New creative toy store, play + party concept coming to Homewood

A new kind of toy store +  play concept is coming to Homewood’s former Hero Doughnuts location across from Central Park.

Called Goodies Toy Store, this first-of-its-kind business will sell goodie bags and boxes for kids to fill with toys and play onsite. 

The new toy store is the brainchild of Ginny and Joe Leavens, whom you may recognize as the owners of Homewood Bagel Company. 

Make a Goodies Toy Store “Goodie Box”

Here is how it works:

Think “candy store concept with a toy store style.” 

When kids enter they are given a pail or shopping cart to collect small toys and “goodies” from over 75 plastic tubes. 

What kind of toys are we talking about? 

• Matchbox cars
• Hacky sacks
• Army man
• Miniature farm animals 
• Bouncy balls
• Fashion jewelry 
• Art supplies 
• Keychains 
• Building blocks and legos
• And much more 

Once they collect the toys, the kids will receive a bag or box (depending on size) personalized with their name. 

While in the store, there is a big craft table available for them to start decorating the box. 

They can then take home their goodies for continued play, and bring it back for new goodies when it’s time to play again (at a discounted rate, too!)

Meanwhile, parents can enjoy coffee and treats in the lounge. 

A goodie box will range from $7 to $35. The Leavens also intend to host birthday parties and other celebrations, where kids can build and decorate boxes and enjoy other fun party games. 

Goodies will also curate custom party favors and goodie bags for customers to take away for their events.

A new place for kids 

“We’ve got five kids and we live in Homewood. We have always struggled to find places to host birthday parties or go pop in and let the kids play. We’ve done the library, the park — we’ll even go to the toy store and run down the aisles at Target. 

We felt like there was value in allowing kids to come into a location, and be entertained while they’re there, and then hopefully take their little goodies home, where they’ll keep being entertained for a little bit longer. 

That’s how the idea for Goodies was born. It’s a place to build goodie bags, engage in creative play (while parents relax) and gather to celebrate special occasions.” 

~ Ginny Leavens

Sharing the Hero Doughnuts location

According to Ginny, Goodies Toy Store will be sharing the former Hero Doughnuts site with the new Tina’s Market at 3027 Central Ave Homewood, AL 35209, which announced last week it was moving into the site also.

Goodies Toy Store plans to open this Spring.