Barrington Toy Store Shuts Its Doors

The Creatoyvity toy store on County Road next to Rite Aid has closed its doors two weeks before Christmas.

The final day for business was on Sunday, Dec. 11.

“There was just not enough business to continue,” said Russ John, the owner and founder of the small toy store chain.

John said the store at 286a County Road was just about breaking even, which was not sufficient to keep it as a viable location with the post-holiday season coming up in January and February.

“Our lease was up in the spring,” John said. “I didn’t see fit to renew. The timing was obvious to me.”

He said he preferred to “unload the product” right now rather than early next year at 60 to 70 percent off.

John said the remaining merchandise in the store was shipped to his Providence location on Monday and Tuesday.

“There wasn’t much left,” he said. “But it all went to Providence.”

An employee was cleaning up the store and disassembling shelving and fixtures on Wednesday. Some of the workers are being moved to the Providence store, she said.

John said the store opened in Barrington about two years ago. He also operates a store in Boston. John launched the toy chain in 2004, he said.