Play promoted during National Toy Store Day
Playthings Etc. brought in customers far and wide for Neighborhood Toy Store Day Saturday.
Tracey Ficco of Greensburg was there with her 3-year-old granddaughter, Ariella, who appeared enchanted by the pretend supermarket scanner set up in one corner of the store.
Clarissa, 7, and Sophia Senovich, 9, looked over some rubber snakes. Their parents, Suzan and Craig Senovich of McDonald, stopped at the toy store at 2483 William Flinn Highway on their way home from Erie.
They joined the other parents, grandparents and children shopping the hands-on store on Neighborhood Toy Store Day, which was created 10 years ago to celebrate the value of shopping local and the joy of play.
Playthings Etc. joined its fellow American Specialty Toy Retailing Association members in kicking off the holiday season by hosting a day filled with family-friendly activities, free cookies, raffles and giveaways.
Of course, the main draw is the toys and the chance to test them out, said store employee Carrissa Blystone.
“The unique thing about the store is they can try out the toys,” she said, adding the store keeps samples of its wares out for customers to pick up and try out.
“We encourage families to play together while they are here and at home as well,” said Blystone.
Her fellow employee Macaiah Lenhart said, “Anybody can play with anything, see how it works. It's a very interactive store.”
That's a message Ariella appeared to have taken to heart, said her grandmother.
“I was looking for something to do today and found this. She's obviously enjoying herself. We've been here an hour,” said Ficco.
Sophia appreciated the hands-on policy.
“They have things out. You can actually play with it,” she said.
William Thurner, 9, and Kaleb Oleath, 10, were too busy playing swingball outside in the parking lot near the store entrance to give their opinions, but William's mother, Kate Thurner of North Washington, was a big fan.
“I love this store,” she said. “The kids love this store. Here they get to touch and play with the toys.”
