy and store closures, and the latest concept reflects a broader retail shift toward experience-based shopping. WHP Global has focused on licensing, partnerships, and smaller-format growth as part of that return. The airport model fits that plan because it puts the brand in front of travelers without relying on large standalone stores.
For customers, the immediate change is straightforward: some new Toys R Us locations now offer snacks, candy, and cafe items alongside toys. That could make the stores more useful for families buying a last-minute gift or a quick travel treat in the same stop. The company has indicated it is continuing to expand the brand through new formats, with airport stores now part of that strategy.
