Kim Morales stands outside a now-closed Toys "R" Us in northeast Calgary on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025. She recalls working there during the holiday rush of 2005 alongside her future partner, Mike Tabler.

At just 16 years old, Morales found herself in the midst of the Christmas shopping frenzy at Toys "R" Us. She witnessed parents battling over toys while trying to steal moments with her teenage crush, Tabler. "I was just in awe of Mike . . . I needed to be with him 24-7," Morales said. "Like, this is the love of my life. He just doesn’t know it yet."

The backdrop of their budding romance was a busy toy store filled with the latest holiday must-haves, including the popular Furby. In 2005, online shopping was still emerging, and Toys "R" Us was a go-to destination for families. The store's mascot, Geoffrey the Giraffe, became a symbol of childhood joy for many.

Morales credits her time at the store for giving her the confidence to approach Tabler. "It made me feel confident to talk to him," she said. "Toys 'R' Us gave that to me."

However, the nostalgia surrounding the store is bittersweet. After nearly 40 years, the northeast Calgary location closed its doors in August, joining many other locations across Canada. The store near Sunridge Mall, which opened in 1988, was the first Toys "R" Us in Western Canada. It was a treasure trove of toys, housing half a million items under one roof.

James Zahn, editor-in-chief of The Toy Book, noted the store's significance during the rise of iconic toys in the 1980s, including Cabbage Patch Kids and Transformers.

Tyler Hall, a 42-year-old father, reflects on his childhood memories tied to the store. He has a collection of WWE action figures and a cut-out of Geoffrey the Giraffe in his basement. "This will be the first Christmas where I’ve ever shopped for my kids, or for family, and I can’t go to that place," Hall said. He fondly remembers buying his first mountain bike there, feeling like it could take him anywhere.

At the last remaining Toys "R" Us location in Calgary, the atmosphere remains lively, with parents and children exploring the aisles. However, the store is also up for sale, along with 11 other locations across Canada. The Sunridge store, where Morales and Tabler's relationship blossomed, has already been sold to a grocery business.

Morales expressed her sadness over the closure. "The one store that I have so many memories in is closed, and I can’t even go in there," she said.

Their friendship grew during lunch breaks and while waiting for rides home. Morales recalls, "He would wait outside with me until my parents picked me up late at night. If I didn’t bring lunch, he would share half of his. He was a very, very good gentleman."

Their relationship evolved from shy exchanges to playful conversations about toys. "I would be like, ‘Oh, I really want this Barbie,’ and he’d be like, ‘Yeah, this is a cool Ken,’" Morales said.

Now, after 12 years together and two years engaged, Morales cherishes the love that began in the aisles of Toys "R" Us. Despite the store's closure, the memories and connections formed there will last a lifetime.

This article is part of a series exploring the changing landscape of toy retail as Toys "R" Us reduces its presence across Canada.