Do we really need 4 physical stores in Ottawa, though? I mean yea it’s sprawled to shit but still. Looks like the Merivale is still going and it’s at least pretty central. There are plenty of other toy stores around as well, so the concept of physical locations, at least, is still cruising.
Merivale is the one that will probably close soon. A few months ago, they sold the property and put the “store closing” signs up, but took them down when the sale fell through. I assume it will close again when they sell the property again.
The only one that I believe hasn’t closed or tried to close is the St. Laurent one. Even the one in Gatineau apparently had closing signs, but I don’t know if they actually closed or not yet.
Dang, but it’s sorta fair considering how the area’s not thay dense. Ottawa will, I hope, one day understand that building large box stores away from customers just isn’t the play.
But I live in Montréal now where mid-density is king and we got toy and game shops opening up across the street from other toy and game shops because customers density supports that kinda behaviour.
Yeah, that’s kind of my point. 3 of 4 stores in Ottawa aren’t profitable is probably an indicator that Toys R Us (at least in Ottawa) isn’t doing that well.
Last time I visited Canada I ate poutine twice in one day and you better believe I faced some enshittification. Great public toilets though; in the states it feels like every city has become a toilet desert, you need to buy a meal at a restaurant just to use a bathroom.
Toys R Us still lives in Canada. She’s practically just as you remember her. And she’s happy. 🥲
2 of the 4 stores in Ottawa just closed and a 3rd one is going to soon. I don’t think Toys R Us is doing that well.
Do we really need 4 physical stores in Ottawa, though? I mean yea it’s sprawled to shit but still. Looks like the Merivale is still going and it’s at least pretty central. There are plenty of other toy stores around as well, so the concept of physical locations, at least, is still cruising.
Merivale is the one that will probably close soon. A few months ago, they sold the property and put the “store closing” signs up, but took them down when the sale fell through. I assume it will close again when they sell the property again.
The only one that I believe hasn’t closed or tried to close is the St. Laurent one. Even the one in Gatineau apparently had closing signs, but I don’t know if they actually closed or not yet.
Dang, but it’s sorta fair considering how the area’s not thay dense. Ottawa will, I hope, one day understand that building large box stores away from customers just isn’t the play.
But I live in Montréal now where mid-density is king and we got toy and game shops opening up across the street from other toy and game shops because customers density supports that kinda behaviour.
If 1 is profitable and 3 aren’t and it’s a matter of geography, that’s a sound business decision.
What kind of a sane business model would benefit from holding onto (and paying taxes on) property/assets that aren’t profitable? 🧐
Yeah, that’s kind of my point. 3 of 4 stores in Ottawa aren’t profitable is probably an indicator that Toys R Us (at least in Ottawa) isn’t doing that well.
Except for the soft play area they’re adding. She’s enshittifying.
You:
Have you seen those places? They’re a fraction the size of indoor playgrounds, and displace shelves that used to be packed with toys. https://www.toysrus.ca/en/playlab-indoor-playground.html
. What’s the point in building a civilization if we can’t have play areas for kiddos.
Hey McDonalds, f*** u
I’m pretty sure that canada has plenty of room
why is that enshittifying?
In Canada, enshittification makes things even better.
Last time I visited Canada I ate poutine twice in one day and you better believe I faced some enshittification. Great public toilets though; in the states it feels like every city has become a toilet desert, you need to buy a meal at a restaurant just to use a bathroom.
Because every soft play place eventually devolves into a lure to get kids to play overpriced, lootboxified arcade games.