Toys R Us is returning to Minnesota, and this time it is landing at Albertville Premium Outlets. The iconic toy retailer will open this fall at the outlet mall off Interstate 94, roughly 35 minutes northwest of Minneapolis. For families across the Twin Cities, it means the state will finally have a second Toys R Us to go with the one at Mall of America.
A Nostalgic Return for Minnesota Shoppers
Toys R Us has had a rocky decade. The New Jersey based brand filed for bankruptcy in 2017 and liquidated its big box stores, leaving a lot of Minnesota kids without their favorite weekend stop. New York based WHP Global bought the brand in 2021 and has been rebuilding it through smaller shops inside malls and Macy's stores rather than the giant warehouses of the past. The new Albertville location, opening near Lululemon, fits that smaller format. It is a comeback built on nostalgia, and around here that goes a long way.
What Else Is Opening at Albertville Premium Outlets
Toys R Us is only part of the news. Simon Property Group, the largest mall operator in the country, signed several new tenants at the Albertville outlet mall. Shoppers can expect an Abercrombie & Fitch, an Ann Taylor Factory Store, and a Vera Bradley Outlet in the coming months. Those join two recent additions, a Loft Outlet next to Ulta Beauty and a snack concept called Rare Snacks World, an eight location confectioner with stores as far out as Mankato and Duluth.
One Half Booming, One Half Waiting
There is a twist to this growth story. While the west side of the property keeps filling up, the entire eastern wing has sat vacant for years. Redevelopment talks have dragged on for at least two years, and this past spring a Buffalo based developer walked away from a plan that would have added several drive-thru restaurants. So the mall is thriving on one side and stalled on the other, a reminder that retail real estate rarely moves in a straight line.
What It Means for the Twin Cities
New stores signal confidence, and confidence tends to follow rooftops. When national brands invest in a suburb, it usually means they see steady traffic and a growing population nearby. That kind of momentum touches everything from weekend plans to long term property values across the west metro. And for the rest of us in the Twin Cities, it is one more reason to make the drive up Interstate 94 this fall, ideally with a shopping list and a little childhood nostalgia in tow.
Thinking about buying or selling in the Twin Cities? Let's talk. Text Darin Bjerknes at 612-702-5126 or DM on Instagram @darintheminnesotan.
