The Return of KB Toys
 

Christmas 2018.

The Return of KB Toys - Who is Ellia Kassoff, the Man Who Says He'll Save the Toy Industry

I’ll gladly accept this.

My...my childhood toy store. IT RETURNS!!! <insert maniacal laughter>

I'll believe it when I see it.

Honestly I kinda expected this to happen to Toys R Us. I mean there is a market for a national toy retailer. I still think someone could buy a good deal of Toys R Us assets and start-up again rather quickly. I mean people have been talking more about Toy R Us this past week then probably in it's entire history. Just look what happened to Hostess.

That said I hope both KB and Toys R Us comes back, just so there is competition. The branding is rather superfluous to me, but I do concede for a major toy retailer to succeed they need to trade on nostalgia. Honestly I would rather see a surge in smaller toy stores, but the logistics of the toy industry aren't in favor of that.

Anyone else notice how it’s called “strategic marks?” A grifting term?

This just sounds very unusual to me. Almost like to hype up the people. When there more info on it I believe it.

Huh, odd timing.

I used to go to KBToys as a kid and probably have not bought anything there since 2002.

I vaguely remember this place from when I was a kid but can't really remember anything distinct about it. I remember I was disappointed when they closed though so I guess they must have been alright!

KBToys used to exist at the Columbia Mall upstairs a long time ago. Now it got replace by some shoe shore after 2008.

Last thing I ever bought at a KB toys was a Digimon adventure 02 Hawkmon figure, that should tell you how long its been since ive seen a kb toys

I remember the last time I went to a KB Toys. The 2001 version of Transformers: RID was airing.
So yeah, it's been some time :lol

This is exciting news! I always loved going to KB Toys. That's where I got most of my Power Rangers, Digimon, Transformers, and Animorph toys. There was one in my local mall but it closed down in 2004. One of my last toys I bought there was a Digimon Frontier digi-spirit Kasier Leomon figure. I was heartbroken when it closed, leaving only TRU in town (which I hated TRU). The only KB Toys left near me (for a short period after my local one closed) was a two hour drive to Broward county. It was the highlight of my trips to the east coast of the peninsula. It closed just before KB Toys declared bankruptcy and was replaced by a TRU outlet (which was soon replaced by a shoe store, while TRU outlet was relocated elsewhere in the mall that hosted it). Oh I do hope KB Toys comes back to my town, either put back in the local mall, or replaces TRU in an ironic twist.

They should bring back the toy soldier mascot with a new design ?

Makes sense, considering they went out of business.

KB Toys was a goldmine for me when I was just starting out my collecting. Found variants and hard to find figures surprisingly easily whenever I searched. Was also where I bought my first set of army building figures since they were all part of a BOGO sale and fairly cheap. Such good times.

They also had Japanese toys too. I loved that store so much! !!

I am honestly trying to remember if I ever got anything from KB Toys since when it declared bankruptcy I was 10 or 11 I think. I would love if they open one up back in the mall close to me because that mall is kinda crap. Seriously why are there so many fucking clothes and shoe stores? There used to be a candy store there but it closed along with the GameStop. Even had a place that showed and sold Japanese movies (along with hentai, swords, and I think crack pipes according to my mom) I even bought the Garo tv special from there. But now it's just a boring arcade. Now the only stores left there that I really go to is the TJMaxx in the vain hope of finding a good toy, or the Barnes & Noble for the gunpla, manga, and Starbucks. Even though I only bought one thing there ever besides from the Starbucks.

Because nowadays girls and women have so much disposable income that the market has become ever more consumerist and caters to them, perhaps?

It's not all girl clothes stores either.

Fashion trends are becoming more of a thing is more like it as there's also mens clothing

There was a KB toys in the malls around where I lived. No Toys R Us, so KB was where I got stuff... I remember it being more expensive though. Still I got a lot of stuff there over the years. Heck day before this was announced I randomly found a big bag from there. No clue what we bought that was in it.

The one mall is horrible now. Guy was overcharging rent for a while, so that hurt it. Tried going upscale when it's sandwiched between an outlet mall and Destiny USA... Yeah. And they sold their soul to Bass Pro who made them take out stuff like the nice fountains that used to be in there and basically tells them what stores they can use. Also made them close the rollar rink on the upper floor despite it doing well.

I got stuff from KB Toys as a kid even video games. I remember my Grandma got me a copy of Final Fantasy VII for my 8th birthday back in 1999 because some guy at KB Toys said "This is one of the most popular game that kids these days are playing" (He was not wrong though).

^Implying men also don't buy clothes and shoes.

Sneaker collecting is a thing you know.

I thought men just grew and shed clothing like a snake skin! :lolol

Wait they dont? . . . . WHAT THE HELL AM I?!

Unfortunately we do not.:lol

Actually we just get scrap metal and pound it with a hammer until it magically transforms into something out of a Tolkien novel. :lolol

They better open a KB Toys near where I live.

I do.