There is a big empty building in Alpharetta and if you look close and squint your eyes a bit, you can see where the Toys “R” Us sign used to be.
Jacqueline Walker told Channel 2's Berndt Petersen she has fond memories of Christmas Eve past.
“I'm a baby boomer. I like it when we do a throwback,” Walker said.
She remembers when Toys "R" Us was a holiday tradition. But all of the stores closed 6 months ago.
It is the first Christmas in 60 years with no Toys "R" Us.
“I grew up on Toys “R” Us. I remember always being excited to go in there,” shopper Isabella Girona said.
The former store in Alpharetta was something of an anchor in the shopping center along North Point Parkway.
A manager of one of the other stores didn't want to appear on camera but told us business was down this Christmas season and he believes it's because Toys “R” Us wasn't here to draw customers in.
“It's hard on the other businesses. Toys “R” Us brought a lot of people over here. So, we're very limited,” the manager said.
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Online merchants helped bring it down and some of the shoppers Petersen talked to have already moved on.
“It's kind of sad to see our childhood go. But life goes on I guess,” said shopper Tyesha Smith.
But Walker said she may not get over it.
“I saw 'Mary Poppins' yesterday. It was touching for me. So, if they can bring Geoffrey back, I'd love to see Geoffrey,” Walker said.
Cox Media Group
