The beloved Babies”R”Us retailer has returned to South Jersey as part of a partnership with Kohl’s department stores. Babies”R”Us already opened in Mantua and Voorhees, and is coming soon to Turnersville.
The partnership announcement was made earlier this year, and as we head into the holiday shopping season the new Babies”R”Us sections are starting to open.
While Kohl’s has almost 1,200 locations, the Babies”R”Us partnership departments are planned for 200 of the locations.
So with that being said several South Jersey Kohl’s locations will NOT be getting a Babies”R”Us including Cherry Hill, Marlton, Mays Landing, Westampton and Millville.
Regular Kohl’s shoppers will note that Kohl’s already had a children’s and baby section which offers top brands such as Fisher-Price, Carters, Graco and more! But with the extended space being allocated to support the Babies”R”Us partnership, they’ll be bringing additional baby gear, activity, bath, furniture, feeding and safety products.
This partnership is similar to one created a few short years ago between Macy’s and the Toys “R” Us brand. That partnership still continues.
I stopped in today at Kohl’s stores in Mantua and Turnersville stores. Mantua’s new department is open, and Turnersville’s is being developed.
In Mantua the Babies”R”Us section is in the back left corner of the store… where I find the signature logoed signage and a a corner area featuring strollers, baby car seats and more.
Combined with the existing Kohl’s selection of baby, toddler and kids clothing and merchandise, it actually makes for a significant product selection supporting the needs of young families.
Of course we all know that Babies”R”Us was part of the Toys-R-Us brand… both of which disappeared from American shopping malls when the parent company collapsed in 2018.
Despite those financial woes shutting down the retail aspects of the business, the brand is still incredibly valuable and recognizable, and was acquired by a company who had several ideas for bringing the stores back to the minds and wallets of shoppers.
Last year the new owners opened a dedicated Babies”R”Us store at the American Dream Mall in Northern New Jersey (Forbes). That plan was to jumpstart brand with hopes of attracting a partnership to further extend Babies”R”Us.
Clearly that plan has worked!
Kohl’s Turnersville – Additional Updates
As mentioned Turnersville will also be opening a Babies”R”Us section, and that effort is currently under way. This is a multi-step process for the Turnersville store, where they will be realigning several store functionalities.
Immediately noticeable as you first walk in, the front cash registers are being rebuilt to the very front of the store. The Kohl’s Customer Service counter will be relocated from the back up to this same newly upgraded front area. While the new Checkout and Customer Service looks construction complete, it is not fully operational yet.
Additionally, the Kohl’s Customer Service department was in the back corner of the store in a dedicated space. That area has now been allocated to the Amazon return department. While it’s a unique partnership for the two competing retailers, being able to return Amazon packages at Kohl’s (with no return shipping costs) appears to be very successful.
And then of course is the creation of the Babies”R”Us section for Turnersville which is being developed in the back right of the store (directly next to the new Amazon return area). The core space has been cleared out and roped off… but the new merchandise displays, branded signage, signature overhead hanging sign and new product are not in place yet.
Links and Locations
Babies “R” Us at Kohl’s
Open in Voorhees and Mantua. Coming soon to Turnersville.