If you’ve been seeking something out of the ordinary for that young individualist on your holiday shopping list, a visit to Little Monsters could end your search.
Christine McKenna, co-owner of the specialty shop at 15 E. Flint St. downtown, says the store caters to youngsters whose interests extend beyond the mainstream.
‘We feature specialty toys and other cool stuff,? says McKenna. ‘We like to stay artistic and ‘funky? with the products we offer. Our patrons are usually looking for something a little different.?
Some of the available items include: toy dinosaurs, shark’s teeth, old-fashioned wooden and friction-powered toys, squishy balls, puzzles, stuffed animals, jewelry, sparking space guns, mixed-media pins and magnets, educational books, candy and numerous other products.
For McKenna, whose talents also include art and a ‘real job? as a micro-biologist, Little Monsters is the blending of her myriad creative interests with those of her partner, Leila Freijy.
The business partners are proud to offer products that are inventive and well-made, one of the hallmarks of store.
‘One of our newest items is a wooden car with interchangeable parts made by Autoblox,? McKenna said. ‘They’re created by an American auto designer. We have quality toys that are well made.?
Because both women have an interest in art, the store provides gallery space for local artists wishing to display and sell their work — often in exchange for watching the store for a day a month.
‘Because the art business has been slow, we decided to open this shop to keep doing the art,? McKenna said. ‘Toys and art have been a good match for us.?
McKenna said she and Freijy always do what they can to accommodate their customers. That means tracking down hard-to-find items.
‘We special order for people,? said McKenna. ‘If you come in looking for something specific and we don’t have it, we always try to find it and order it for you.?
Making the store children-friendly is another aim of the business owners.
Youngsters typically enjoy flipping through the educational and science-related books or perusing the display of eclectic kids? items that cost $1 or less.
Young patron Olivia Scott said she likes to take her time looking around the store, but has her favorites.
‘I like the little squishy things, ? said Olivia, 10. Her friend, Camille Baker, also 10, likes things she can afford to buy with her own money.
‘I like the stuffed animals and all the stuff that is just a dollar,? she said.
McKenna said that although most of the store’s merchandise is made for children ranging in age from 6 months to 10 years old, a portion of the product line is dedicated to adult customers.
Or at least adults who still have a ‘little kid? in them.
‘We get some men in here who are engineers and they like looking at the mechanical toys,? she said. Women customers enjoy sifting through a variety of quirky items or viewing the art.
But mostly, said McKenna, it’s about having unique items for children.
‘Kids like to come in here with their allowance money and buy the dollar items,? said McKenna, adding that most of them hadn’t heard about paying sales tax on their goods.
But it’s a problem easily resolved at Little Monsters.
‘I make sure that we have enough coins in the change dish to help them cover the tax,? she said.
From now through the end of the Christmas holiday season, Little Monsters will be open Monday-Friday from noon to 7 p.m.; Saturday from noon to 7 p.m.; and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
For more information or questions, call 248-814-TOYS (8697).