Argyle Toys Wants To Bring The 'Magic Of Toy Stores' To Babylon

BABYLON, NY— Babylon Village's bustling, family-friendly downtown hasn't had a dedicated toy store in a few years, but three women who live on the same street in the village are about to change that. Argyle Toys will open on June 19 at 10 Grove Pl., the brainchild of three neighbors who developed the idea during the pandemic.

Teresa Striker, Madeline Lunz and Amber McCullough and their kids, ranging in age from 11 months to eight years old, were socializing outside, in the cold in December, missing non-pandemic fun things to do with young children. The women, with professional backgrounds in retail, e-commerce and research, decided they wanted to resurrect what Striker calls "the magic of the toy store."

"When we take our kids to a toy store, there's just this twinkle in their eye," she told Patch.

"We wanted to capture that, let them have an experience, rather than them just roaming the aisles at Target."

Even in an age of big-box stores and Amazon, the women believe a brick-and-mortar toy store offers an elevated experience for kids. Argyle Toys will have a sensory area where kids can touch and play and a craft table. The store's inventory will focus on high-quality toys, wooden, hand-made toys, and products from woman-owned and small businesses.

Lunz has two special needs sons, and Striker says it's hard to find high-quality toys for children with sensory needs, so Argyle Toys will also specialize in curating some. Right now the women are running the business as an online store, and they will choose, wrap and deliver an age-appropriate gift to nearby customers, a service they plan to continue.

The store will offer toys geared toward newborns through 10, 11 years old.

"We want to focus on kids who really love toys."