Malibu Life Toy Crazy celebrates 25 years in Malibu

For over two decades, Toy Crazy has been a destination for generations of Malibu children to play, learn, and enjoy the old-school toy store experience.

Toy Crazy celebrated its 25th anniversary on Feb. 1, and Toy Crazy founder/owner Melissa Moore said her goal has always been to create a unique, childlike wonder experience within her store.

She said it means so much to her to watch children enjoy their time in her store and watching families continue to come back to enjoy and support the store.

“It’s so heartwarming for me to have this for them,” Moore said. “It’s that simple, watching a little kid light up and their parents watching them learn, I’m just so grateful.”

She said that as well as providing a fun and comfortable environment for children, she hopes parents and adults who visit the store also enjoy an inviting experience.

“We pride ourselves on being hands-on in forming a sense of community for people to come in, communicate, talk, and form relationships,” Moore said. “It’s such a feeling of home for me, and I hope that’s what we provide for the community. We get a charge out of it and enjoy the intimacy of the business.”

Toy Crazy was founded on Feb. 1, 1998, when Moore purchased the former Malibu toy business, Toy Attic. Moore had been an employee of Toy Attic and once given the opportunity to become the owner of the toy store at the Malibu Country Mart, she jumped at the opportunity.

Moore had worked in toy stores throughout high school and while on vacations from college, and said that once she nished her studies, she realized her new dream was to serve communities through toys.

Moore went on to expand her business, and soon opened three more locations.

Like the Malibu location, each of the next three stores opened in their own country marts — in Brentwood, Montecito, and Marin.

She said country marts provide a unique sense of community and act as hubs for families to support local business.

“ ese brick and mortar stores are mom and pop, and I feel I provide something very humbling and nostalgic for people,” Moore said. “It’s an opportunity for these kids to form memories and to get to go to a place like that, that’s not all ordering online. It can be an experience where they can explore and learn something new. It’s organic.”

She said the Malibu location will always have a special place in her heart.

“It is a sense of home for me because it is where I began my career. It really does feel like home, I love working in that store,” Moore said. “I can’t imagine ever not having it. It gives me such great satisfaction to provide that type of a business to our small town there.”

Moore praised her sta for providing a welcoming atmosphere and helping create a culture of fun, happiness, education, and imagination. Moore has said just how she is toy crazy, everyone who works at her store is toy crazy.

Store Manager Tracy Park has been with Toy Crazy since it was founded and said her love for kids has brought her back every day for the last 25 years.

“I love being part of the magic when kids come in and their breath is taken away when