Toys 'R' Us Opens Store at Northwoods Mall
The retailer's return to Peoria comes as it opens 120 stores nationwide ahead of the holiday shopping season.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Retail
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Toys 'R' Us opened a new store on the lower level of Northwoods Mall in Peoria, near JCPenney. The Peoria location is one of 120 Toys 'R' Us stores opening across the nation before the holidays.
Why it matters
The opening marks a return of the chain to Peoria after its last local store closed in 2018, when all remaining Toys 'R' Us stores shut down following its 2017 Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing. It also signals the retailer's broader push to expand its physical footprint during the holiday season.
Toys 'R' Us is opening 120 stores across the nation before the holidays, according to the retailer's announced expansion. The stub does not report the company's revenue, store count before the openings, or how the expansion compares with prior years.
The players
Toys 'R' Us
Toys 'R' Us is a toy retailer that filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2017 and closed its remaining stores in 2018 before expanding again.
Northwoods Mall
Northwoods Mall is a shopping mall in Peoria, Illinois, where the new Toys 'R' Us store is located on the lower level.
The details
The new store is located on the lower level of Northwoods Mall near JCPenney, and the mall announced the opening on Wednesday. The store opening is timed to coincide with the holiday shopping season.
Timeline
2017: Toys 'R' Us filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
2018: All remaining Toys 'R' Us stores closed, including the Peoria location.
2024: Babies 'R' Us opened a branch at the Kohl's location in East Peoria.
November 4, 2026: The mall announced the new store's opening.
November 5, 2026: The Toys 'R' Us store opened at Northwoods Mall.
Market Landscape
The reopening follows Toys 'R' Us's 2017 Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing and the 2018 closure of all its remaining stores, including Peoria's. The chain's expansion into Macy's stores, malls, and a new flagship at the American Dream mall in suburban New York shows it is rebuilding its physical presence after that collapse.
Shoppers in the Peoria area now have a local Toys 'R' Us to visit during the holiday season after the chain's 2018 closures left them without one. The new store's location on the lower level of Northwoods Mall near JCPenney makes it accessible to mall visitors.
The takeaway
The return of Toys 'R' Us to Peoria shows that a retailer once fully shut out of the market can reappear through targeted mall openings. Local shoppers may find it useful to check store hours and holiday availability before visiting.
Further reading
For more on local shopping trends, see Retail coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Pekin Daily Times.
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