These Former Toys R Us Stores Have Been Repurposed As Ethnic Supermarkets
At least a dozen former Toys R Us stores from coast to coast have been repurposed as Asian, Indian and Latin American grocers
Former Toys R Us and Babies R Us stores have been repurposed into many new uses.
But one interesting adaptive reuse is as ethnic supermarkets.
A fast expanding segment of the U.S. grocery industry, there are an estimated 15,000 ethnic supermarkets in the U.S.
Including roughly a dozen that are located in repurposed former Toys R Us and Babies R Us stores.
The 7 grocery stores highlighted below cover a range of converted Toys R Us sites from coast to coast that are now home to Asian, Indian and Latin American grocers.
Joong Boo Asian Market - Schaumburg, Illinois
The Toys R Us-to-ethnic supermarket conversions are located across the country from California to Delaware.
But 1/3 of the conversions were in the Midwest.
Which includes the Joong Boo Asian Market in Schaumburg, Illinois.
Joong Boo offers a comprehensive selection of foods from all over Asia including noodles, sauces, rice, seaweed, curry, and snacks.
It also offers produce, meat, seafood, liquor and even houseware items imported from Asia — all in a converted 48,000 square former Toys and Babies R Us combo store.
Monterrey Market - Milwaukee, Wisconsin
The Monterrey Market in Milwaukee is another Midwest conversion of a former Toys R Us.
The market operates in a 38,000 square foot former Toys R Us store and offers a wide range of Latin American products.
It sells meat and produce and offers freshly prepared Latin American favorites in its in-house bakery, prepared foods section and cafe.
Patel Brothers Market - Niles, Illinois
At ~60,000 square feet, the Toys R Us-to-Patel Brothers conversion in Niles, Illinois is among the Indian grocer’s larger stores among the 50+ it operates in 20 states.
And it is a far cry from the original 900 square foot Patel Brothers market that opened on Devon Avenue in Chicago in 1974 — just 10 miles away from the Niles store.
Global Market and Food Hall - Madison, Wisconsin
The Global Market and Food Hall — located in a 46,000 square foot former Babies R Us in Madison, Wisconsin — is another unique adaptive reuse in the Midwest.
In addition to an expansive offering of Asian groceries, produce, seafood and aisles of imported spices, a portion of the building serves as a food hall where customers can order cuisine from a dozen Asian on-site eateries.
Seafood City Market - Oxnard, California
The 38,000 square foot former Babies R Us in Oxnard, California recently reopened as a new Seafood City Market.
Seafood City Market was founded in 1980 by Filipino immigrants that had difficulty finding the specialty ingredients needed to prepare Filipino cuisine.
It has now grown to be the largest Filipino supermarket chain in North America with over 30 locations.
Hung Vuong Supermarket - Christiana, Delaware
A former Toys R Us in Christiana, Delaware was transformed into the 5th location of Hung Vuong supermarket.
Specializing in Vietnamese and Asian products, the Hung Vuong market features fresh produce, imported snacks and spices as well as a vast seafood section.
All in a 40,000 square foot former freestanding Toys R Us store.
Vallarta Supermarket - Van Nuys, California
In 1985 Enrique Gonzalez opened the first Vallarta Supermarket in Southern California.
Vallarta is now one of the largest Latino-owned supermarket chains with over 50 locations — all in California.
In 2022 it opened a new 40,000 square foot store in Van Nuys, just a few miles away from the very first Vallarta Supermarket.
The market offers a wide variety of Latino food products and includes an in-store Mexican taqueria, a full service Carniceria (meat department), a Panaderia (bakery) and Tortilleria that produces freshly made tortillas and masa.
It also offers a deli, floral department, in-store juice bar and a vastly expanded liquor selection.
And the supermarket is an adaptive reuse of a former Toys R Us.
