Topic: BREAKING: Toys 'R' Us founder dies a week after company announced it will close
Anonymous A started this discussion 8 years ago #73,505
Lazarus, 94, no longer held a stake in the chain. He started the company in 1948 when he was 25, anticipating that the post-war baby boom would create demand for baby supplies and toys. He remained CEO until 1994.
"He was the father of the toy business," said Michael Goldstein, who succeed him as CEO. "He knew the toys and loved the toys and loved the kids who would shop in the stores. His face lit up when he watched kids playing with toys."
His death was confirmed by the company.
"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," Toys "R" Us said in a statement. "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."
He started selling baby furniture in a store called Children's Bargain Town in Washington, D.C. But he quickly expanded to selling toys.
In 1957, Lazarus opened his first store stocked only with toys. It was modeled after a supermarket, with a wide assortment of items stocked high on shelves. He named it Toys "R" Us — with a backwards "R" in the logo that was supposed to look like it was drawn by a kid. Its iconic giraffe mascot, started as part of advertisements for Children's Bargain Town. Its name was changed from "Geoffrey" in 1965 and soon became the center of its marketing campaign.
The company went public in 1978 and thrived in the years that followed, growing from a $1 billion in the early 1990's to an $11 billion business.
But the company faced growing competition from big box retailers such as Walmart (WMT) and Target (TGT) as it encountered other challenges.
Its debt was downgraded to junk bond status in January of 2005. A year later the company was sold for $6.6 billion to a group of private equity firms -- KKR, Bain Capital and real estate firm Vornado. The deal left it saddled with $5.3 billion in debt and it never really recovered from that.
"He was the father of the toy business," said Michael Goldstein, who succeed him as CEO. "He knew the toys and loved the toys and loved the kids who would shop in the stores. His face lit up when he watched kids playing with toys."
His death was confirmed by the company.
"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," Toys "R" Us said in a statement. "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."
He started selling baby furniture in a store called Children's Bargain Town in Washington, D.C. But he quickly expanded to selling toys.
In 1957, Lazarus opened his first store stocked only with toys. It was modeled after a supermarket, with a wide assortment of items stocked high on shelves. He named it Toys "R" Us — with a backwards "R" in the logo that was supposed to look like it was drawn by a kid. Its iconic giraffe mascot, started as part of advertisements for Children's Bargain Town. Its name was changed from "Geoffrey" in 1965 and soon became the center of its marketing campaign.
The company went public in 1978 and thrived in the years that followed, growing from a $1 billion in the early 1990's to an $11 billion business.
But the company faced growing competition from big box retailers such as Walmart (WMT) and Target (TGT) as it encountered other challenges.
Its debt was downgraded to junk bond status in January of 2005. A year later the company was sold for $6.6 billion to a group of private equity firms -- KKR, Bain Capital and real estate firm Vornado. The deal left it saddled with $5.3 billion in debt and it never really recovered from that.
Anonymous B joined in and replied with this 8 years ago, 2 hours later[^] [v] #875,101
And not one fuck, was given.
Anonymous C joined in and replied with this 8 years ago, 55 minutes later, 3 hours after the original post[^] [v] #875,115
Inb4 Dave shrieks and howls in pain about the loss of his favorite hangout.
Anonymous D joined in and replied with this 8 years ago, 11 minutes later, 3 hours after the original post[^] [v] #875,116
@OPenis
I don't believe you because there is no source.
@875,101 (B)
I'll assume you give no fucks because your parents hated you too much or were too poor to ever take you to Toys R USAmerica.
I don't believe you because there is no source.
@875,101 (B)
I'll assume you give no fucks because your parents hated you too much or were too poor to ever take you to Toys R USAmerica.
(Edited 1 minute later.)
Anonymous C replied with this 8 years ago, 8 minutes later, 3 hours after the original post[^] [v] #875,118
@previous (D)
Hi, Dave! Still obsessed with a children's toy store, I see! Very healthy obsession to have.
Hi, Dave! Still obsessed with a children's toy store, I see! Very healthy obsession to have.
