Remember Toy Stores?

I sure do remember them ! What fun places to go. I did actually pick up some diecast cars at a K&B Toy Store many years ago.

Great memories. We still have one on Main Street in my small town. An independent.

LOL, your photos are fun memories...ironically today they look like photos from an Antique Shop.  Sad thing is today, kids don't want toys, they want cell phones.  Even sadder is, parents buy them for them.  Our world is wacked out!

Posted by: @georgeschire

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"...kids don't want toys they want cell phones." 

That's been a trend for decades.   All my 42 yr-old son wanted when he was young was video games & cereal!

I've mentioned these guys before but they are relevant again to this post. Hearns Hobbies have been trading here in Melbourne since 1947. I would buy kits from them in the early 60s, then when I started kit building again a couple of years ago I went back there after about 60 years. Amazing experience.

https://www.hearnshobbies.com/pages/hearns-history

Posted by: @michaeldetorrice

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I sure do remember them ! What fun places to go. I did actually pick up some diecast cars at a K&B Toy Store many years ago.

In Canada we had Eatons and Simpson-Sears for toys. They would bring out "Wish Books' at Christmas. These catalogues were mailed out to every household and was devoted to toys for the kids for Christmas .Christmas and birthday was the only time I got toys. I would start to check the mail every day starting the beginning of December for the Wishbook. It was the highlite of the year. At the main store in Toronto, Eatons and Simpson-Sears would compete at Christmas to see who would come up with the best display windows .It was as popular if not more than the annual viewing of new cars every September at the car dealerships.

Thanks for the pictures Chris. It sure does bring back memories. The ear muffs in the picture of the little boy playing with the crane really reminded me of times in the 50s.I'll never forget the adjustable sliding metal strip on those ear muffs. They were a real pain to get them adjusted just right.

Posted by: @kenspear

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"Thanks Chris, sure does bring back memories. Those earmuffs were a real pain to get them adjusted just right."

You're welcome, Ken.      .... and that's what Moms were for!  😀 😀 

@geoff-jowett    Wow, good for you and the Hearns  brothers!     Whenever I get back to my childhood city, I try to visit the ONLY toy/hobby store left from my youth; only their location has changed.

- When I was a kid - like many of you - I was surrounded by toy stores, practically as ubiquitous as gas stations! 

@geoff-jowett 

Thanks for the memory, Geoff. I visited that store when in Melbourne in 2001.

Thanks Chris for the memories. Ken your recollection of the Christmas windows was a wonderful time growing up in the late forties and fifties in St. Louis where the department stores tried to outdo each other with their Christmas windows full of trains and toys. It was a ritual each year.

@geoff-jowett I recall this post of yours Geoff; it was heartwarming and nostalgic.

The pics of kids glued to the department store windows in the Christmas season sure brought back fond memories.  In my Canadian home town it was department stores called The Hudson's Bay, Eaton's, and Simpson Sears that had the best displays and "Toylands"....magical places for a car crazy little fella.

Posted by: @david-green

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@geoff-jowett 

Thanks for the memory, Geoff. I visited that store when in Melbourne in 2001.