I'm having a great time comparing 14-inch dolls (and, thanks to Amy's comment, I've even added another brand to the list!) but I need a little break from the formulaic approach to that series, so the next two reviews will be wildly different.
Today's post might require a bit of background, especially for anyone who is new to this site. Toys R Us was a huge part of my life back when I first started blogging. I used to take weekly "research" excursions to the big store in South Portland, Maine (which I'm pretty sure is now a furniture warehouse). I loved going there. The variety of merchandise was unmatched, and I felt like I always found some new doll or action figure that fascinated or amused me. Between that store and the nearby Target, there was practically nothing in the play doll world that I couldn't get my hands on. I mean, Toys R Us even carried American Girl dolls for a while.
In addition to my routine visits to the Toys R Us in Maine, I also have fond memories of the jaw-dropping flagship store that used to be in Manhattan. That place was even more impressive than F.A.O. Schwarz, if you ask me. There was a massive ferris wheel and a freakin' life-sized Tyrannosaurus rex, for goodness sake. I was heartbroken when Toys R Us closed it doors in 2018. That marked the end of an era for me, and it took a lot of the fun out of toy shopping. And of course it was only a few months later that I made some decisions that I assumed would bring this blog to a permanent end as well.
Who could have predicted that four years later I'd be happily blogging again and--wait for it--Toys R Us would be opening new stores? It's true! From what I've read, these stores are all going to be smaller boutiques inside Macy's, which is disappointing, but I guess it's still better than nothing. However, there's one full-sized Toys R Us that's been open for a while: the new flagship store at the American Dream mall. And the American Dream mall, as luck would have it, is in New Jersey...only an hour away from my house. So of course I went for a visit. Do you want to check it out with me?
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| Toys R Us at American Dream (East Rutherford, New Jersey). |
