One Wichita store on list of 182 Toys R Us-owned closures across the country

Wichita’s Babies R Us store at 4646 W. Kellogg is on a list of 182 Toys R Us-owned stores that will close.

The Toys R Us store at 8011 E. Kellogg was not on the list.

The chain, which continues to reorganize after announcing bankruptcy in September, plans to close about one fifth of its U.S. stores. The closures are expected to begin in early February and run through mid-April.

Court documents filed late Tuesday included the list, which names stores in states all over the country. The Overland Park Babies R Us store at 8500 W. 135th St. is the only other Kansas store named.

The closures still need court approval.

"The reinvention of our brands requires that we make tough decisions about our priorities and focus," Chairman and Chief Executive Officer David Brandon wrote Tuesday in a memo to customers posted on the company’s website. "The actions we are taking are necessary to give us the best chance to emerge from our bankruptcy proceedings as a more viable and competitive company."

The memo also said that many of the company's existing locations will be co-branded as Toys R Us and Babies R Us stores.

The company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in September, citing losses from online competition. It reported a debt of $5 billion.

This story was originally published January 24, 2018 at 8:00 AM with the headline "One Wichita store on list of 182 Toys R Us-owned closures across the country."