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LARK TOYS
Larking a Regularly named in lists of the top 10 toy stores in the world, Lark Toys in Kellogg, Minnesota even has its own carousel. TnP caught up with Kathy and Ron Gray, who along with daughter Miranda and son Scott, make up the family who run the destination store Tell us a little about the history of LARK Toys and how it became the award-winning destination it is today. In the mid-80s, two teachers began making wooden pull toys in their garage for their three sons. They sold them at art shows and then began selling them wholesale to toy and gift stores. A small factory was built, and the small business became much larger, as they sold their toys to thousands of stores. People began asking to buy the toys at the factory, so a small gift shop was opened on site. Then gifts were added. Then books. Then more toys. In the early 1990s, they decided to build ‘the biggest toy they could imagine: a carousel’. Over a nine-year period the carousel was created. An 18-hole minigolf course was added, and a small café. In the early 2000s, the owners decided they wanted to sell the business, by this time a sprawling 20,000 sq ft operation. They wanted the new owners to be a
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family, in the hope of retaining the spirit of the business. Our family are the lucky heirs. We are Kathy and Ron Gray, and our daughter and son-in-law Miranda and Scott Gray-Burlingame. We have owned and operated LARK Toys for 12 years, continuing to manufacture wooden toys on site and adding our interests and visions to move it forward. After Miranda had a lifethreatening birth experience with her first child, we four decided to seek out a business we could do together in celebration of life. (Note, we were not wealthy folks, but we have lots of drive and commitment.) We have refined the antique toy museum, building store-fronts to showcase thousands of wonderful old toys that tell a story about toys and play over the decades. We have created The Curiosity
Our toys last a long time. It’s fun when someone brings one in and asks us to fix a wheel on the toy they had from their own childhood in order to gift it to their new baby
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Tell us more about Memory Lane When we decided to add 80s toys, we combined our own saved treasures with toys we went out and purchased. As we’ve researched various decades and important toys, sometimes we’ve sought them out (for example, a metal pie pan frisbie). We also receive donations from people who want their collections and/or special treasures to find a home where they will be seen and enjoyed. The collection changes each winter as we add new cases and refresh our displays. 28
Shoppe, filled with gifts for the moms and dads, grandparents, and groups of visiting friends. We have affirmed our affiliation to open-ended toys that offer themselves as tools for growing children’s imagination. We have collaborated with neighbouring destinations and businesses and worked to strengthen our local community to add reasons for people to visit Southeastern Minnesota. And we have loved the opportunities we have to welcome visitors from across the country and around the world. We know some of the toys are made on site. Tells us more about how that works. There is a workshop within our store. Head toy maker Tim Monson along with an apprentice and helpers makes heirloom wooden toys to sell in our store. We regularly update the line and love to name toys in honour of special people: a fire truck named after our friend, the assistant fire chief in Winona; the giraffe named after long-time staff member Lois; a bunny named after long-time staff member Bernie; and more. Our toys last a long time. It’s fun when someone brings one in and asks us to fix a wheel on the toy they had from their own childhood in order to gift it to their new baby. And what about the other toys you stock? What sort of things do you like to keep in store. We are attracted by toys that are developmentally useful, safe, and fun.
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