A Toy Store Near You

Nestled in Lawrence Kansas, at 1/4 1021 Massachusetts St...is 1313 Mockingbird Lane. Logistical confusion aside, the Munsters reference should give you a hint as to the aesthetic of this devilishly charming toy shop. But while the toys inside might be a bit ghoulish, owners Terry and Liz Taylor are a couple of angles in scrubs through their current day-jobs as medical professionals. Once you meet these two and see the passion they bring to both toys and those in need, you'll want to move in right next door.

From humble service "hatch" to his current brick & mortar Leicester Vintage and Old Toy Shop, Joseph Hand has always made sure to provide the same level of warmth and friendliness along with every toy he sells. Because of this, loyal customers have became close friends, proving that the community around shops like Joe's are what keeps the hobby alive and well. With things in the world just a little stressful, the toys from England's Leicester Vintage help to bring good memories of happier times.

When Victoria B.C.'s Candice Woodward isn't penning a new children's book, helping organize the Victoria Ultimate Toy Fair and Capital City Comic Con, or raising her two kids, she and her husband Biagio co-manage Cherry Bomb Toys, one of Canada's foremost toy stores. Oh, and did we mention their store just so happens to double as the home to the National Toy Museum of Canada to boot? This love of toys and storytelling is key to the magic that surrounds Cherry Bomb; and even in the face of such adversity as fires, theft and global pandemics, that magic is stronger than ever.

As the epicenter of youth culture in Japan, the Harajuku district in Shibuya, Tokyo, is a world of color and energy, so its only natural that the vibrant and eclectic store Kayoko Takahashi owns and operates, SPIRAL Toys, fits right in with its surroundings. Despite the stress of being closed to customers, Kayoko and her staff persevere by working hard to keep the shop ready to re-open, while also delivering gifts to those who need them most.