Liquidation sales have begun at Toys R Us stores across the country, including in south suburban Matteson as the village deals with yet another high-profile retail closure.
At the Toys R Us location, one of six in the state of Illinois that will close this year, prices are already slashed on items, and shoppers are reacting to the news that yet another retail outlet will be leaving town.
“I came out here to see what opportunities are there, what sales are available,” Palatine resident Mitul Patel said.
In total, three big box stores will end up closing their doors in the village, including Target, which closed Feb. 3, and Sam’s Club, which closed on Jan. 26.
“It’s something that’s happening around the country,” Chamber 57 Executive Director Percy Scott said. “Amazon is really making big business change the way they do business.”
Village officials say that retailers like Amazon are also impacting the types of businesses that Matteson is trying to attract.
“It’s not just us, so for us it’s about taking news we get, filling the space, and continuing to build the economy,” Matteson Economic Development Director Ben Wilson said.
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There is at least one bit of good news on the horizon for the village, as Pete’s Fresh Market will open up in the space formerly occupied by Dominick’s this spring, brining 150 jobs to the village.
That opening is giving some residents hope, but they also are hopeful that the village will look forward with their plans as more retailers close their doors.
“(We need to) start to position ourselves to be a player in whatever that landscape looks like 20 years from now,” Matteson resident Henry Swan said.
The Matteson Toys R Us will hold its liquidation sale through mid-April, according to the company.
