Sears is celebrating the grand opening of its brand-new in-store Sears Toy Shops at six Sears locations around Chicago and one in Indiana with special family friendly events starting at 12:00 noon on Saturday, August 15, 2009.

Toys are back at Sears!

For many years, Sears has sold toys only through its catalog and online Web site. Now 20 brick-and-mortar Sears stores across the nation are opening new in-store toy areas where parents and kids can try out and purchase playthings.

To stock these sections, Sears has hand-picked national, specialty, and Sears-exclusive toy brands including Thomas the Train, Fisher-Price, Barbie, Hot Wheels, Bakugan, Transformers, and Vtech.

Sears Toy Shop grand opening events

At each celebration for the opening of these brand-new in-store Sears Toy Shops, families can:

• Participate in fun games and activities like racing cars on a CARS Racetrack, trying out make-and-take arts & crafts, and enjoying Sand Castle building contests with Moon Sand.
• Win toy prizes such as Barbie MP3 players, Hot Wheels Hats, and Little Mommy Bathtime dolls.
• Enjoy refreshments.

Only at the Sears Store in Woodfield Mall in Schaumburg, Radio Disney will be present and children can meet Santa Claus to get an early jump on starting their holiday wish lists!

Toys, games, and other fun products that will be open and out for parents and kids to play with include Thomas Wooden Railway products; Sesame Street plush dolls; Trio, Leapfrog, and Vtech displays; and Russ Berrie Plush.

Parents should try to arrive as early as possible because the first 50 families will receive a free Sears gift card.

Sears Toy Shops located in Chicago

Chicago toy shoppers can find the new in-store Sears Toy Shops at six Chicagoland locations, plus one in nearby Indiana:

• Westfield Fox Valley Mall in Aurora.
• Sears Store at 1601 N. Harlem Ave. in Chicago.
• Westfield Chicago Ridge Mall in Chicago Ridge.
• Westfield Louis Joliet Mall in Joliet.
• Orland Square Mall in Orland Park.
• Woodfield Mall in Schaumburg.
• Westfield Southlake Mall in Merrillville, Indiana.

Shopping for toys at Sears

Chicago families unable to travel to brick-and-mortar Sears stores can purchase playthings at the online Sears Toy Shop instead.

Sears is helping parents plan ahead for the holidays not only with its recent Christmas in July sale but also by allowing customers to put toys on layaway year round.

You may also like:

• Newly expanded toys and games section at Borders bookstores
• Review of The LEGO Store at Woodfield Mall in Schaumburg
• Free craft activities at Lakeshore Learning on Saturdays in August