Toys 'R' Us in Kingstowne, Other Sites May Close: Report

KINGSTOWNE, VA — The Toys "R" Us store in Kingstowne and others in Northern Virginia may close their doors in coming days as the bankrupt retail chain shuts down operations, according to media reports. Although a final decision has yet to be made, the company appears increasingly likely to liquidate its U.S. assets after failing to restructure its debt with lenders or find a buyer, Bloomberg reported Friday.

The company began the year with more than 800 stores across the country under the Toys "R" Us and Babies "R" Us monikers. In January, the retailer said it would close 180 locations.

Along with the Kingstowne site, Toys "R" Us operates a "Temp Express" store in Springfield Town Center and stores in Bailey's Crossroad and Fair Lakes Center, as well as outlet centers at Potomac Mills in Woodbridge and National Harbor in Maryland.

The move would not immediately affect the company's operations in Britain, Europe or Asia, Bloomberg reported. (For more news like this, find your local Patch here. If you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app; download the free Patch Android app here.)

Toys "R" Us filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in September amid waning sales and mounting debt. The toy store chain has faced stiffening competition from Amazon, Walmart and Target.

Image: Patch file (Autumn Johnson)