Toys R Us Express Opens at Prince Kuhio Plaza

A new Toys R Us Express store, the international toy retailer’s first venture on the Big Island, is now open in Hilo’s Prince Kuhio Plaza.

Located across from American Eagle Outfitters, Toys R Us Express had a “soft opening” at the plaza on Friday, Aug. 16, said store manager Barbara Townsend.

Toys R Us Express stores don’t carry bicycles and other larger items, Townsend said. “It’s mostly toys,” including includes board games, dolls, action figures, educational toys and video games.

Fourteen full- and part-time employees staff the store in Hilo.

Four-year-old Kaiden Alip celebrated his birthday by picking out a Disney Pixar “Take Flight” car as a gift from his family at Toys R Us in Prince Kuhio Plaza. Photo by Hunter Bishop

“We currently operate four stores in Hawaii in addition to the Express store at Prince Kuhio Plaza, including a Toys R Us store in Aiea, a Babies R Us store in Pearl City, a Toys R Us Express store at the Queen Kaahumanu Center in Kahului and a Toys R Us Outlet store at Windward Mall in Kaneohe,” said Alyssa Peera, Toys R Us spokeswoman at the company’s headquarters in Wayne, N.J.

“We look forward to serving our customers in the Hilo area,” Peera said.

Prince Kuhio Plaza was formerly home to KB Toys, once the largest toy retailer in malls in the United States. But KB Toys company filed for bankruptcy and shut its doors in 2009. Toys R Us Inc. has since then acquired the KB Toys brand.