Jack of Harts

I’m a Toys “R” Us Kid.

I grew up when Geoffrey the Giraffe opened stores catering to every toy a kid could want in towns near and far. I remember the awe I felt when I walked into a store filled with nothing but toys.

This weekend, I walked into two of them with bittersweet memories. I’ve never stopped going to them, but their prices have risen so much that I couldn’t justify buying stuff there when I could get it several dollars cheaper at Target. I’ve gotten stuff when it went on sale, and I’ve gotten the exclusives, but main line stuff I just had to shake my head at.

And this weekend, while walking through those stores I saw the end of what that meant. They priced themselves out of the market, and now the childrens’ palace of my youth is fading away.

I felt sorrow this weekend as I looked upon the piece of my childhood that the children of our future will never see again.

I’m not going to grow up. But soon there will be no more Toys “R” Us to be a kid in.

🙁