As of late 2024, the brand name is used for licensed nostalgic merchandise, such as apparel and collectibles, available through the KB Toys Verse website.
It entered the retail market in the 1970s as Kay-Bee Toy & Hobby . By 1999, it was the second-largest toy retailer in the U.S., operating 1,324 stores. kaybee toy store
After acquiring a wholesale toy business from a debtor in the 1940s, the company shifted its focus entirely to toys by 1948. As of late 2024, the brand name is
The company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2004 and again in 2008. After acquiring a wholesale toy business from a
In addition to its mall stores, the company operated KB Toy Works (strip malls), KB Toy Outlet (outlet malls), and seasonal KB Toy Express pop-ups. Decline and Closure
The company began as Kaufman Brothers , a wholesale candy store in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, founded by Harry and Joseph Kaufman.