The bells hanging from the door ring every time you enter Mass Ave Toys, followed by a cheery voice calling out from the front counter: Welcome to Mass Ave Toys! This sweet and homey feel {thanks to the kind store employees!} is one of our favorite reasons to visit this downtown staple.
Walk into any other hometown toy store, and you’ll get the same reception, from Terri Bracken’s staff at Earth Explorer Toys in Zionsville, to Cynthia’s at 4 Kids Books & Toys. It’s part of what makes these stops such an important piece of our local fabric – their love of what they do, the people in the community surrounding them and of course… the TOYS. Need experts? They’re right there.
Coming up in one week from Saturday is Neighborhood Toy Store Day. It’s a day when independent toy shops kick off the holidays with special events and introduce customers to the benefits of shopping local.Â
And if you haven’t visited one of the local Indy-based toy stores yet, Neighborhood Toy Store Day offers lots of festivities. Here’s who you need to visit and why:
Earth Explorer Toys
Located in downtown Zionsville, Earth Explorer Toys is a whimsical store for fun. Not only does EET offer regular in-store events {get on their mail list for advanced announcements!}, their selection offers finds for babies-teens. Neighborhood Toy Store Day fun includes:
- –Â Scavenger hunt through Zionsville
- – Crafts
- – Kickoff of the annual Toys For Tots drive
- – Fun activities surrounding what they call ‘The Best Toys For Kids This Holiday Season’
Location: 27 E. Pine Street, Zionsville
More info: {317} 873-0200 or earthexplorertoys.com/Â
4 Kids Books & Toys
Is Zionsville getting all the toy store fun? The owner of 4 Kids Books & Toys – also in Zionsville – answered the phone when we rang and exclaimed how EXCITED they are for Neighborhood Toy Store Day. From treat bags for each visiting family to crafts to drawings throughout the day for prizes, 4KB&T should definitely be on your stop list for the day.
Location: 4450 Weston Pointe Drive, Zionsville
More info: {317} 627-2131 or 4kidsbooks.net/
Kits & Kaboodle Classic Toys
This sweet stop on the northern end of Carmel is one of our family’s favorites and like Earth Explorer Toys they always seem to offer unique events themed for the nearest holiday. Here’s how they’ll celebrate Neighborhood Toy Store Day:
- – A visit with Santa: 10-11am
- –Â Olaf makes a store visit: 11am-3pm
- – Holiday crafts
- – Prizes, and more.
Location: 2442 E. 146th Street, Carmel
More info: {317} 566-8101 or kitsandkaboodletoys.com/
Honorable Mentions
These stores won’t host specific Neighborhood Toy Store Day celebrations but are always on our list to visit when we’re nearby:
- – Mass Ave Toys, 409 Massachusetts Ave, downtown Indy. {317} 955-8697
- – Kids Ink Bookstore, 5619 Illinois St, Indianapolis. {317} 255-2598
