My toy collecting hobby started back in the early 1980's when I was just a kid. My Papa would buy me Star Wars figures for Christmas, my birthday, and when I would help him in the yard mowing or pulling weeds. He would use a figure cardback to check off a figure every time he or my parents got me a new Star Wars figure. If new action figures came out he would get a newer cardback to use. This method of "checking them off" really fueled my desire to
"Collect Them All".
When Star Wars figures started to disappear from the store shelves, my Papa wanted me to find another toy line that he could get for me. I remember walking around the toy isles of a store in Ft. Rucker, Alabama, wondering what I was going to collect next. Then I saw a GI Joe Snake Eyes figure. I was really into military items since my Papa was retired Army. So when I saw a military toy line with so many cool figures, I had to pick GI Joe for my next collecting frenzy. A Straight Arm Snake Eyes was my first GI Joe Figure. My Papa would use a card back to keep track of these figures as well. I really have great memories of my childhood and my Papa helped create some of the best.
I sold off most of my collectibles when I was in high school. I kept a few that had special meaning, such as my Star Wars AT-AT and GI Joe MOBAT. When I was in college I got the fever to start collecting again; I haven't stopped since. I mostly collect 1970s & 1980s toys, but I have a few older and newer items. I really enjoy finding box lots at flea markets with countless treasures. I will buy an entire box just so I can go through it and try and piece everything back together.
In November 2014, with the love and support of my wife and family, I was able to open a toy store. The store has been an exciting experience. I have met some great people, come across toys that I have not seen in a long time, and I have been able to live my life long dream of owning a toy store. Since we opened in 2014 the store as expanded and now the shelves are lined with toys from the 60s through the 2000s and there's a few from the "pink aisle" as well. Barbie, GI Joe, Transformers, Star Wars, LEGO, Beyblade, Lord of the Rings, Jurassic Park/World, Godzilla, plush, The Simpsons, Ghostbusters, LOTS of die cast and SO much more!
We look forward to providing our generation and the generations to come with a hometown brick and mortar store that gives everyone a few minutes to step back in time to when you were spread out on the living room floor with cartoons and cereal pitting Skeletor against He-Man, building massive LEGO structures, and having tea parties with Cabbage Patch Kids. The days of innocent youth may be long gone, but the memories of a time treasured will remain here with us at Vintage Toy King!
