Maine’s First New Standalone Toys ‘R’ Us Opens at the Auburn Mall

The time has come for the return of a standalone Toys 'R' Us to Maine.

Inside the Auburn Mall is a new, smaller version of the once-popular toy store, and it's now open.

Hopefully, it sticks around for more than just the holidays!

Where Is Toys 'R' Us in Maine?

South Portland and Bangor were the last of Maine's Toys "R" Us stores before they closed in 2018.

Toys "R" Us technically returned to South Portland in 2022, but in a different form, as its own little section inside Macy's.

But the first new standalone Toys "R" Us in Maine moved into the Auburn Mall at 550 Center Street in Auburn in October 2026.

Is Toys "R" Us Making a Comeback?

I thought Toys "R" Us was just a fond memory of the past, but it seems to be making a comeback.

Just a few years after the company went bankrupt and liquidated, it was acquired by WHP Global and then later partnered with Go! Retail Group to push for store expansion, according to Forbes.

Now, for this year, USA Today reported that Toys "R" Us is opening 120 new stores. That's a pretty big turnaround from before, right?

Is the Toys "R" Us in Auburn, Maine, Just for the Holidays?

A big question many probably have involves the staying power of Toys "R" Us and whether it can be a staple spot even after the holiday shopping season is over.

While there's not a definitive answer regarding the Auburn Mall location, it will likely depend on whether there's enough demand for it year-round.

In a Facebook post announcing the new store in Auburn, the mall noted that the decision "depends on the community. If people shop it, they will stay. So it really is in the hands of the public."

READ MORE: Here Are 4 New Businesses Coming to the Auburn, Maine, Mall

Are you excited for the return of Toys "R" Us?

Sure, it's not going to be like when kids got to browse the tons of aisles inside a massive space back in the day. And maybe the nostalgia for that is so strong it makes you brush off a reboot that isn't the exact same as the one from the past.

But I don't think you should.

It's nice seeing a little piece of childhood coming back to life, seeing Geoferry the Giraffe once again, and knowing that nearly 70 years after the first Toys "R" Us opened, it hasn't been erased for good.

Even in 2026, you can still be a Toys "R" Us kid.