2 Triangle locations to close as Toys R Us shuts down 180 stores across US

One other North Carolina location in Asheville is listed among the closures.

The company, which is billions of dollars in debt, says it is looking to restructure and focus heavily on their Babies R Us registry, which they feel gives them a competitive advantage.

While financial experts are not surprised by the closure, many Triangle shoppers were.

Linda Clark drives from Pittsboro to the Durham Toys R Us, often with her grandkids in tow.

"It seems like I can always get something a little bit different here, or they will have what I want here and not hunting around at other stores," Clark said.

Store closings will start in February and the majority of the locations will shut down by mid-April.

"I had heard that there were problems and bankruptcy but I thought this store would survive, but I guess not," Clark said.

Mark Yusko, the CIO and CEO of Morgan Creek Capital Management, said cutting costs is a natural step after bankruptcy.

It will be a rough transition, but he's optomistic.

"I would bet that there's at least one more wave of consolidation here," he said. "But can they remake the brand? Is the brand strong enough? I think it's a pretty good brand."

A spokesperson for the company told WRAL they are trying their best to reassign employees to nearby stores, and the ones who aren't reassigned, will get a severance package.