• by Sarah Mahoney  @mahoney_sarah, August 23, 2011

Toys "R" Us says it is stepping up its expansion plans, and that it plans to have 21 new stores open by the end of the year. That includes 11 superstores and 10 locations with both a Toys "R" Us and Babies "R" Us under one roof.

The Wayne, N.J.-based retailer is also remodeling 23 existing locations to this "side-by-side" format, which it says provides convenience for parents, as well as the ability to cultivate customer loyalty, "as their children grow and they transition from Babies "R" Us to Toys "R" Us shoppers," the company says in its release.

At a time when many retailers are shifting to smaller format stores, these new units are large: 60,000 square feet. And by year's end, the company says it plans to have 43 of the superstores nationwide. (Stores began opening this year in April and will continue opening through October, in time for the holiday shopping season.)