April 1, 1922; 102 years ago (1922-04-01) (as Kaufman Brothers candy wholesaler)
Founders
Harry and Joseph Kaufman (original) Ellia Kassoff (planned revival)
Defunct
February 9, 2009; 15 years ago (2009-02-09)
Fate
Bankruptcy liquidation (original company)
Successor
Toys "R" Us
Headquarters
Pittsfield, Massachusetts
,
U.S.
Number of locations
461 (2008)
Area served
United States
Products
Children toys and games
Owner
Kaufman family (1922–1981) Melville Corporation (1981–1996) Consolidated Stores Corporation (1996–2000) Bain Capital (2000–2005) Prentice Capital Management (2005–2009) Toys "R" Us (2009–2016) Strategic Marks, LLC. (2016–present)
Number of employees
10,850 (2008)
Subsidiaries
KBKids.com
KB Toy Express
KB Toy Outlet / KB Toy Liquidators
KB Toy Works
Website
Archive of kbtoys.com
K·B Toys (also known as Kay Bee Toys)[1] was an American chain of mall-based retail toy stores. The company was founded in 1922 as Kaufman Brothers, a wholesale candy store. The company opened a wholesale toy store in 1946, and ended its candy wholesales two years later to emphasize its toy products. Retail sales began during the 1970s, using the name Kay-Bee Toy & Hobby.
In 1999, the company operated 1,324 stores across the United States and was the second-largest toy retailer in the U.S., but it later declared bankruptcy in both 2004 and 2008 before going out of business on February 9, 2009. The company operated 461 stores at the time of its closure. International retailer Toys "R" Us acquired the remains of K·B Toys, consisting mainly of its website, trademarks, and intellectual property rights.[2] Strategic Marks, a company that buys and revives defunct brands, purchased the brand in 2016, and planned to open new stores using the name beginning in 2019; plans for this revival, however, were cancelled due to a lack of funding. As of 2020, all trademarks for K·B Toys have been abandoned by Strategic Marks and is currently not used by any company as of 2023.[3]
^"KB Toys History". FundingUniverse. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
^Pereira, Joseph; John Kell (September 4, 2009). "Toys 'R' Us Buys KB Toys' Brand". Wall Street Journal. Dow Jones & Company. Retrieved 2016-01-09.
^"KB TOYS Trademark - Serial Number 86926864 :: Justia Trademarks". trademarks.justia.com. Retrieved 2023-05-18.
K·B Toys (also known as Kay Bee Toys) was an American chain of mall-based retail toy stores. The company was founded in 1922 as Kaufman Brothers, a wholesale...
Look up KB, kb, or kb. in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. KB, kB or kb may stand for: KB Kookmin Bank, South Korea Kaupthing Bank, Iceland Komerční banka...
acquired Toy Liquidators, adding 82 stores in 38 states. Looking to expand further into the toy business, Consolidated Stores Corp. purchased KBToys from...
exclusively on the expansion of dollar stores after selling K&K stores to KBToys, owned by Melville Corporation. In 1993, the name Only $1.00 was changed...
of nationally recognized brands. Bed Bath & Beyond CompUSA G.I. Joe's KBToys Linens 'n Things Music World The Sharper Image Anchor Blue Clothing Company...
I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus Justin Carver 2002 Eight Crazy Nights KBToys soldier Voice The Master of Disguise Young Pistachio Disguisey 2003 Apple...
The Master of Disguise Young Pistachio Disguisey 2002 Eight Crazy Nights KBToys soldier Voice 2003 Apple Jack Jack Pyne Short film 2003 Just for Kicks...
Lafayette - department store; France Geoffrey's Toy Box - toys, video games, videos (Revival of Toys R Us) Harvey Norman - furniture, housewares, electronics;...
to KBToys Disney Store – The Disney Store closed by the end of January 19, 2022 as the retail moves to Target stores. F.A.O. Schwarz – sold to Toys 'R...
in former Woolworth, Kay Bee Toy and Hobby relocated in between the two on the same day, and changed the name to KBToys. In 2000, Learningsmith closed...
year, they let go of Footaction/Footstar, Meldisco, Linens 'n Things, and KBToys. The company, then decided to change its name from Melville Corporation...
Kenny as The Sharper Image chair Dylan Sprouse and Cole Sprouse as the KBToys soldiers Carl Weathers as GNC bottle Jamie Alcroft as Eli Wolstan Brooks...
Good closed and Stone & Thomas opened in its space in June of that year. KBToys opened in 1983. In April 1983, Montgomery Ward closed and was replaced...
the toy industry, Magnetix sets were among the top 10 most-wanted building sets in 2005, and top sellers on web sites including Amazon.com, KBToys.com...
Meldisco Woodbridge Shoes KBToys (sold to Consolidated Stores in 1996, defunct as of 2010, reviving in 2018) Circus World K & K ToysToy Works (defunct) Play...
released brand new toys based on the newly redesigned Bears, sold at stores such as Walmart, Kmart, Toys "R" Us, Target, KBToys, and Mervyns. The new...
Mountain John Hancock Financial Johnny Cupcakes Jordan's Furniture Kadant KBToys Kronos Incorporated L. S. Starrett Company Liberty Mutual Lionbridge Lola...
later both Bebop and Rocksteady were reissued as KBToys exclusives commemorating 10 years of the first toy line. The reissues have the date stamps changed...
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