Anonymous D replied with this 8 years ago, 4 minutes later, 3 hours after the original post[^] [v] #875,119
@previous (C)
Aww, poor little bastard. Your parents never took you to Toys R USAmerica to pick out any toy your heart desired. Probably 'cause you're little faggot!
Aww, poor little bastard. Your parents never took you to Toys R USAmerica to pick out any toy your heart desired. Probably 'cause you're little faggot!
(Edited 27 seconds later.)
Anonymous E joined in and replied with this 8 years ago, 7 minutes later, 3 hours after the original post[^] [v] #875,120
@OP
Was his fading life energy why Toys ‘R’ Us failed, or did the its failure cause him to die?
Was his fading life energy why Toys ‘R’ Us failed, or did the its failure cause him to die?
Anonymous B replied with this 8 years ago, 2 hours later, 6 hours after the original post[^] [v] #875,151
Catherine !TGirlYJKXM joined in and replied with this 8 years ago, 2 hours later, 8 hours after the original post[^] [v] #875,202
This feels like an omen for things to come in the world of retail.
Anonymous G joined in and replied with this 8 years ago, 3 minutes later, 8 hours after the original post[^] [v] #875,204
@previous (Catherine !TGirlYJKXM)
Retail space is inefficient. Online is efficient. Tear down the malls and build affordable houses.
Retail space is inefficient. Online is efficient. Tear down the malls and build affordable houses.
Catherine !TGirlYJKXM replied with this 8 years ago, 4 minutes later, 8 hours after the original post[^] [v] #875,207
@previous (G)
> Tear down the malls
I foresee this happening.
> build affordable houses
Haha! Yeah, that shit would never happened even if those petitioners at my school manage to get that on a California 2018 election ballot. This is still a capitalist society and nobody just gives accommodations like that away for free or cheap.
> Tear down the malls
I foresee this happening.
> build affordable houses
Haha! Yeah, that shit would never happened even if those petitioners at my school manage to get that on a California 2018 election ballot. This is still a capitalist society and nobody just gives accommodations like that away for free or cheap.
Anonymous C replied with this 8 years ago, 58 minutes later, 9 hours after the original post[^] [v] #875,231
@875,119 (D)
OK, Dave. Neither will the next generations. They will, however, have plenty of small, wholesome, independently-owned toy shoppes to explore without soulless corporations looming over them.
OK, Dave. Neither will the next generations. They will, however, have plenty of small, wholesome, independently-owned toy shoppes to explore without soulless corporations looming over them.
Anonymous H joined in and replied with this 8 years ago, 42 seconds later, 9 hours after the original post[^] [v] #875,232
Catherine !TGirlYJKXM replied with this 8 years ago, 40 seconds later, 9 hours after the original post[^] [v] #875,233
@875,231 (C)
Can you name some of these small, wholesome, independently-owned toy shoppes? The most I've seen don't carry name brands.
Can you name some of these small, wholesome, independently-owned toy shoppes? The most I've seen don't carry name brands.
kook !!OPZbEQMT1 joined in and replied with this 8 years ago, 8 minutes later, 9 hours after the original post[^] [v] #875,241
@previous (Catherine !TGirlYJKXM)
We have some in the rich areas of Sarasota and Lakewood Ranch
Look at this
https://www.google.com/search?q=sarasota+toy+shop&oq=sarasota+toy+shop&aqs=chrome..69i57j0.6372j0j4&client=ms-android-att-aio-us&sourceid=chrome-mobile&ie=UTF-8#istate=lrl:iv&rlimm=17972011489794733597
We have some in the rich areas of Sarasota and Lakewood Ranch
Look at this
https://www.google.com/search?q=sarasota+toy+shop&oq=sarasota+toy+shop&aqs=chrome..69i57j0.6372j0j4&client=ms-android-att-aio-us&sourceid=chrome-mobile&ie=UTF-8#istate=lrl:iv&rlimm=17972011489794733597
(Edited 1 minute later.)
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