News

China retailer pursues acquisition of world's oldest toy shop

Queen mum's favorite toy shop may soon be owned by a China retailer.

October 23, 2015

The world’s oldest toy shop may soon be owned by a Chinese retailer

British retail institution Hamleys, which holds the distinction of being the world’s oldest toy shop, is in talks to be acquired by China-based C.banner, a footwear retailer, according to Reuters.

Hamleys, in case you weren’t aware, was the shop of choice for Queen Elizabeth when she was busy decades ago buying her children fun things to play with. According to Reuters, the Hong Kong retailer is in "advanced" talks to snap up the 255-year-old shop in what may be a $154.32 million deal.

The British toy retailer’s shop on London’s Regent Street boasts seven floors of product space and is as popular for gift buying as it is as a tourist attraction.

"If you've grown up in England, this is the big toy shop," shopper Barry Young, 54, who brought his children for a treat after they recently moved back to Britain, told Reuters.