With the holiday season here, there’s nothing more magical than a toy store! We spoke to Annie Hedrick and Nathan Shapiro, owners of New Canaan Toy Store, to get the scoop on the latest and greatest toys and games. This brother-and-sister team remodeled the store over the summer to create a layout that is “much more open and shoppable” as well as a destination “where families feel comfortable spending time.” Come visit Annie and Nathan at 94 Park Street, and be sure to follow them on Instagram at newcanaantoystore for all the fun store updates.
How long have you run New Canaan Toy Store?
I bought the toy store in August 2018. The following year my sister, Annie, moved back to Connecticut and joined me at the store. Now we co-own the store and run it together. We have a lot of fun together!
What prompted you to buy the store?
Well, who wouldn’t want to have their own toy store? Actually, for a number of years Annie ran an independent bookstore which featured a large selection of toys. Her experience and enthusiasm for the business inspired me to take the leap.
Favorite part about running a toy store?
We love being part of this fantastic community! It’s so much fun helping families discover wonderful new toys and books. A really great toy or book can last for generations and bring so much joy!
Tell us about the store’s history and how it evolved from a general store in 1928.
We don’t know as much as we would like about the store’s history. Our understanding is that after starting out as a general store it evolved into a specialty toy shop in the 1940s. For many years it was located on Elm Street and since its founding, it has remained independently owned and operated. We would love to hear from people who remember the store in the old days!
You recently did a major renovation. What changes did you make?
Yes! We completely remodeled the store this summer. From floor to ceiling, everything is new! The new layout is much more open and shoppable. We wanted a space where families would feel comfortable spending time.
What sort of items do you carry and what are the target ages?
We carry a wide selection of toys for children of all ages. Whether you’re looking for a new baby gift, a birthday present for the next party or games and puzzles for the whole family, New Canaan Toy Store is the place go! Local kids know that we have the best selection of LEGO, and Barbies are a big draw. We have a carefully curated book nook, dress-up and pretend play, arts and crafts, stuffed animals, sports and outdoor toys, vehicles and lots and lots of fidget toys!
Do you have any must-have toys parents should know about?
We are big fans of the magnetic building sets, Magna-Tiles. This year they came out with some exciting new themed sets featuring animals and a construction site, which are selling like crazy. We love the playsets from the German company Playmobil. They have a new Princess line, including a must-have Princess Castle. For older kids, Koosh offers a whole new line of sports toys, including the Koosh Sharp Shot Electronic Game, which is getting a lot of attention. LEGO has lots of amazing new sets! In the Friends line we love the Heartlake City Grand Hotel. For Star Wars fans, it doesn’t get better than the new R2-D2 set.
Do you offer curbside pick-up and gift wrap?
Yes, we do! We offer free gift-wrapping year-round. If you’re in a rush, give us a call and we can have a gift ready for you when you drive up.
Anything else you’d like to share?
We are fully stocked for the holiday season and have been thrilled to see so many customers getting started on their holiday shopping already.
