Tuesday, April 10, 2018

It isn't just Toys R Us

I started a discussion at the Cincinnati doll club Yahoo group about the stores I used to shop at for toys.  The discussion started as a result of Toys R Us closing.  With the other members' help, I've compiled a list of all the stores that I used to buy Barbie (and occasionally other dolls) from

There is also a link to Wikipedia, but that listing will make you sad.

What I discovered is that Walmart had little to do with these other places closing.  Many of them had gone out of business or were bought out long before Walmart ever came to these cities.



National discount or department store chains
Ames
Arlen’s
Ben Franklin
bigg’s
Gold Circle
Grant’s
Hill’s
McAlpin’s
Meijer Square
Newberry’s
Pogue’s
Service Merchandise
Woolworth/Woolco
Zayre’s

Toy stores
Arnoldt’s Fairyland (Cincinnati store)
Child World/Children’s Palace
Johnny’s Toys
K-B/K&K
Toys R Us

Cincinnati store chains
ChinaTown/Van Leunen’s
Ontario
Rink’s Bargain City
Swallen’s

Used to carry toys but don’t anymore
Elder-Beerman
JC Penney
Sears
Shillito’s/Rike’s/Lazarus/Macy’s

Carries toys but is teetering on the edge
Kmart


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