The popular retailer is taking over the former Marks and Spencer Food within the WHSmith store in the town’s Cornmill Shopping Centre. 

Geoffrey the Giraffe will be launching the new location from the “world’s greatest toy store” on Saturday, February 1, with a free goody bag worth £15 for the first 50 kids. 

As previously reported, Marks and Spencer closed its offering within the WHSmith store late last year, having been there since 2019.

Fridges have remained bare where the M&S selection once was, but now it will soon be taken over by an array of toys and gadgets from the Toys ‘R’ Us brand. 

A statement from M&S previously said: “We review our offer in franchise stores to ensure we have the right products for our customers in the right space at the right time, and while our small range in WHSmith’s Darlington store will come to end this year, customers can find a wider range of M&S Food at Darlington West Park Simply Food store.”

WHSmith has been behind the return of the children’s chain following its collapse in 2018, with stores now in the likes of Scarborough and York. 

Toys ‘R’ Us previously shut its doors on 100 shops across the country after going bust, resulting in the loss of more than 2,000 jobs. 

It announced plans for a relaunch in October 2022, before striking an exclusive deal with WH Smith for concessions in the UK.

How the store previously looked (Image: THE NORTHERN ECHO)

Last May, the retailer confirmed 17 locations for the next string of shops, and planned to open a further 30 by the end of August. 

The toy giant also opened its first new North East location in Newcastle in October.

Toys ‘R’ Us will be marking the new site with plenty of other great giveaways and fun at the grand opening, which will take place at 9am.

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New signs have since been erected on the Cornmill WHSmith, featuring the classic Toys ‘R’ Us branding and a picture of mascot Geoffrey teasing the launch.

This will mark the brand’s first venture into Darlington, having previously boasted a megastore at Teesside Park. 

The unit has since been radically transformed both inside and out into a B&M, with work currently underway on a new garden centre planned to open later this year.