Smyths Toys started out as a family newsagent on Main Street,
Claremorris,
County Mayo in 1935. The newsagent's shop sold newspapers, cigarettes, groceries and toys. The business opened its first dedicated toy shop in 1986, in a basement unit off
Eyre Square in Galway, when their main competitors in children's toy retailing were
Dunnes Stores,
Quinnsworth and
Roches Stores. In 1988, it moved to a slightly larger unit on Eglinton Street in Galway. Finding it difficult to make a profit from a small unit, and being unable to find a suitable larger shop in Galway, the business moved to a 6,000 square-foot unit on
Henry Street, Limerick in the late 1980s. In 1989, the business opened a second dedicated toy shop, in Woodquay in Galway, in a larger unit than its previous one on Eglinton Street. In 1992, it opened a 10,000 square-foot shop on Maylor Street,
Cork. In 1994, it opened a 20,000 square-foot shop in
Tallaght, Dublin and moved its Galway shop to a 7,000 square-foot unit in Galway Retail Park, which was later expanded to 14,000 square feet. It opened a large shop on
Jervis Street, Dublin in 1997 and in
Blanchardstown, Dublin in 1999, and a 7,000 square-foot shop in
Bray, Co. Wicklow in June 2000. By 1999, the business had an annual turnover of IR£27 million. The original newsagent's shop in Claremorris remained in business under the Smyth's brand until late 2023. The company is run by three brothers, Tony, Padraig and Thomas. A fourth brother and director, Liam, died in July 2023. Smyths is the UK and Ireland's largest toy retailer.
Expansion to the United Kingdom The first Smyths Toys Superstores in the UK opened in September 2001 in
Derry,
Northern Ireland. On 21 April 2007 it was announced Smyths Toys Superstores had plans expand into
Great Britain. Seeking to open about 10 superstores in the
South East of England in the coming months. A Smyths Toys spokesman confirmed that the company would open open it's first store at
Chadwell Heath, in
Romford in July 2007.
Expansion to central Europe On 24 April 2018, Smyths Toys Superstores acquired
Toys "R" Us shops in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. In 2019, all the remaining shops in those countries were rebranded to Smyths. In July 2022, Smyths Toys Superstores acquired French toy chain in France out of receivership, taking over 41 shops, 2 warehouses and a head office. == Shops and subsidiaries ==