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Chronicle Live
Entertainment
Emma Munbodh & Simon Meechan

Toys 'R' Us returns to UK in 'next few months' - four years after shutting Metrocentre store

Toys 'R' Us will return to the UK in 'the next few months'.

The retailer, which had stores in Metrocentre Retail Park, Teesside Park, and The Bridges in Sunderland, shut down in 2018.

But the brand is being revived for "digital and physical retail commerce" and confirmed "we're back in 2022" on its relaunched UK website.

Toys 'R' Us Australia chief executive Louis Mittoni, who is leading the UK relaunch, revealed the Toys 'R' Us will return in the coming months, reports Mirror Online.

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He said: “I’m very excited to welcome over 100 years of retailing experience in our new team, who will lead the relaunch our iconic brand back into the UK market in the next few months. We have an amazing toy and baby buying team, which I believe is the best in the country.

“With this team now in place, we’re hitting the ground running and have been reaching out to the supply base to see with whom we can align on this amazing journey.”

Further details about where stores could open have not been revealed, but Toys 'R' Us has launched an email subscription list for people interested in updates.

Founded as the 'world's first toy supermarket' in 1985, Toys 'R' Us was a global player in the market and had 100 branches in the UK.

But debts of more than £3.5bn led to the US parent company going bankrupt in 2017. The UK stores, including the ones in Gateshead, Teesside and Sunderland, shut in 2018.

WHP Global signed an agreement with the Australian Toys 'R' Us to rebuild the brand in the UK.

Go here for more what's on updates, news and reviews from around the North East

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