The light has gone out for Toys R Us in the UK; it’s going out in the US. But the toy retailer, or at least its branding, is soldiering on in a few more nations. One of these is Germany, and their May the 4th event is proof of endurance.
May the 4th or Star Wars Day, has been a major (unofficial) celebration of the franchise including its merchandise tie-ins. It usually extends to May 5 and even 6, known to the fans as the “Revenge of the Fifth/Sixth” Days (after the prequel Episode III). That’s where TRU Germany strikes.
A German Toys R Us flyer for the occasion notes the May 5 Star Wars thing as happening in almost all their branches in the country barring five (Sankt Augustin, Schwerin, Münster, Hanau and Recklinghausen). Events are what’s been expected in other TRU stores in the days before its decline.
German customers coming into their TRUs that Saturday can engage in some Star Wars games, a scavenger hunt, and also the time-honored Make and Take activity, one of the subjects being a mini-build Millennium Falcon. Maybe it’ll even follow the “new” color scheme seen in Solo: A Star Wars Story.
In a way, Toys R Us Germany has gotten a more appropriate model to celebrate the Star Wars Days this year compared to The LEGO Store. After all, Solo is premiering later that month, so having LEGO Store offer a sequel-era BB-8 polybag (40288) feels off. All seems good for the German TRU, which looks like it’ll stay awhile longer.