Large chain stores like Target and Toys R Us have an excellent selection of dolls and a very current inventory of all different kinds of toys, but smaller toy shops have always seemed extra special to me. The owners and staff of these stores put a huge amount of time and thought into hand-selecting their specific inventory. I love the thrill of finding a new small toy shop, because no two of these boutiques have exactly the same offerings. When my children were younger, local toy stores were more than just fun places to shop--they also played an important role in my social life, and in the preservation of my sanity. Whenever I needed to get out of the house, there was a beautifully arranged train table waiting for me at the nearby toy store. My sons found seemingly endless amusement at such tables, and I could usually find at least one other parent desperately seeking the company of an adult. My eldest son met his first good friend at a toy store when he was under two, and the two boys remained close for many years.
To me, the most exciting thing about Rainbow Toys is that in the last few months, they have started to carry Arklu's adorable Lottie dolls, which, at the time of my original review, I could only find online at Amazon. Welcome to Maine, Lottie!
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| "Robot Girl" Lottie doll by Arklu. |
