Tuesday, November 29, 2005

Chains 'R' (not) us

For parents sick of the same old selection at chain toy stores, Tucson has several independant alternatives offering unique gifts.

JENNY HUNSPERGER

Tucson Citizen

What do you do if your son wants a space-age ant farm where the inhabitants wander around in gel?

You go to one of Tucson's independently owned toy stores, which are packed wall-to-wall with unique goodies.

"I just feel better about my money coming here," says mom Ronnell Jones, who scratched the ant farm off her gift list at Kid's Center, 1725 N. Swan Road. "It's a place where you feel they're thinking about kids instead of dollars."

This holiday season, as you scurry around town looking for your children's gifts, why not visit Tucson's local stores instead of navigating the zoo of harried parents at chain stores?

Kid's Center, which has been open for 17 years, is a combination toy, book and music store exclusively for children. Its colorful walls are filled with toys such as musical instruments, origami books and quilting kits that encourage children to be creative and learn as they play.

"This is my favorite toy store, mostly because they don't sell the plastic stuff that entertains (kids) for five minutes and then they throw it away," says Dean Keller, a teacher at Dodge Middle School.

But Kid's Center is certainly not the only place in town to find a unique toy for your child.

Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle's Toys, 4811 E. Grant Road, is a magical place that was named one of the seven-best toy stores in the nation by Travel Savvy magazine.

"We want to be the people who bring you closer to Neverland," says David Correa Jr., store manager.

And with its elaborate fairy tree, replica Diagon Alley (from "Harry Potter," for those of you whose children aren't old enough to have read the series) and puppet theater where kids can play, Mrs. Tiggy-Winkles might just make you want to be a kid again.

"It's just so beautiful here," says Nicole Manuel, 17, who visited the store for inspiration because her high school drama troupe is putting on "A Midsummer Night's Dream." "This is definitely one of the best stores because of the fairies. When I come here, I never want to leave."

The spirit of the store seems to be in its hands-on, kid-oriented nature. When children enter the store, an employee offers to sprinkle them with fairy dust and then encourages them to play with all the toys. The employees obviously love working there, which adds to the enchantment of the store.

Another local toy store worth visiting is Yikes! Toys, 2930 E. Broadway.

"It has lots of stuff," says Venice Lowar, 7, whose grandmother was letting her pick out a toy. "I can't decide!"

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