A Toys R Us Express store has opened for the holidays at Ward Centre, on the first floor of the former Borders Books, Music, Movies & Cafe.

The seasonal store adds a fourth Hawaii location for the national chain, which operates a flagship location on Moanalua Road in Aiea near Pearlridge Center, a Toys R Us Express that opened last fall at Windward Mall in Kaneohe and a Babies R Us that opened at Pearl City Gateway Center in 2009.

The Ward Centre Toys R Us occupies only the first floor of the two-story space and is open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sundays.

It is "expected to remain open throughout the holiday season," said Meghan Kennedy, Toys R Us spokeswoman in New Jersey, where the company is based.

Additional locations may be in the offing, she said.

The company plans to hire more than 40,000 workers to staff its U.S. stores and distribution centers for the holiday season, "including approximately 100 seasonal employees in Hawaii," she said.

The Windward Mall Toys R Us Express was among several pop-up stores that the company opened for the last holiday season that never closed.

"We’re very excited about it," said Alex Kirley, Windward Mall marketing manager. "It’s a terrific retailer, perfect for our community."

The Kaneohe mall recently welcomed Pitter Patter, primarily a children’s footwear and accessories retailer that also sells gift items.

Other stores opening in Windward Mall include women’s apparel retailer Pink Piper and temporary, holiday outlets by isle apparel company Jams World and Menehune Mac. The latter is known for its macadamia nut confections, but its holiday stores typically carry other island-made food products, apparel and other gift items.

As for which company will succeed Borders at Windward Mall, "We are definitely going to announce that soon," said Kirley.

At Pearlridge Center, furniture and home accessory retailer Inspiration has opened in the former Borders spot.

The former Borders space at Waikele Center in Central Oahu will soon have a new tenant, but the t’s and i’s are as yet uncrossed and undotted, so General Manager Pam Wilson was unable to identify the company.

"We are very close to finalizing a deal," she said. The center already has begun interior demolition work after donating Borders’ fixtures and after "Recycle Hawaii came and took what they could."

"We’re getting close to the point where the space can be turned over," Wilson said.

The tenant is targeting a March or April opening, depending on — stand by for an oxymoron — the rapidity of the permitting process.

Reach Erika Engle at erika@staradvertiser.com.