Points of Articulation

June 8, 2018

Yes, this is a Babies "Я" Us. A standalone Babies "Я" Us. I was in a different area, and there wasn't a TRU around, but someone reported finding stacks of TRU exclusives at BRU, so I figured it was worth a stop.

Observations: (Friend of the site Will West) had a second baby recently. Walking around in this store, it struck me how she, specifically, will never get to be a Toys "Я" Us kid. Yes, I had that same thought a few weeks back, but it was a general sense of everyone - this time there's a face on it. Anyway, welcome, Dorris Aimsley West! Maybe you can move to Canada and experience a Toys "Я" Us there.

What I got: <Narrator>It was not worth a stop.</Narrator>

June 15, 2018

This giant closeup is of the local. Why the new angle? Because that little orange piece of paper on the exit door is proclaiming that there are only 13 days left.

Observations: Oh dear, things are really moving, now! The back half of the store is empty and roped off, and everything in the front has been shuffled around.

What I got: MLP Queen Chrysalis. They had a butt-ton of her, and if I decide I don't want to open her, she can be a Toys For Tots donation this winter.

June 19, 2018

Nine days.

Observations: Boy, Incredibles 2 is a good movie, isn't it?

What I got: I now have a Lego Batman sign from the side of an aisle-end display.

June 23, 2018

Six days.

Observations: THERE IS AN ENTIRE WALL MISSING IN HERE! The Backup has yellow tape up to keep block off some areas... but it isn't actually blocking anything off. Both sides of it are entirely accessible, just from different areas. And over where the action figures used to be, they've removed the wall that used to separate the shopping area from the stock area. Floor to ceiling, it's just... gone. Weird. And unsettling. Unlike the Local, which has signs up saying official TRU and licensed signs are not for sale, the Backup was most definitely selling some big cardboard signs. For more than I wanted to pay. Still, with only six days left, I know I will never set foot there again. I walked through every available aisle (a couple times), looked at every product they had available, took it all in. It was hard to walk out the door. You were a good store to me, Backup. I'll miss you.

What I got: Star Wars Ackbar/Imperial two-pack, Dark Tower Minimates.

June 24, 2018

Four days.

Observations: You know, The Local is the store where I sneaked into the back to get Marvel Legends that one time. So this time, I went past the caution tape to walk around in the now-empty half of the store. No, nothing was stashed back there.

What I got: Halo Linda-058, and, as promised, Constable Zuvio. There are still a few days left, but I don't feel like taking any chances.

June 27, 2018

Huh, that sure is a moving truck out front, isn't it?

Observations:

What I got: An intense sense of sadness.

June 30, 2018

The end.

I wasn't a Toys "Я" Us kid, not the way many were; more of a Toys "Я" Us teen, and then a Toys "Я" Us adult. I may not have prepubescent memories of the place, but it's always meant a lot to me, both as a source of toys to supply my hobby, and as a source of ethos. I don't wanna grow up, 'cause baby, if I did, I couldn't be a Toys "Я" Us kid.

And I'm sure gonna miss them when they're gone.

[March] [April] [May] [June]

---