Frankfort Toy Shop Takes Customers Down Memory Lane

FRANKFORT, IL. — Childhood memories can be a precious thing to hold on to. Memories of good times spent with family, memories of long summer days spent playing with friends, and memories of all the toys we used to own and wish we could play with again. Now, thanks to Toys of Yesterday — located at 301 N. White St. in Frankfort — customers can relive some of those cherished memories of yesteryear.

Toys of Yesterday is the passion turned business of Lance Alden, a 65-year-old Mokena resident who spent his childhood collecting toys. It occurred to him back then that, maybe, one day he could share his hobby with others, people who appreciated the value in treating toys as, well, toys.

"It just started when I was probably 8 or 9, I started collecting Matchbox Cars, and then branched to other things later on, other collectibles," Alden said.

Toys of Yesterday offers many older Matchbox, Hot Wheels, die-cast and model vehicles, all in the original packaging. It also has many rare collectors items, action figures and dolls, play sets, and games, though one won't find any Playstation, XBox or computer games for sale there because, according to Alden, those games just don't have the same quality and appeal as the vintage stuff.

"[Toys of Yesterday] is kind of like an old time toy store before there were any video games," Alden said.

Alden has thousands of toys for sale, and his stock is constantly rotating as items are sold and new/old toys are brought in to fill the space.

Toys of Yesterday i open Monday-Friday from 11 a.m.-5 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; and Sunday from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Alden also takes appointments by phone at (815) 914-6401. A link to the store's Facebook page can be found by clicking here.