Brookside Toy & Science set to celebrate a 60 year legacy of unique finds

Situated between Nothing Bundt Cakes and EB and Co, Brookside Toy & Science has remained Brookside’s local toy shop // Photo Courtesy of Holly Pollard

Brookside Toy & Science will celebrate its 60-year anniversary as a family-owned, woman-operated toy store May 17-19 with face painting, balloon animals, vintage toys, and giveaways.

Owner Holly Pollard says this event will help the store’s great history reemerge for its current customer base, through the help of 1960s toys and tie-dye shirts.

After working under the founder’s son, Jim Ward, for 20 years, Holly Pollard (above) bought the store in 2019. She strives to build on Brookside Toy and Science’s legacy of being KC’s unconventional toy store. // Photo Courtesy of Holly Pollard

“Let’s take it back to what life was like back then,” Pollard says. “I think some people would be surprised that a lot of those toys are still top sellers. For instance, new generations of kids are discovering a slinky like it’s a cool, new invention.”

Not only are the toys from when the shop first opened in 1964 still popular, but the nostalgic element lends itself to all ages—from those who played with the toys at their first release to their grandkids discovering a piece of the past.

Rather than trying to compete with the breadth of big box stores, Pollard finds unique toys from shows and catalogs with her community in mind.

“I’m trying to find the things that they wouldn’t carry because it wouldn’t appeal to mass markets,” Pollard says. “I know my customer base. So when I’m shopping, I’m thinking of those kids that come here all the time, and I’m picking stuff for them.”

She says her mission is to keep the welcoming weirdness that previous owner Jim Ward created while maintaining the pride and legacy of a female-founded business.

This affinity for science toys and commitment of over 20 years to the store drew Ward to sell the company to Pollard in 2019.

Now, with four years as owner, Pollard chooses every toy that goes on the shelf, with the help of her two daughters. Each generation of the owner’s children has influenced the store since its founder Donna Furry—a mother of five.

From demonstrating how to play for their customers to testing toys at booths, children are at the center of this business. But it is not just for kids.

“I think we want and always will have grade school kids who come in here after school with their pocket change,” Pollard says. “But I’ve got a growing population of customers in their 20s to mid-30s. They don’t have kids and are not kids themselves, but still regularly check out if there’s any new games or puzzles.”

Focusing on the experience a toy store can bring, rather than just selling a product, allows Brookside Toy and Science to cater to their audience and bring a quaintness few other businesses offer.

With a vintage theme representing the era that birthed the shop, customers who sign up for the mailing list could win a gift card for $200 along with other goodies.

This weekend, step back in time at Brookside Toy and Science and experience the charm of the past while celebrating 60 years of community and creativity. Don’t miss this special anniversary event filled with timeless toys and fun for all ages.