As Toys R Us winds down its operations, it is no longer accepting eCommerce orders through its website. Instead, the retailer is directing customers to liquidation sales at its brick-and-mortar stores for both its namesake and Babies R Us brands, industry news source Chain Store Age reported.
“Thanks for visiting,” reads a pop-up on the retailer’s website. “We have shut down the website for any purchases, but our brick-and-mortar stores are open and holding going-out-of-business sales. You can keep up-to-date with the sale at goodbuytoysrus.com and liquidation-going-out-of-business-FAQs. We encourage you to stop by your local store and take full advantage of the deep discounts and deals available. Thank you for your business and support over the years.”
The news comes as several national retailers have shown an interest in the toy retailer’s brick-and-mortar locations. Just under 60 “qualified bids” are under consideration, CNBC reported last month.
In Florida, for example, Target and Aldi were considering a store located near college campuses. And Big Lots was reportedly interested in five stores, while Raymour and Flanigan was looking to bid on three locations. Other retailers that were interested in the locations included Ashley Furniture and Food Bazaar. Beyond retailers, real estate investment trusts (REITs) were interested in the stores: Federal Realty and Urstadt Biddle reportedly planned to bid on the same store in California.
Only a small number of the 800 U.S. Toys R Us stores were headed to auction. But, of the stores that are being auctioned off, Toys R Us debtors have until April 12 to give their approval on any sales.
The news comes as Bloomberg reported that Amazon could take over some of the Toys R Us stores, which may be soon vacant as the retailer winds down its operations. And though Amazon doesn’t want to keep the Toys R Us brand, it could use the space to display its own products.