Visual Merchandising and Store Design | VMSD.com

Locations will include sustainable design elements

Wayne, N.J.-based Toys"R"Us Inc. plans to open 21 new stores by the end of the year, including 11 "R" Superstores and 10 Side-by-Side locations. These new stores across 13 states are part of the company’s strategy to bring Toys"R"Us and Babies"R"Us together under one roof in an integrated store format. The retailer will also remodel 23 existing locations to the Side-by-Side format this year.

"Integrating Toys"R"Us and Babies"R"Us under one roof has been part of the company's strategy for the past five years and customers continue to embrace the enhanced shopping experience these stores offer," says Jerry Storch, chairman and ceo, Toys"R"Us, Inc. "The Side-by-Side store format provides exceptional convenience for parents, offering a wide selection of differentiated toys and juvenile products, and allows the company to cultivate customer loyalty as their children grow and they transition from Babies"R"Us to Toys"R"Us shoppers."

Toys"R"Us began its integrated store strategy in 2006 and has since converted more than 100 locations to the side-by-side format. In 2007, the company opened its new "R" Superstores, which feature full-size Toys"R"Us and Babies"R"Us stores under one roof and are approximately 60,000 square feet.

The new, integrated format stores will be opened in the following locations: Birmingham, Ala.; Huntsville, Ala.; North Phoenix, Ariz.; Buena Park, Calif.; Fremont, Calif.; Indio, Calif.; Puente Hills, Calif.; West Covina, Calif.; Thornton, Colo.; Waterford Lakes, Fla.; Smyrna, Ga.; South Eglin, Ill.; Baton Rouge, La.; Northborough, Mass.; Minnetonka, Minn.; Woodbridge, N.J.; Spartanburg, S.C.; Austin; Cedar Hill Plaza, Texas; Dallas Galleria, Texas; and Southlake, Texas.

The stores will include a number of sustainable initiatives that conserve energy, minimize waste, reduce stores' overall impact on the environment. Features include state-of-the-art Energy Management Systems (EMS) that monitors environmental conditions and adjusts temperature, lighting and CO2 levels throughout the store in order to utilize natural light and reduce energy consumption; custom daylight harvesting systems; energy-efficient LED fixtures in outdoor signage; low-flow water closets and urinals and automatic faucets and flush valves; and low-VOC paints and floor adhesives.