Hawaii Toys R Us stores to close in May; 48 employees warned

HONOLULU — Hawaii’s Toys R Us stores will close May 14, according to filings from the state Department of Labor.

The state’s 48 Toys R Us employees have been given termination notices, Hawaii News Now reported last week. The company operates stores on Maui and Oahu only.

The chain has announced that it plans to close or sell all of its U.S. stores in coming months.

Officials have not said when stores will begin to liquidate and Toys R Us hasn’t said if all stores nationwide will close at the same time.

There are four Toys R Us or Babies R Us stores in Hawaii. The 60-year-old brand has 800 locations nationwide and more than 30,000 employees.

Toys R Us filed for bankruptcy protection in September and announced a major restructuring deal in January amid slumping sales.

The U.S. branch of Toys R Us had hoped to find a buyer or work out a debt restructuring deal. And while a buyer might still come through, hopes of that happening are dimming, Hawaii News Now reported.

Shoppers were saddened by the news of the closure, including resident Joy Kaopuiki.

“I just told my son the news today as well and he was really sad as well ‘cause we come here all the time and he has a lot of fun,” Kaopuiki said. “Just to see the different kinds of toys. His reaction was, ‘Oh no … where we gonna get all our toys now?’”