Customers won’t find Barbie dolls, Legos or Hot Wheels in Monon Toys and Crafts, but there are toys to pass down for generations.
INDIANAPOLIS — Finding a good toy store seems to be getting harder and harder.
In the last few years, toy store giants like Toys ‘R’ Us closed their doors, as so many consumers have switched to browsing online.
There’s a new toy store, that just popped up in Broad Ripple, but it’s offering a different type of experience.
With so many flashy tech toys and gadgets on the market these days, stepping inside of Monon Toys and Crafts almost feels like taking a step back — back to the basics that is.
“I don’t think everything should be bright and sparkly with unicorns all over,” said store owner Alla Kaphunova.
Kaphunova is new to the toy business, but said she’s always been passionate about finding eco-friendly toys for her own kids. That was the inspiration behind her boutique-style toy shop that opened in May.
“We try not to carry anything plastic in here,” Kaphunova said. That means you won’t find find toys like Barbie dolls, Legos, or Hot Wheels.
She admits that sometimes going green means spending more green because a lot of these toys are handmade, but it’s a price she says some parents are willing to pay.
Kaphunova believes that many of the toys in her shop “can be passed down, to however many kids you have,” pointing out play-time favorites from an expensive treehouse to sock puppets and puzzles. “I would love to show my kids something I played with,” she said.
Kapchunova said most of the toys in her shop aren’t what she usually sees in people’s houses. Still, kids and parents will get the typical toy store experience of being able to touch and see things before buying.
However, she is looking to expand and sell items online. Check them out on Instagram: @MononToysAndCrafts.