It's off to Allen Park for Toys R Us.

Another Dearborn business is planning to close and move its operation to the top of the landfill in Allen Park.

This time it is the Toys R Us at 24411 Michigan Ave., just north of Telegraph.

And while some may be sad to see this store go, the reality is that in the long run it could prove to be best for Dearborn.

Officials at the store tell us that current plans did call for construction to begin in Allen Park this spring but because of current economic conditions that could be delayed a year. The new store in Allen Park will be a combined Toys R Us and Babies R Us, store officials say.

The Dearborn location of Toys R Us was usually messy inside and customer service was mixed. In a way, it kind of matched the building it was located in, a depressing-looking white, single story mall anchored on the opposite end by a Chuck E. Cheese’s. Only a dentist’s office sits between Chuck E. Cheese’s and the Toys R Us. The rest of the building is vacant.

Across the parking lot to the west of Toys R Us is a boarded up Pep Boys. To the east is a boarded up and closed Dearborn Theatre, Wendy’s restaurant and a now a Dunkin’ Donuts shop whose windows are covered with black plastic and outdoor signage in white plastic.

Dunkin' Donuts is covered and closed.

The silver lining in all of this might be that with all of these businesses closing the opportunity exists for someone to come along and flatten this entire mess of misfit buildings and actually put something of consequence in this very desirable location. With easy access to Telegraph Road, one could envision something such as a Costco or even an IKEA considering such a location. 

Sure it is hard to image this now in these hard financial times. But if city leaders can begin to think about what to do with this area — working with the current property owners and talking with other large retail businesses — Dearborn will be in a better position when we come out of this downturn to actually make something happen here.

Let’s hope our city leaders seize this opportunity.

Starting February 20th - NetworkDearborn.com is excited to announce Hole #2 in The Dearborn Hills Chip & Win Flash Game. Take your best shot at the green again… This time fighting both the wind and rain. The closest shot to the pin through March 19th will snag a round of 9 holes for 2 at Dearborn Hills Golf Course!

Visit http://www.networkdearborn.com/games.html to get started.

Henry Ford Community College is offering free planetarium shows called “Stopping by the Woods on a Snowy Evening – A Winter Star Talk” at 7:30 PM Tuesdays through March 17^th. 

HFCC’s 48-seat planetarium is in the upper level of the Science bldg. on the main campus. 

Doors will open at 7:15 PM and close at showtime.  For more information, call 845-9628.