Rome’s Toys R Us not on list of 180 closures

The toy store chain is working to restructure its debt and emerge from bankruptcy protection.

Toys R Us will close eight retail stores in Georgia and 180 stores nationwide, but Rome’s store wasn’t on that list of closures released Wednesday.

The toy store chain is working to restructure its debt and emerge from bankruptcy protection, the company has announced. The closings nationwide will begin in early February and run through mid-April. The 180 closings total about one-fifth of the toy retailer’s 880 U.S. stores.

Toys R Us is closing six others in metro Atlanta, including stores in Alpharetta, Dunwoody, Douglasville, Conyers and Fayetteville. Locations in Albany and Newnan are also expected to close.

Metro Atlanta and north Georgia locations in McDonough, Kennesaw, Duluth, Lithonia, Dawsonville, Rome, Woodstock and Buford were not included in the list of closures.

“The reinvention of our brands requires that we make tough decisions about our priorities and focus,” Chairman and Chief Executive Officer David Brandon wrote Tuesday in a memo to customers.

“The actions we are taking are necessary to give us the best chance to emerge from our bankruptcy proceedings as a more viable and competitive company.”

In addition, a number of the Wayne, New Jersey-based retailer’s existing locations will be co-branded as Toys R Us and Babies R Us stores, company officials said.

Documents show the closures still need federal bankruptcy court approval but management is planning to shut those locations beginning in early February and running through mid-April, according to a report from CNBC.

Toys R Us filed to reorganize under bankruptcy protection in September as sales slowed and debt increased prior to the Christmas shopping season.

The company has 1,600 stores around the world. Toys R Us Canada announced all 83 Canadian locations will continue operating as usual.