Where to Find Locally Made and Sold Toys in Rhode Island

Via Getty Images/Drazen Zigic

No matter the coziness of a sweater or the generosity behind a gift card, we all know nothing beats the thrill of unwrapping a brand-new toy on Christmas morning or during Hanukkah. We also know, however, that sometimes Santa’s elves need a break, or that ideas can quickly run out when you’re planning out eight days of giving. That’s where local toy stores come in. For those of you looking for gifts for the kiddos in your lives, the following spots will help you keep the magic of the holidays alive for at least one more year.

NORTH

For the traditionalists: Henry Bear’s Park 

Courtesy of Henry Bear’s Park.

With nine locations across southern New England, Henry Bear’s Park has been delivering fun as well as physical, social and mental growth to local youth for more than forty-five years. Stopping by the (literal) brick-and-mortar shop on Hope Street in Providence is like entering Santa’s workshop with eye-catching bits and bobs at every turn. The store stocks shape sorters and activity books for infants and toddlers; train sets and doll houses for preschoolers; slime kits and beginner instruments for bigger kids; DIY bracelet kits and indoor basketball hoops for tweens; sophisticated board games and decked-out scooters for teens; and even plenty of goodies for the young at heart. 

More in Store: The Providence location hosts Henry Bear’s storytime on Mondays from 11:30 a.m. to noon and is also known to put on the occasional music- and/or painting-filled event. HOURS AND LOCATION: Open Monday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sundays 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Holiday hours may vary. 736 Hope St., Providence, 351-5718, henrybear.com

Courtesy of Henry Bear’s Park.

For the hands-on: Providence Brick Exchange 

A former carpenter, Smithfield resident Clint Bearss first rediscovered his love of Legos while playing with his eight-year-old son. So reignited was his passion for creating with the colorful building blocks that he decided to open Providence Brick Exchange in October 2018. The hobby shop is dedicated to buying, selling and trading Lego pieces, figures and sets — even those of the limited and discontinued varieties. In fact, the inventory boasts hundreds of Legos not found in big box stores. This just might be your chance to surprise and impress your niece or nephew with something they don’t already have three of sitting untouched in the toy room. 

More in Store: Providence Brick Exchange also hosts themed birthday parties and movie nights (think Harry Potter, Marvel and the like). HOURS AND LOCATION: Open Monday through Friday noon to 6 p.m., Saturdays 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sundays noon to 5 p.m. 9 Cedar Swamp Rd., Smithfield, 424-5390, facebook.com/providencebrickexchange

For the trendy: The Toy Vault

A lifelong Star Wars fan, Dan Mayer first entered the wonderful world of toy-selling in the 1990s. With the beloved movie franchise’s twentieth anniversary on the horizon, he decided to take advantage of its renaissance and used $40 of the $60 he had to his name to invest in a collection of toys to resell. His business quickly grew, and by 1996, Mayer had leased a small corner space in the Rhode Island Mall. Naturally, Star Wars figures were a huge hit, but it wasn’t long before he was also stocking up on G.I. Joes and Transformers to keep up with customers’ interests. Over the years, the demand and resulting inventory only grew, and now Mayer is not only celebrating twenty-five years of the Toy Vault, but
is also the proud proprietor of five retail locations in Rhode Island and Massachusetts. While the original Rhode Island Mall site is no more, you can venture next door to the Warwick Mall to peruse the chain’s largest location. There you will find a massive selection of Star Wars items (of course), Funko Pop! figures, retro video games, collectibles, all things comic book-related and much more. 

More in Store: While not a retail location, the Toy Vault has a warehouse in Smithfield where online customers can pick up their orders to save on shipping costs. It also offers several pop-up events throughout the year. HOURS AND LOCATIONS: Open Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sundays 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Warwick Mall location, 400 Bald Hill Rd.,
Warwick, 921-5466; the Warehouse (online order pickup only), 15 Commerce St., Greenville, 618-7036, thetoyvault.com

Via Getty Images/Shangarey.

SOUTH

For the STEM-minded: Pow! Science 

We all know a youngin’ who wants nothing more than to know how everything works. Well, you can save yourself an explanation or two by visiting Pow! Science and loading them up on all the latest gizmos and gadgets. The mom-and-pop educational toy store was first established by Eric and Hema Bulmer in 2005 — a high school science teacher at the time, Eric wanted to introduce science concepts in fun, hands-on ways to younger kids — and went through a few Ocean State addresses before finally settling down at the Wakefield Mall in 2009. Though Eric unfortunately passed away in 2018, his vision for the store remains as strong as ever thanks to Hema. Every square inch is jam-packed with at-home science experiments, brain teasers, sensory learning toys, model kits and crafts alongside the more standard toys, games and activities you’d expect of a well-stocked toy store. There are also interactive displays for customers young and old to play with while they shop. 

