80s | 90s | Life | Toys | 00s

Founder Of Toys 'R' Us, Charles Lazarus, Has Passed Away At 94

Wikipedia / CNN

Going to Toys 'R' Us was literally the highlight of our childhood. Each and everyone of us would run through those sliding doors and would immediately turn into little Tasmanian devils and tear through the store as though we had no knowledge of manners.

The reason that we got to enjoy this epic experience was because of Charles Lazarus. Lazarus founded his company in 1948 and every since he has watched his company grow. That is, until this week.

The first toy store he opened was not called Toys 'R' Us, but instead "Children's Bargain Town." He knew that the baby boom generation would need a lot of toys, so he stocked up on Barbies and Hula Hoops, but that store wasn't the one he cared most about.

It was in 1957 that he opened up the very first Toys 'R' Us in Maryland.

They would go on to open 1,600 stores worldwide, but recently the company announced that all of its stores will be closing.  Even though that seems like devastating news, the company wasn't done.

On Thursday, March 22nd, the Toys 'R' Us company released a statement revealing the sad news about Charles Lazarus's passing .

“There have been many sad moments for Toys ‘R’ Us in recent weeks, and none more heartbreaking than today’s news about the passing of our beloved founder, Charles Lazarus. He visited us in New Jersey just last year and we will forever be grateful for his positive energy, passion for the customer and love for children everywhere.”

“Our thoughts and prayers are with Charles’ family and loved ones.”

Fans of the store have a lot of sweet things to say to the founder of their favorite childhood store, and it's heartwarming to hear their memories...

Shopping at Toys 'R' Us was an epic and important part of our childhood, and we all have Lazarus to thank for it. Even though he is gone, he will not be forgotten. For seven decades he brought joy and imagination to the kids of the world, and we are all extremely grateful.

Many people have been leaving sweet comments for the family on Facebook.

"Thanks for the memories Charles... You made my childhood awesome."

"I bet he lived a great life," one person said. "And didn't want to watch his stores close and wanted to go with the great memories and no the end Toys 'R' Us. Rest in peace."

"RIP...This store made Christmas and every birthday extra special when I was a child. I can remember running through Toys 'R' Us on my birthday playing with toys and trying to decide what I wanted before coming home for my birthday party...Those were great times," one person recalled.

Whatever your Toys 'R' Us memory was, chances are it was positive. Personally, I remember always grabbing a bike and wheeling around the store until someone told me not to. Honestly, they didn't tell me to stop that often at all.

It was such a fun place to be, and even though the stores are closing we were lucky to have it as long as we did.

Rest in peace Charles Lazarus.

Source - People / TMZ

More Throwbacks

Retro

Toys 'R' Us Is Back For The Holidays - Here's How To Find Your Nearest Location

Since Toys 'R' Us filed for bankruptcy last September, Toys 'R' Us Kids of all ages have been anxiously following the struggling chains ups and downs.Last month, we shared the surprising news that investors planned to reopen the iconic toy store as a pop-up chain just in time for Christmas.Now, we know more about where these pop-up stores will be, including almost 600 locations in 30 states.Home For The HolidaysGeoffrey the Giraffe is the face of the new Geoffrey's Toy Box chain.KrogerOn Friday, Kroger, the country's largest supermarket chain, announced they would be opening

Toys

30 Toys From The Sears Wishbook We All Wanted Under Our Christmas Tree 30 Years Ago

I think we can all agree that one of the best things to do while growing up was digging through the Sears Wishbook to try and make our Christmas lists.It was around this time every year that we started to get really serious about it, even though Christmas was still a ways off. We obviously needed a lot of time to plan out our lists for Santa Claus, and we weren't about to make the same mistake as the year before and forget to send one! The Wishbook was an important part of that and while it may not

80s

10 Weebles Playsets From Our Childhoods We Loved To Watch Wobble

There were always toys when you were a kid that seemed to be more important than the rest. There were some that you couldn't go to bed without, there were others that you spent months begging your parents for, and then there were a few that were just staples, readily available where ever you went. No matter which friends house you were at or doctor's office waiting room you were in, there were some that just seemed to be everywhere. Weebles were one of the toys you would be mostly likely to find anywhere that toys were set up for

80s

With Sears Filing For Bankruptcy, Let's Never Forget How Amazing The Wish Book Was

If you celebrate Christmas, then you know that the most important and exciting day of the year is the one whenever your Sears Wish Book arrives. That's when you know that it's time to start writing out your Christmas list, comparing all the potential toys that you might consider. Pages and pages of Barbies, Lego, and board games to dream about, before writing them down on your letter to Santa. The Wish Book is one of those things that you never really stop looking at. You just keep on flipping through the pages any time you get bored, probably because

Toys

Toys 'R' Us Is Coming Back With A New Name, But Not Everyone Is Happy About It

Last week we learned that the lenders responsible for Toys 'R' Us had canceled their bankruptcy auction, meaning that they were planning on attempting a comeback. And already the company has revealed their new plans, but not everyone is happy about it. The Toys 'R' Us branding, including the name and mascots, were retained by the lenders. While the company couldn't make it work, the investors think they've figured out a way to make more money, and it involves bringing back the iconic giraffe. Geoffrey the Giraffe has been the Toys 'R' Us mascot for a long time, but now

Toys

Toys 'R' Us May Be Back In Business With Investors Planning A Revival

Remember how devastating it was just a few months ago when Toys 'R' Us filed for bankruptcy and shut all their doors in America? It was like a piece of our childhood had died and we could do nothing but sit and watch it happen. No more biking through the aisles, no more seeing walls of Lego sets, and no more setting off all of the noisy toys at once before running away. Sure, the employees hated us all, but it was a part of growing up, and it was sad to think that the children of the future wouldn't