Thinker Toys

Specialties

For 17 years we’ve been filling Thinker Toys with the best toys, games, puzzles and novelties we can find. While the main focus of our store is kids’ toys, we also have a respectable selection of items for teens and adults — lots of novelties and «gag» gifts, beautiful Ravensburger puzzles that number in the thousands (of pieces), and an ever-​expanding array of European Board Games such as Settlers of Catan and Ticket to Ride.

But it’s the kid-​stuff in which we specialize — including items by Playmobil, Bruder, Melissa & Doug, LEGO, Plan Toys, Green Toys… okay, you get the picture. It’s 3500 square feet with over 15,000 different items. As one reviewer noted — it’s «a treasure trove.»

History

Established in 1994.

Thinker Toys was born in 1994 to two classroom science teachers and parents of a two– and five-​year-​old. Our initial digs were 330 square feet and we had a «handshake agreement» instead of a contract for the retail space.

Times have changed. The store is about 3500 square feet now, plus a similar-​sized basement that functions as our warehouse. We’ve gone from one to about a dozen employees. The snail mail newsletter designed on Publisher is a thing of the past, replaced by an email list serve to which we send out announcements and coupons and such.

And those little kids? The older one is finishing college in 2011 and the younger one is finishing her first year of university. Enjoy every moment.

Meet the Business Owner

Joan and Tye S.

Business Owner

Joan and Tye started Thinker Toys in 1994 after each teaching at Oregon Episcopal School for a decade. Joan is the principal buyer and resident high-​energy optimist. Tye coordinates the array of electronica that makes the store tick. Both put in their time at the counter.

As past (Tye) and present (Joan) co-​presidents of the local business association — MVBA, you can figure it out — they have worked to promote Multnomah Village, and to organize events such as Multnomah Days.

They both have backgrounds in natural history and field work. Their current gig involves better accomodations and a much shorter commute.