The Founder Of Toys "R" Us Died Today, A Week After News That Toys "R" Us Was Closing All Of It's U.S. Stores

CNN- Charles Lazarus, who founded Toys “R” Us 70 years ago, died Thursday, a week after the company announced it will be forced to shut down its U.S. operations.
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.”

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.

Damn man, America lost a pioneer and a true gangsta today. The man that was responsible for all those great trips to Toys “R” Us for a birthday or great report card leaves the world as the week from hell for Toys “R” Us continues. I already waxed poetic about Toys “R” Us in my blog about them closing U.S. stores last week and everything I said about Toys “R” Us can be said about Lazarus since he was the OG of the toy store. Forget about that snobby fuck FAO Schwarz or that old coot Mr. Duncan from Duncan’s Toy Chest. Charles Lazarus was that dude. The Tycoon of toys. The Don of dolls. The Baron of baubles. He made the GOAT toy store from out of nothing that took over not only the country but the imagination of every American boy and girl. Long before we were ruined by the things that come along with puberty and high school, the Toys “R” Us Christmas book is what moved the needle.

This news also makes the report of KB Toys reopening stores in the wake of Toys “R” Us closing that much more diabolical. You hate to say it, but this almost seems like a Joe Pa type of situation, except without the disgusting kid stuff. Charles Lazarus brought kids joy and died after something he loved was sentenced to death.

RIP In Peace, Charles Lazarus. You were a real one.