The cruelest part is how many independent toy stores went out of business because of toys r us, now we got little to nothing of hands-on toy purchasing.
Very similar to Borders Books in this way.
As I raised my boys, I bought endless b-day presents there. I dreaded the plastic-y smell of the place but at least I got what I needed for the moment. They were also good for getting baby supplies, like bathtubs, car carriers, even formula, etc. That spun into Babys-R-Us but I never went into one of those, having passed out of that phase...