- published: 19 Apr 2016
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Toys "R" Us (styled as Toys "Я" Us) founded in 1948 is a dedicated toy and juvenile-products retailer headquartered in Wayne, New Jersey, United States. The company operates more than 875 Toys “R” Us and Babies “R” Us stores in the United States, more than 625 international stores and over 140 licensed stores in 35 countries and jurisdictions. In addition, it exclusively operates the legendary FAO Schwarz brand and its flagship location in New York City. It also operates a portfolio of e-commerce sites including Toysrus.com, Babiesrus.com, eToys.com and FAO.com.
Charles Lazarus initially started Children's Supermart (which would evolve into Toys "R" Us) in Washington, DC during the post-war baby boom era in 1948 as a baby-furniture retailer. Its first location was at 2461 18th St, NW, where the nightclub Madam's Organ Blues Bar is located. Lazarus began receiving requests from customers for baby toys. After adding baby toys, he got requests for toys for older children. The focus of the store changed in 1957, and Toys "R" Us was born in Rockville, Maryland. Toys "R" Us was acquired in 1966 by Interstate Department Stores, owner of the White Front, Topps and Children's Bargain Town USA, a sister toy-store chain to Toys "R" Us in the American Midwest that would later be re-branded as part of the Toys "R" Us chain. The original Toys "R" Us store design in the 1970s and 1980s consisted of vertical rainbow stripes and a brown roof with a front entrance and side exit. Some brown-roof locations still exist, although some have been painted different colors or renovated.