As Toys ‘R Us closes, remembering our #Florida local toy stores.
Today is the last day of the Big Box Toys”R”Us. As Toys R Us canvassed Florida urban areas, the local toy stores closed left and right.
Swampy’s friend, Steve Voorhies reminded me of those stores. Here was a favorite of his on Edgewater Drive in College Park in Orlando: Toy Parade.
The owners were the Bruners, who lived just blocks away from the store. local business owned by neighbors. Patrons supporting their community, their neighbors and their friends.
We’ve lost much of that through urban Florida. There are still independent toy stores where you can still find wooden and tin toys, along with more contemporary items. Most comic book stores are, as much, toy stores.
One I visited awhile back was in Dade City, Florida, Church Street Shoppe “Toys, Kites & More”. The owner’s entire purpose was to recreate the local toy store. Visit it sometime!
Are there local toy stores near you?
Toy Parade was one of my favorite places to visit when I was little. They had the most unbelievable doll houses ever. Real items scaled down. Unbelievable! (I asked but never got one. They were expensive.) So fun to look at.
Yes! The giant doll houses were amazing! I remember them very well. Always one in the window and others inside. Also remember the marionettes the Bruners had. The Charlie McCarthy, Groucho Marx and Emmett Kelly ones. It was truly a great store to have for children to live around in College Park.
Toy King in the Seminole Mall was a little pricey for our family but still a mainstay since the 1970’s – think they were out of Orlando came out of bankruptcy briefly in 1989 – but probably could not stand up to the mega toy stores. We miss Toy King!