The Toys Of Our Lives — Local services in Verona

I’ve been waiting for a worthy vintage toy store in the Midwest for years. The Toys of Our Lives is amazing. Part Toy Store/Part Toy Museum. While there have been some worthy stores that have come and (sadly) gone, The Toys of Our Lives is an amazing find. I lived in Los Angeles and frequented some of the best vintage toy stores in the country. Verona’s The Toys of Our Lives beats them, for a collection of reasons.

AMAZING STOCK

The items within the store range from tons of serious collector-worthy items to moderate/entry-level collector items, and also items for kids looking for some fun stuff to play with and/or adults looking for some fun items for their desk.

You have high ticket collector items galore, as well as smaller vintage options that are more accessibly priced. And you also have more affordable reproduction versions to enjoy (they are priced and marked accordingly).

And there’s SO much more. Comics, graphic novels, vintage and current trading cards, high-ticket Pokémon cards, vintage video game consoles and games, etc.

And a good portion of the store showcases an endless array of Pops collectible figures in mint condition. Pretty much every Pop you could ask for. And many, many high ticket ones in casings.

There’s even a candy section — and throwback soda.

ENGAGING INTERIOR DESIGN/LAYOUT

The store is huge, brilliantly divided into key toy decades (70s, 80s, 90, and 2000s). Start to the left as you enter and make your way clockwise to go from decade to decade. And each section has a monitor running toy commercials and movies of its decade.

Go to the back where a quarter of the store is full of Pops figures.

Go even further back and there are arcade game consoles where customers can play vintage arcade games for free.

OUTSTANDING AND PERSONABLE CUSTOMER SERVICE

The owner is a professional and prolific collector (obviously) with a wealth of knowledge. And he’s more than happy to converse about items.

If you want to buy, trade, or sell, this is THE place to go. Below are some of our great finds my family and I purchased. And that’s one last point: The Toys of Our Lives is an outstanding place to take the whole family. Adults and kids of all ages love it.

No, I don’t know the owner personally and I haven’t been paid or asked to write a rave review. LOL. I just love this place. It’s pure...

Called ahead after being referred by another business about selling a Funko Pop collection.

The employee I spoke to said that the owner would be in that weekend and would be happy to take a look. I arrived that following Saturday and was told they would not have time despite the employee saying they would. The owner stated that the sale they were running left them short staffed. The employee I spoke to earlier in the week told me of this sale and still said the owner would be able to take a look. I brought that up to the owner and he was dismissive saying his employees would not say that.

He did tell me that if I came in on a slower day he'd be happy to take a look. He said Sundays were always great days for bringing in collections.

I called today, Sunday 4-7-24, to confirm before driving all the way there and I'm glad I did. The owner told me that they weren't buying any collections. Apparently the owner can't make up his mind on what he will and will not buy. If I wouldn't have called ahead I would've wasted another 90...

Such a great little gem in Verona. It’s kind of hard to find! I recommend a street banner or sign since your hidden behind a gas station and grooming/bar building.

On the other hand the store is massive with tons of collectibles. And I mean tons! Huge emphasis on Funkos.

They have Pokemon cards and other collectible cards! Tons of figurines and even some video games!

The games are a bit over priced I would suggest looking at pricecharting to list the prices more accurately they are marked up maybe 15-20% which discourages me from buying them. They aren’t many video games as its focus is on collectibles from previous generations.

I gave this five stars because the store makes you feel very nostalgic and the worker/s are always friendly and smiling and the store smells great! No...