UPDATED 3:51 p.m.
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – The owner of Springfield’s White Oaks Mall says a location of a previously-out-of-business retail chain is using Springfield to make part of its comeback.
“Toys R Us” will open a location in the mall “in the next few weeks” once some remaining work is done, said Blake Schaefer, Director of Marketing & Business Development at White Oaks Mall, in an e-mail to WTAX/CapitolCityNow. White Oaks Mall is owned by Simon Malls.
“So many parents in Springfield grew up walking the aisles of Toys R Us, and now they’ll get to share that with their own kids without leaving town. We’re thrilled to have it at White Oaks Mall in time for the holidays,” said Schaefer, who confirmed the store will be open year-round, and is not a “seasonal” store, like some in malls are.
The new store will not be far away from its old home, 2701 Veterans Parkway.
Toys R Us, as a company, filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy in September, 2017, according to “Knowledge at Wharton,” from the Wharton School at University of Pennsylvania. It, at the time, cited growing competition from Amazon, Target, and Walmart, and following a 2005 “leveraged buyout” of debt.
The addition of White Oaks Mall makes for a total of 160 stores nationwide. It also operates 451 spots in Macy’s locations and at several “Navy Exchange” locations.
As soon as they are known, Schaefer says the official opening date and grand opening once they’re known.
