Is this the northernmost Toys R Us?

 

  • Is this the northernmost Toys R Us?

    Posted by Huw, 16 Jul 2012 12:39. Filed under Miscellaneous.

    I'm currently on vacation, which you may have noticed from the lack of news posts from me recently. However, thanks to the rest of the team, you've been kept up to date on the big stories that have emerged this week.

    I'm currently in Gerainger, Norway. Three days ago I visited what might be the northernmost branch of Toys R Us, in Akureyri in Iceland. Here's a picture https://foursquare.com/view_photo?id=4ffed55de4b07827a7857bfa. It's situated just below the Arctic Circle. As with everything in Iceland, LEGO was not cheap although it wasn't overly expensive compared to say, Denmark. 

    It got me thinking, are there any shops that sell LEGO north of the Arctic Circle? In Canada or Alaska maybe?


    22 comments, latest one posted 10 months ago. (Commenting has ended on this article)
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Comments

Posted by Pistvakten in Sweden, 16 Jul 2012 13:01

I have never been in Kiruna, Sweden (145 kilometres north of the Arctic circle) myself. But I find i hard to belive that there should be no toy stores there that sells LEGO.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kiruna

Posted by CapnRex101 in United Kingdom, 16 Jul 2012 13:09

I have been to the Toys R Us in Akureyri, I got the Republic Frigate from there last year I believe. What ship are you on this year Huw?

I am not 100% sure, but I believe there was a Toys r Us in Nuuk, Greenland, although I could be wrong. I certainly remember a toy shop which was carrying TRU exclusives.

Posted by shaase in Canada, 16 Jul 2012 13:13

TRU Canada website doesn't list any stores in either the Yukon, Nunavut or Northwest Territories; besides the capital cities of these Territories (Whitehorse, Iqaluit, Yellowknife respectively) are a lit more south (60-63 degrees) than Akureyri. Plus their populations are all under 50K so they are too small to likely to have a TRU; in addition northern Canada is fairly isolated and most of the times things are shipped via planes as opposed to trucks increasing prices drastically. I'd hate to see the cost of Lego in a TRU if it does exist in northern Canada. Anchorage Alaska is also only at 61 degrees so unless another city in Alaska (ask one of my southern neighbours) has a TRU I doubt North America can beat Akureyri.

Posted by legodachi in United States, 16 Jul 2012 13:14

None that far north in Alaska

Posted by fyrmedhatt in United States, 16 Jul 2012 13:21

The Toys R US in Tromsø, Norway is situated well north of the arctic circle, and is most likely the most northern TRU in the world.

http://www.toysrus.no/ShowShop.aspx?shop=3310

The city is located at 69 degrees north, in comparison Anchorage, AK is at 61 degrees and Akureyri, Iceland is at 65 degrees north.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tromsø

As for northernmost toy store, this store ( http://www.onlineguiden.no/firma/stroem-og-faalun-artic-da-637482 ) in Longyearbyen, Svalbard is probably furthest north, at 78 degrees north...

Posted by chowrentoys.com in Canada, 16 Jul 2012 13:32

I know there is a toy store up in the Iqaluit Nunavut, Canada, which is about 73 degrees that sells LEGO. I can't remember the name of it. It is not a big retail store, just a small toy shop. They could be the northern most toy store in Canada.

Posted by BrickBob09 in United Kingdom, 16 Jul 2012 13:34

This must be where Santa gets me my LEGO for Christmas ;)

Posted by voypro in United States, 16 Jul 2012 14:35

"are there any shops that sell LEGO north of the Arctic Circle?"

Huw, Where have you been? There has been a toy shop at the north pole since like the 1700's. Their prices can't be beat. They virtually give away legos!

Posted by supersympa in Sweden, 16 Jul 2012 14:52

@voypro
only problem is to get there! LOL

Posted by Haltiamieli in Finland, 16 Jul 2012 14:56

There are certainly several shops that sell Lego in northern Finland beyond the Arctic Circle, though naturally they cannot compete with Tromsø.

Posted by LegoAthos in United States, 16 Jul 2012 15:18

@ supersympa

But they do deliver once a year or so...

Posted by starwarscollector98 in United States, 16 Jul 2012 16:01

Speaking of toys r us if anyone is interested, 9526 Palpatine's Arrest has shown up in my local tru in California for $89.99 along with all of the other summer star wars sets as well as 9525 Pre Visla's Mandolorian Starfighter in walmart. Finally!!!!

Posted by Huw in United Kingdom, 16 Jul 2012 17:01

Thanks for your comments, it's proved to be an interesting subject :)

I'm on Celebrity Eclipse currently en route to Molde, Norway.

Posted by CapnRex101 in United Kingdom, 16 Jul 2012 18:06

@Huw - Molde, I have been there (I think I have been to every Summer cruise location), a bit dull I found. I am sure there are plenty of other great destinations you will be going to though!

Sounds to me as though we have an answer to the question though, Tromsø would probably be the most northerly Toys R Us, having researched it a little more, the shop in Nuuk is not a Toys R Us, just an independent toy shop. What would the most southerly Toys R Us be I wonder? Or closest to the equator?

Posted by Buckbrick in Singapore, 16 Jul 2012 19:11

My country is pretty near the equator, about 137 km north according to wiki. That makes the southern most TRU store the closest to the equator. However I've not researched if there are stores in those countries that are along the equator like South America, Africa. To my knowledge, there's no stores in the Indonesian provinces that lie along the equator.

Posted by SapmiSatan in Norway, 16 Jul 2012 19:28

Unless you find a good sale, I would recommend you not to buy LEGO in Norway, Huw. We have the highest LEGO prices in the world. Funny thing, though, unlike in many other countries, LEGO is cheaper in TrU shops than other toy shops.

Posted by pig in Finland, 17 Jul 2012 05:07

There are some shops that sell LEGO in Northern Finland, Sweden and Norway. Fuymedhatt mentioned Tromso above. I have visited there few times, but didn't actually now there was TRU. There are, however, a shop that sells some sealed sets from 2002 and so. I bought a Bionicle set from 2005 there last summer.

Posted by HoMa in United States, 17 Jul 2012 08:59

I am in Shanghai/China for business reasons right now. Shanghai offers at least one TRU in a mall downtown. Maybe one of them is the most eastern TRU in China?

TRU and another large (large!) kids and toy department offer more LEGO sets then clone stuff, which did not expected. But LEGO prices are 1.5 to 2 times higher then the retail prices in my home country Germany.

Posted by markwell in United States, 17 Jul 2012 11:51

Looking at Huw's picture, I think it is funny that for such a small mall-based store, they seem to be devoting quite a lot of space to pool toys. Are people really buying kiddie pools in Iceland?

Posted by F0NIX in Norway, 18 Jul 2012 08:48

Well, first of all I live in Tromsø at 69°40'58N 18°56'34E and we have a lot of toy stores here :)
Toys'R'Us was the last of the big stores that opened a store here last year.
We also have several other big stores here like Brio, Ekstra Leker and BR. Toys'R'Us and Ekstra Leker has the largest stores with largest selection of LEGO sets and lowest prices. I can take a picture of them and share here if interested?
But there is a town that is even further north than my town: Hammerfest. But I don't know if there are any Toys'R'Us stores there, but I know there are several big toy stores there.

Posted by Erinlyn80 in United States, 18 Jul 2012 17:33

Eww toys r us express, those are lame

Posted by Nate the Great of LEGO in United States, 20 Jul 2012 17:22

@FONIX

I'd be interested, if that isn't to much trouble.

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