What? You thought KB Toys was gone when it went out of business and disappeared about a decade ago?
Nope. It’s back. Or, rather, it will be back.
Here’s the deal.
The company that owns the KB Toys brand, Strategic Marks, is going to work with tried-and-true holiday and pop-up pros like Spencer Spirit Holdings and Party City to get retail space as quickly as possible, CNN Money reports.
Strategic Marks purchased the “Great American Toy Store” (KB brand) from Bain Capital in 2016. Bain Capital is the same organization that was involved in the leveraged buyout of Toys ‘R’ Us that took it private back in 2005, as Business Insider reported.
One of Bain Capital’s founders was Mitt Romney.
As a post on LinkedIn by Strategic Marks founder Ellia Kassoff made clear, “We believe we will have the infrastructure in place and [hope to] save the toy industry.”
By reviving the KB Toys brand in malls and stores, the group aims to fill in the gaps left by Toys ‘R’ Us. Those gaps aren’t limited to toys, of course. The Toys ‘R’ Us closing is also resulting in the loss of about 33,000 jobs, as LifeZette reported last week.
After the holiday season is over, Kassoff will decide which of the revived KB stores performed well enough to earn their keep permanently, CNN Money reported.
So take heart, consumers who are mourning the loss of Toys ‘R’ Us.’ KB Toys is positioned to ensure the toy-buying frenzy of the Christmas season will proceed unhindered!
’80s and ’90s kids, rejoice! KB Toys is coming back. Details: https://t.co/ft4a8XZeQs pic.twitter.com/WwlqL4nYqA
— Nintendo Wire @ SDCC (@NinWire) March 19, 2018
Well, that was quick…#savetoysrus #kbtoysisback https://t.co/Z41RUnxtpG
— KB Toy Stores (@KBtoysstore) March 20, 2018
WAIT…..
WHAT?!?!
Toy R Us Dies and KB Toys Returns?!?!WHAT IS GOING ON?!?! https://t.co/mYWsI0HUA4
— HMK (@HMKilla) March 19, 2018
We finally got KB Toys back. And all it cost us was Toys'R'Us.
— TokuChris (@TokuChris) March 19, 2018
Michele Blood is a Flemington, New Jersey-based freelance writer and regular contributor to LifeZette.
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