More in Store: Every Friday from 10 to 11 a.m., Pow! Science hosts Kinder Science, a hands-on science “class” for parents and children ages two-and-a-half to eight years old. Preregistration is required and costs $8 per child. HOURS AND LOCATION: Open Monday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sundays 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. 160 Old Tower Rd., Wakefield, 788-1024, powsciencetoys.com

EAST

For the mini-scholars: Barrington Books

Courtesy of Barrington Books

What’s more fun than a well-fed imagination? And what better serves the imagination than a good book? Barrington Books has been providing just that since its humble beginnings as a The Little Professor franchisee in 1986. When Dana Deluca-Sherman purchased the store in July 2008, she decided to expand its inventory to provide gifts and toys alongside its literary offerings. Since then, the East Bay-based shop has earned a myriad of Best of Rhode Island awards and built up a well-stocked and popular children’s section. Whether you’re in search of the latest New York Times picture book bestseller, a challenging puzzle, a plush stuffed animal perfect for cuddling, a multiplayer card game or a costume fit for make-believe, Barrington Books has your shopping needs covered. 

More in Store: Be sure to keep up with Barrington Books’ calendar and socials for weekly storytime gatherings and author meet and greets. HOURS AND LOCATION: Open Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturdays 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sundays 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Holiday hours may vary. 184 County Rd., Barrington, 245-7925, barringtonbooks.com

PLUS: These boutiques may be focused on children’s clothing, but it’s worth noting that Mod Mama at Garden City Center in Cranston and Luca Boutique in Warren each carry a small but unique
selection of toys and games. modmama.com; luca-ri.com  

Courtesy of Barrington Books

Toy Tinkerers

Meet three local designers who make play their everyday. 

PROVIDENCE designer and educator anther Kiley was inspired by his own childhood creations to found Cardkits, card stock kits that encourage kids to build their own miniature worlds. They come with pre-cut parts like walls, doors and roofs that can be glued together to make homes, cars and more for the included fun and flashy fish characters. The locally made kits use sustainably sourced and recyclable paper. cardkitstoys.com 

A former associate professor of industrial design at the Rhode Island School of Design and a part-time resident of Hope, Cas Holman co-developed Rigamajig in 2011 for Friends of the High Line in New York City. What started as a single children’s kit in High Line Park has since expanded to a line of collaborative and STEAM-focused building kits that can be found in hundreds of schools, playgrounds, libraries, maker spaces and homes worldwide. Holman is also the founder of the independent toy company Heroes Will Rise, and frequently travels the globe to speak about early education, the design process and the value of play in all aspects and phases of life. rigamajig.com; casholman.com 

Courtesy of Hope Puzzles.

Barrington resident Jerauld Adams, left, has always been a puzzle fanatic, but it was the long, housebound days of the pandemic that inspired him to turn his hobby into something profitable. He established Hope Puzzles in 2020 and now sells more than twenty-five whimsical designs from a mill space in Pawtucket. The wooden puzzles have several difficulty levels, and each come with “whimsey” pieces, fanciful designs that play into the puzzle’s theme. Each box also comes with the company’s signature piece — an anchor with the word “Hope” emblazoned on it — and a wheat penny for good luck. hopepuzzles.com

Hasbro, A History

The Pawtucket-based company has been delighting children near and far for an entire century. 

Mr. Potato Head. Courtesy of Hasbro.

FOUNDED IN PROVIDENCE IN 1923 by Polish immigrants, Hasbro (derived from the founders’ last name and relation: Hassenfeld brothers) had humble beginnings as a textile and stationery company. It wasn’t until the 1940s that doctor and nurse play sets were added to the mix, and soon after it pivoted to primarily toy manufacturing. In 1952, Hasbro introduced the world to Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head with television’s first toy advertisement (believe it or not, real spuds were involved — do yourself a favor and search for the commercial on YouTube). The company later released the country’s first action figure, G.I. Joe, in 1964 and established My Little Pony as a household name in 1983. Over the next fifty years, it acquired several major companies and accompanying licenses: Milton Bradley with the likes of Battleship, Guess Who? and Jenga; Playskool and Play-Doh; Tonka and its iconic yellow construction trucks; Kenner with Star Wars and Littlest Pet Shop; and Parker Brothers’ Nerf blasters and Monopoly. Today, while the Pawtucket-based company continues to create joy with toys, it also encourages employees to use paid time off to volunteer in the community and donates its products to various organizations. In honor of its centennial year, the company has released a limited-edition Monopoly set featuring a custom game board illustrated with ninety of Hasbro’s most acclaimed brands — and yes, you can play as Mr. Potato Head. hasbro.com