Remember walking through a Toys “R” Us and staring at what felt like endless aisles of toys?
For many Chicago-area families, that experience disappeared when the retailer closed its Illinois stores in 2018.
Now, it's coming back.
Toys “R” Us is opening a new standalone store at Yorktown Center in Lombard, bringing the iconic toy retailer back to the western suburbs as part of a much larger nationwide expansion.
And shoppers won't have to wait long.
The new Lombard store is expected to open in early October 2026, just in time for the holiday shopping season.
Toys “R” Us Is Coming to Yorktown Center
The new store will open inside Yorktown Center in Lombard.
Plans call for approximately 7,500 square feet of retail space on the mall's lower level in the JCPenney wing.
While that's considerably smaller than the enormous Toys “R” Us stores many shoppers remember from the 1990s and 2000s, this will still be a dedicated standalone Toys “R” Us location rather than simply a toy department inside another retailer.
The Lombard store is expected to carry familiar brands including:
LEGO
Barbie
Hot Wheels
Pokémon
Action figures
Games
Electronics
Arts and crafts
Other popular toys
And the timing couldn't be better for families looking ahead to holiday shopping.
Opening Is Expected in Early October
Construction and preparations are already underway at Yorktown Center.
The store is expected to open at the beginning of October, although an exact grand-opening date has not yet been announced.
That means the new location should be operating well before the busiest stretch of the holiday shopping season.
For Yorktown Center, it's also another recognizable national retailer joining the Lombard mall as shopping centers continue looking for ways to give families more reasons to visit in person.
Remember the Old Toys “R” Us?
For anyone who grew up in the 1980s, 1990s or early 2000s, Toys “R” Us probably doesn't need much of an introduction.
The retailer was once one of the country's dominant toy-store chains, with its giraffe mascot Geoffrey becoming nearly as recognizable as the company's logo.
But the retail landscape changed dramatically.
Toys “R” Us filed for bankruptcy in 2017 and ultimately liquidated its U.S. stores the following year.
Illinois locations closed in 2018.
For many shoppers, that seemed like the end of the traditional Toys “R” Us store.
It wasn't.
Toys “R” Us Has Been Slowly Making a Comeback
The brand eventually began rebuilding its physical retail presence.
WHP Global acquired Toys “R” Us in 2021, and the company has experimented with several ways of bringing the brand back to shoppers.
That has included Toys “R” Us sections inside Macy's stores as well as standalone locations.
Now the comeback is getting much bigger.
Toys “R” Us plans to open 120 additional standalone stores across the United States this fall through a partnership with Go! Retail Group.
Combined with existing locations, the expansion is expected to bring the company's standalone U.S. store count to approximately 160 by the holiday season.
Lombard is part of that expansion.
Why Yorktown Center Wanted Toys “R” Us
Yorktown Center actively pursued the retailer.
Mall management has said the nostalgia surrounding Toys “R” Us was one of the reasons the brand was attractive.
And it's easy to understand why.
Parents who remember shopping at Toys “R” Us as kids now have children of their own.
That gives the store something newer toy retailers don't necessarily have: generations of built-in brand recognition.
But Yorktown also sees the store as a way to increase foot traffic.
Families coming specifically to shop at Toys “R” Us could also visit restaurants, entertainment options and other retailers throughout the mall.
For a traditional shopping center, that's valuable.
This Won't Be the Giant Toys “R” Us You Remember
There's one important difference.
The new Lombard store will be around 7,500 square feet.
The classic Toys “R” Us stores many suburban shoppers remember were dramatically larger, often occupying big-box buildings with aisle after aisle of toys.
The new strategy appears to be more flexible.
Instead of relying exclusively on enormous stores, Toys “R” Us is opening smaller standalone locations alongside its existing shops inside Macy's and other retail formats.
That allows the company to bring the brand into more shopping centers without needing the huge footprint it once required.
So while the Lombard location may not recreate the enormous toy warehouse experience exactly, it will bring a dedicated Toys “R” Us storefront back to the area.
Yorktown Center Continues to Evolve
The Toys “R” Us announcement also comes as Yorktown Center continues evolving beyond the traditional suburban-mall model.
Like many shopping centers around Chicagoland, Yorktown has increasingly mixed shopping with restaurants, entertainment and other experiences.
The larger Yorktown area is also undergoing significant redevelopment, with new residential projects and additional investment reshaping the surrounding Butterfield Road corridor.
Adding recognizable retailers gives the mall another tool for keeping shoppers coming back as those changes continue.
And Toys “R” Us arrives with one advantage few new stores can match:
People already know the name.
Another Illinois Comeback for the Brand
Lombard isn't the only place where Toys “R” Us is reappearing.
The brand has been rebuilding its Illinois presence after disappearing from the state during the company's 2018 liquidation.
A standalone Toys “R” Us has already returned to Chicago Premium Outlets in Aurora, while the company continues expanding into additional locations.
That makes the Yorktown Center store another sign that Toys “R” Us is moving beyond temporary pop-ups and small in-store sections as it rebuilds its brick-and-mortar footprint.
Why This Opening Stands Out
New retailers arrive in the western suburbs all the time.
But this one carries a little more nostalgia than most.
For a generation of suburban kids, a trip to Toys “R” Us wasn't simply another shopping errand.
It was an event.
Walking into a massive store filled almost entirely with toys was part of the experience.
The Lombard location will be smaller than those old stores, but seeing the familiar Toys “R” Us name back on a dedicated storefront could still feel like a bit of a throwback.
And this time, many of the kids who once begged their parents to take them there may be walking in with children of their own.
FAQs
Where is the new Toys “R” Us opening in Lombard?
The store is coming to Yorktown Center in Lombard, Illinois, on the lower level of the JCPenney wing.
When will Toys “R” Us open at Yorktown Center?
The Lombard store is expected to open in early October 2026. An exact opening date has not yet been announced.
How big will the Lombard Toys “R” Us be?
The new store is expected to occupy approximately 7,500 square feet.
Is this a standalone Toys “R” Us?
Yes. Unlike the Toys “R” Us sections found inside some Macy's stores, the Yorktown Center location will be a dedicated Toys “R” Us store.
Why did Toys “R” Us close?
Toys “R” Us filed for bankruptcy in 2017 and liquidated its U.S. stores in 2018. The brand was later acquired by WHP Global and has gradually rebuilt its physical retail presence.
Are more Toys “R” Us stores opening?
Yes. Toys “R” Us announced plans to add 120 standalone U.S. locations during its 2026 expansion, with approximately 160 standalone stores expected nationwide by the holiday season.
Final Thoughts
Eight years after Toys “R” Us disappeared from Illinois during its nationwide liquidation, the familiar toy retailer is making another comeback in the western suburbs.
This time, it's coming to Yorktown Center in Lombard.
The approximately 7,500-square-foot store will be smaller than the giant Toys “R” Us locations many shoppers remember, but it represents something bigger for the brand — another step toward rebuilding a physical retail presence across the country.
And with the Lombard store expected to open in early October, the timing puts it right in place for holiday shopping.
For parents who grew up wandering Toys “R” Us aisles themselves, this might be one of those rare new-store openings that feels surprisingly familiar.
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