First Canadian location of iconic store set to close

A landmark in Canadian retail history is about to disappear.

The first Toys “R” Us store to open in Canada will close for good on July 12, bringing an end to more than four decades of memories for generations of Brampton shoppers.

Located at 150 West Drive in the 410 @ 7 Centre, the store opened in 1984, making its debut in the Canadian market. The arrival of the U.S.-based toy giant was a major milestone in the country’s retail landscape, introducing a warehouse-style toy store unlike anything Canadian shoppers had seen before.

Over the next 42 years, the Brampton location became a destination for birthdays, Christmas shopping and childhood milestones, with countless families making it a tradition to browse its aisles in search of the latest action figures, dolls, bicycles and video games.

Now, the historic store is preparing to say goodbye to customers.

Signs posted throughout the store advertise liquidation sales, while staff have confirmed the location will permanently close at 5 p.m. on Sunday.

The closure comes as Toys “R” Us Canada continues to wind down operations after filing for creditor protection in February, citing mounting debt, rising operating costs, inflation and changing consumer shopping habits.

Since then, dozens of stores across the country have been closed as the company sought buyers for its remaining business.

Last month, an Ontario court approved the sale of various company assets to three separate buyers. The Toys “R” Us and Babies “R” Us brands were acquired by toy company Ad Populum, while current owner Doug Putman’s company purchased leases for 10 stores and other operating assets with plans to continue operating some locations or potentially rebrand them in the future. Another agreement transferred the Vaughan Mills lease to Fox Group Jumbo Canada.

The Brampton location has nevertheless been added to the list of stores being liquidated.

At its peak, Toys “R” Us operated more than 80 stores across Canada. Court filings earlier this year showed that the number had already fallen to just 22 locations before additional closures were announced as part of the restructuring. Remaining Ontario stores include Barrie, Etobicoke, Hamilton, Nepean (Ottawa), Sarnia and Whitby, although the future of several locations remains uncertain as the company’s restructuring continues.

But the Brampton store will always hold a unique place in the company’s history.

When it opened in 1984, the store helped launch what would become one of Canada’s most recognizable toy retailers. For many families in Brampton and across Peel Region, it became the go-to place to buy gifts for children.

On Reddit and other social media platforms, former customers have been sharing memories of spending hours browsing the toy aisles, attending promotional events and picking out everything from Transformers and LEGO sets to Beyblades and the latest video games.

“End of an era,” one commenter wrote, while another recalled being dropped off by a parent and spending an afternoon exploring what seemed like endless rows of toys.

The closure is also another setback for the aging 410 @ 7 Centre, which has lost several longtime tenants in recent months, including Value Village, JYSK and Penningtons.

When the doors close Sunday evening, Brampton will not only lose its final Toys “R” Us store — Canada will lose the location where the retailer’s Canadian story began more than 40 years ago.