Local Toys “R” Us locations make room for HMV – Winnipeg Free Press

Barbie has new neighbors in Winnipeg.

It's on the back of the DVDs Baywatch and Bee movie. Taylor Swift records go head-to-head with dolls at Toys “R” Us on Regent Avenue West.

Basically, Barbie – “R” Us Toys is “building something cool!” is located next to the empty shelves with the promise of

News of the national toy retailer's partnership with HMV emerged earlier this month. HMV sites in Winnipeg stores could be completed by the end of the month, according to local officials.

Three Toys “R” Us stores in town are mid-range; According to some workers, display items should be included.

HMV took its records, CDs and entertainment memorabilia out of Canada seven years ago.

“I think HMV is still nostalgic for a lot of people,” said Nick Sawatzky, who shopped at the 'R' Us store with his two-year-old son on Monday.

He remembers once trying on headphones while browsing CDs in a sprawling chain store.

The brand gained popularity when online movie and music streaming became popular.

Sawatzki bought most of his music at HMV when he was young. Its return through Toys 'R' Us is an “interesting choice,” he said.

“But I think it also makes sense with parents with young children,” she said. “It's like I'm playing with parental nostalgia.”

Sawatzki thought he would stop by the future HMV site at the Regent Avenue store. The department consumes several corridors.

HMV stores have opened in five Toys “R” Us Ontario locations. This network does not share the progress of Manitoba sites.

HMV production will continue until spring 2024. CDs, DVDs, vinyl records, books and collectibles will be available at each store.

The additions come as Toys 'R' Us sees consumers wanting pop culture, 'kids' and nostalgia items, a company spokesperson wrote on Monday: “HMV is a great partnership with our evolving customer interests.”

According to University of Manitoba marketing professor Kiran Pedada, the pairing appears to be a win-win for both companies.

It provides HMV, which Pedada calls a “brand-name music store,” with less risk of re-entering Canada than opening its brick-and-mortar buildings.

“I think that's a good part of coming back from them.”

HMV may attract new customers to Toys 'R' Us, Pedada noted, adding that the rise of online shopping has hurt storefront performance.

“It's exciting that HMV is making this comeback,” Pedada noted. “The entertainment industry has changed a lot.”

Last year, Best Buy announced plans to end DVD and Blu-ray sales by early 2024.

Sam Lord, 26, entered the future HMV site during a trip to Toys 'R' Us on Regent Avenue on Monday. The last time he saw HMV was as a child.

“It's not something I miss, so I don't know what I'm looking for,” he said. “It's like Zeller's opening in the bay — it's like, 'Oh, that's weird.'”

Bay opened new Zellers brand locations in its stores in 2023. Hudson's Bay Company has taken a number of cost-saving measures in recent years.

(Zellers, a national discount retailer chain with about 350 locations in the late 1990s, closed all but three of those locations in 2013.)

Putman Investments, an Ontario business, owns HMV, Toys “R” Us Canada and Sunrise Records, among others.

In 2019, owner Doug Putnam said it's “unlikely, but definitely possible” to resurrect HMV in Canada.

— With files from The Canadian Press

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Gabriel Piche
Reporter

Gabby is a big fan of people, writing and reading. She graduated from Red River College's Creative Communications program in spring 2020.

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