KB Toys

They B Closed.

KB Toys (Kay Bee Toys prior to 1981) was a toy store chain operating in the United States of America and its attached territories. For a time, it was the second largest toy retailer in the United States, behind Toys"R"Us. Unlike its primary competitor, KB Toys locations were primarily found in shopping malls, with its "KB Toys Outlet" and "Toy Liquidators" subsidiaries located in outlet centers. As one of the major toy retailers in the U.S., KB Toys had its fair share of exclusives, most notably the entire 1997 Machine Wars line.

In 1999 and again in 2000, KB Toys ran a promotion where customers would receive a free videotape with any Beast Wars or Beast Machines toy purchase. Tapes of "Bad Spark" and "Code of Hero" in a plain white sleeve or "The Reformatting" and "Master of the House" in a full color sleeve were available for the 1999 promotion while the 2000 promotion featured a tape of "Sparkwar Pt. I: The Strike" along with leftovers of the previous two tapes. In some locations, leftover tapes were sold by themselves.

KB Toys started liquidating its remaining stores in late 2008, with the last stores closing February 9, 2009. Amazingly, despite the chain having officially changed its name from "Kay Bee Toys" to "KB Toys" as early as 1981, three years before the launch of the original Transformers toyline, many stores never went along with the rebranding during the subsequent 27 years, and still featured "Kay Bee Toys" store signs by the time they ceased operations entirely. What was left of the company was bought by Toys"R"Us, who later operated "Toys"R"Us Express" stores in malls where KB used to be.

With the imminent demise of Toys"R"Us, it was announced in March 2018 that the KB Toys trademark had been acquired by Strategic Marks LLC, and that the brand would make a return in the form of pop-up stores in time for the holiday season.

List of KB Toys exclusive toys

Machine Wars

Basic Hoist Hubcap Megaplex Megatron Mirage Prowl Skywarp Thundercracker

Mega Sandstorm Soundwave

Ultra Optimus Prime Starscream

Robots in Disguise (2001)

Spychangers Crosswise (clear) Hot Shot (clear) Ironhide (clear) Mirage (clear) R.E.V. (clear) W.A.R.S. (clear)

Destructicons Destructicon Bludgeon Destructicon Scourge

Other Megatron Megabolt Jhiaxus Megabolt

There were two clear versions of each Spychanger. The first wave was initially exclusive to KB Toys, but was later also available at Target stores. The second wave of redecos was exclusive to KB Toys.

Energon

Armada redecoes Demolishor (with Blackout) Cyclonus (with Crumplezone)

Universe (2003)

Energon Redecoes Snow Cat Downshift		Micromaster Protectobots Groove First Aid Hot Spot Prowl Red Alert Streetwise		Micromaster Constructicons Bonecrusher Buckethead Hightower Long Haul Quickmix Scavenger		Micromaster Railbots Midnight Express Overload Railspike Rapid Run Swindle Tankor
Micromaster Aerialbots Air Raid Fireflight Ro-Tor Silverbolt Skydive Storm Jet		Rebranded Cybertron Scouts Backstop Brakedown Brushguard Lugnutz Scattorshot Undermine		Rebranded Energon Deluxes Barricade Sharkticon Steamhammer Storm Jet		Other Optimus Prime vs. Megatron - The Ultimate Battle

All the Micromasters were also available as mass retail releases in some European countries, albeit in Energon (for the Protectobots and Constructicons) or Cybertron (for the Railbots and Aerialbots) packaging instead of Universe packaging. In the USA, the Constructicons were later also available at Sears stores and at Kmart's website, while the Railbots and Aerialbots were instead available at CVS Pharmacy stores.

The "Dollar Store" exclusive Cybertron Scouts in Universe packaging were originally available at Dollar General stores, but were later also found at KB Toys.

The "Dollar Store" exclusive Energon Energon Class (Deluxe) toys in Universe packaging were originally available at Big Lots and Tuesday Morning stores, but were later also found at KB Toys.

The re-release of the Classics "Ultimate Battle" two-pack in Universe packaging was originally available at Dollar General stores, but was later also found at KB Toys.

Transformers (2004)

Spy Changers Optimus Prime Autobot Jazz Wheeljack Hoist Prowl Silverstreak

These "Generation 1"-themed redecoes of Robots in Disguise Spychangers came in packaging that simply sported the title "Transformers" (using the same general title font as Robots in Disguise, Armada, Energon, Cybertron, Universe, and Alternators), without any additional sub-line name. They were later re-released in Universe packaging, this time available at Dollar General and Family Dollar stores.

External links

• KB Toys at Wikipedia
• KB Toys Company History FundingUniverse.com