Lazarus, Charles

Lazarus, Charles

(1923– ) retailing executive; born in Washington, D.C. As a young man he shifted his father's Washington retail store to toys; he created the Toys "R" Us chain, which became the country's largest toy retailer by using a sophisticated centralized information system to manage large inventories of discounted quality-brand toys. He survived bankruptcy reorganization (1978) to diversify into Kids "R" Us clothing stores (1983).