KB Toys Owner: Interest Strong for Store Comeback

MANCHESTER, CT — The owner of the company interested in bringing back the old KB Toys stores said on Thursday his announcement has created a firestorm of enthusiasm for a potential retro comeback, especially with Toys R Us leaving the scene.

"The last couple of days have been extraordinary for us," Ellia Kassoff said in a LinkedIn post, citing "thousands" of notes supporting the move.

Kassoff's California-based company, Strategic Marks, owns the KB name. The company specializes in bringing back defunct stores.

The plan is to open 1,000 KB Toys outlets in tome for the 2018 next holiday shopping season, he said in a LinkedIn post last week.

So could KB be coming back to places like the Buckland Hills shopping district in Manchester, the Enfield Square Mall, Milford's Connecticut Post Mall, Vernon's Tri-City Plaza and along Southington's Queen Street? All had a KB toy store at one point until most started closing in the late 1990s.

Kassoff has not become specific on potential locations, but he was welcoming inquiries from old toy store employees and whomever wanted to talk KB via a phone number on Linked in.

The plan is to "save" the retail toy industry after the liquidation of Toys R Us, he said.

One response on Linked in was right on those sentiments:

"As an employee of Toys R Us for 17 years and a Grandmother to a 5-year-old, I appreciate what you’re doing to bring toys back into our children’s lives," the note said.

Kassoff could not be reached Thursday morning for additional comment regarding potential in Connecticut.

"We are still putting together the strategy and hope to have that completed over the next few weeks, so we ask that everyone be patient with us," he said on LinkedIn.

Photo Credit: Strategic Marks