Celebrate Neighborhood Toy Store Day

As a child, there’s nothing quite as exciting as a trip to the neighborhood toy store. Gazing with wonder at the aisles of exciting choices…holding your new toy for the very first time…anticipating the moment when you finally take your new gifts home.

On Saturday, November 8, The Doll Hospital & Toy Soldier Shop will join hundreds of locally owned stores across the country to celebrate the fifth annual Neighborhood Toy Store Day, coordinated by the American Specialty Toy Retailing Association (ASTRA) to help families discover the joy of shopping at their local, independently-owned toy store this holiday season and beyond.

“When you shop at an independent toy store, you are entering a universe of play possibilities,” explains Kathleen McHugh, President of the American Specialty Toy Retailing Association (ASTRA). “Neighborhood Toy Store Day is about celebrating the role the local store plays in the community. We are highlighting the expertise your local store has in selecting just the right innovative, exclusive and engaging toy to help your child grow and learn through play.”

As part of the festivities, from 10am until 3pm, The Doll Hospital & Toy Soldier Shop will offer fun games to play, crafts to make and take, plus toy demonstrations. Free goody bags for each family while supplies last.

Independent toy stores can even help you find top toys for the children on your list this holiday season with help from ASTRA’s 2014 Best Toys for Kids list. Selected by a pool of hundreds of local and independent toy retailers from across the country, this year’s list honors the new and improved toys that promote open-ended or creative play and incorporate innovative design features.

Jack Zagrodzki, VP of Marketing of The Doll Hospital & Toy Soldier Shop explained, “With our expert understanding of how kids play, ASTRA members have created a list of toys that deliver the highest value, inviting imaginative discovery and encouraging creative thinking.”

As a 3rd generation family business, the Doll Hospital & Toy Soldier Shop and loyal staff take great pride in being different than the big chains stores. Stacey Zagrodzki, granddaughter of The Doll Hospital’s founder, believes that a basic toy that requires a child to use their imagination is likely to offer more learning than one loaded with electronic gizmos. ASTRA’s Best Toys for Kids winners this year represent “ a balanced diet of play, all with high play value and staying power. We feel kids need a variety of play experiences and at the Doll Hospital, we are proud to be experts on toys, play and ideas for family fun”. The Doll Hospital offers convenient parking and free gift wrapping, combine that with an unsurpassed selection of quality toys that last and The Doll Hospital offers consumers the best play value for their dollar!”.

This year, The Doll Hospital & Toy Soldier Shop has chosen to donate 10% of their days sales from the event to The Bottomless Toy Chest, a local nonprofit organization devoted to delivering art projects, crafts and interactive toys to hospitalized pediatric cancer patients. According to Jack Zagrodzki, “choosing The Bottomless Toy Chest was easy, they’re a local charity supporting a great cause, and our goal is the same, putting smiles on little faces”.

“By shopping locally, consumers will find great toys while supporting vibrant communities and sustainable economic development. Visit your neighborhood toy store and you may bring home more than just the perfect gift, you’ll share the spirit of the season.”