Big Top Toys to Close Its Doors Friday

During what is a joyous time of year for many, Friday will be a somber occasion for the Rotker family as Steve Rotker, longtime owner of in New Rochelle, closes his Quaker Ridge Shopping Center location for good. 

"Sorry to hear that you're closing. My son will be very upset," sighed James Conner of Larchmont, who has been frequenting the toy store for many years now. "There is just something special about finding a locally owner business that you know will always have what you need," he said.

Since the 1950s, Big Top Toys has been serving New Rochelle, most recently across the street from the Quaker Ridge Shopping Mall in Wykagyl Shopping Center, the toy store brought joy into the hearts of neighborhood children and was a place people could count on for their stationery and toy needs.

Longtime manager Stuart, who would not provide his last name, recalled that, in a pinch, Big Top always delivered. "People would come in at 4:55 p.m. to pick up materials for a five o'clock party, and we would always have in stock what they needed," he said, as he rang up another customer who expressed how badly they felt about the closing.

The upside in this otherwise disappointing occasion is that the closing of the New Rochelle store will allow the Rotker family to focus their efforts on their Rye Brook location, which is much larger and also offers a wider range of services, including a hardware department, a large health and beauty section, children's clothing and of course, toys. "Rye Brook has everything!" said Denise Durante of New Rochelle, who has taken the 15-minute drive north to Rye Brook many times in search of school clothes for her kids and other everyday items.

Still though, many residents are saddened to see the store closing signs that now adorn the windows and aisles of the toy store. "People have made it a family tradition to shop here," Stuart stated. "Generations of people from the grandparents down to the grandchildren," he added.

Friday at 5 p.m. will be the last time residents of New Rochelle will be able to take advantage of the hometown location, but the Rotker family wanted their customers to know that not only will they be able to find the same great deals at their Rye Brook location, but that all credits and gift certificates will be honored as well.

Until the doors close for good, however, everything in the Quaker Ridge Shopping Mall location is 40 percent off, and whether it is Barbie Dolls, Legos, Play-Doh, stationery materials or Playmobil sets, Big Top is hoping people will stop in one last time to say goodbye and cash in on the discounts.

Stuart said the owners of Big Top were very grateful for all of the years of patronage that the residents of New Rochelle have given them and hoped that people will make the drive to their Rye Brook location—112 South Ridge St.—in the future.