Big Fun Returns For 1 Night To Cleveland Heights As Pop-Up Store

CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, OH — Iconic toy store Big Fun will make a one-night return to Cleveland Heights on Sept. 11.

B Side Lounge will host a Big Fun pop-up store from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Shopping at the pop-up is free, but there will be a concert guests can attend after browsing. Patio seating is being sold in groups of two to six. Tickets for the concert can be purchased through EventBrite.

All shoppers must wear masks over their nose and mouth, unless they are eating or drinking. Following the pop-up, there will be music on the patio by Maura Rogers. Guests can browse the Big Fun selection while at B Side.

"It will not be the whole store - but will feature Cleveland merch, select toys and vintage retro music items. We are so excited to partner up with Steve Presser again back on Coventry, he is a great friend and a much missed neighbor on the street. It will be a lot of fun to see familiar faces come together to support us," said Kathy Blackman, owner of B Side Lounge.

Big Fun closed its Coventry location in July 2018. The store had served the community for 27 years. Prior to its shuttering, the retro toy store frequently landed on lists of "must see" brick-and-mortar shops.

Presser seemed genuinely sad to leave his toy store behind. In a blog post, he took time to thank everyone that had made his dream a reality for nearly three decades.

"Thank you to my incredible staff for making the Big Fun shopping experience so enjoyable for our beloved customers," he said. "Finally, I will miss you, my special customers, whom I will always remember and treat like my Fun Family. Thank you for allowing Big Fun to put smiles on your faces."

On Sept. 11, Cleveland Heights can again enjoy a dose of Big Fun.

Correction: An earlier version of this story suggested there was a cover charge for attending the Big Fun pop-up. Shopping at the pop-up is free.