EYE ON RMV
Toy Shop Adds Sweet Touch to Los Patrones Business Park BY COLLIN BREAUX, THE CAPISTRANO DISPATCH
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tep into Odin Parker, and you’ll find a wonderland of non-plastic toys—including music boxes, play “popsickles” and pretend gardening tools. Odin Parker is another business that’s set up shop in Los Patrones Business Park, a new retail center in Rancho Mission Viejo. The business opened last summer, and it is owned and operated by married couple Atila and Blakeslee Lotfi. “We started this five years ago when we were pregnant with my son, who’s 4½ now. At the time, we were just looking for some toys for him that were non-plastic,” Atila Lotfi said. “We were looking at a lot of wooden stuff—no loud colors or crazy stuff. We had a hard time finding the type of toys that we liked, but when we went online, we were able to find a lot of them, and most of them were in Europe.” Shipping, though, was expensive—so the Lotfis, who live nearby in Ladera Ranch, decided to buy toys at wholesale prices and resell them. Their new foray into the toy world started as a hobby out of their home until they decided to turn it into a full-fledged business. “It was a complete coincidence that we found this place, and it kind of worked out really well since we realized how family-oriented Rancho Mission Viejo is,” Atila Lotfi said. “The support we’ve gotten from the community is incredible, because a lot of people stumble in here without knowing this place is here, and they’re just really blown away by the toy offerings. They immediately become so supportive.” News about Odin Parker has spread by word-of-mouth and through social media. The shop has a calming air when you walk into it. Gentle music plays, and pretend vegetables are on display. The couple’s young son, Jackson Lotfi, often likes to play with the items—including toy trains. Many of the toys are homemade and different from what you might find at a big-box store. The goal was initially to just have a back warehouse space to store inventory, but the Lotfis eventually decided to open up the front of the store so that items can be displayed. “We’re mostly an online business. That’s where the majority of our business comes from,” Atila Lotfi said. The Capistrano Dispatch March 11-24, 2022
EVENTS AT THE RANCH MARCH 19
HABITAT RESTORATION AND WEEDING 8-11 a.m. Pitch in to help tidy up The Nature Reserve. Volunteers will pick weeds and get to enjoy the outdoor scenery in South Orange County on a Saturday morning. Participants must be registered or on the wait list by 4 p.m. on Friday, March 18. Sign up at rmvreserve.org. MARCH 23
Jackson Lotfi, 4½, plays with a wooden train toy at Odin Parker, a toy shop in Rancho Mission Viejo. His parents, Atila and Blakeslee Lotfi, own and operate the store. Photo: Collin Breaux
Odin Parker, a toy shop in Rancho Mission Viejo, sells non-plastic items for kids to enjoy. Photo: Collin Breaux
“Coincidentally, we’ve had a lot of local customers that wanted to pick up their orders in person. At that point, if people wanted to come pick up their orders, we wanted to be a welcoming environment where you can see all the toys in person.” The appeal of non-plastic toys is the “open-ended” play opportunities, Atila Lotfi said. A plastic toy you can buy at Page 8
Walmart might make a noise or light up after you press a button, and that’s it—but with a toy cooking set, playtime scenarios are limited only by a kid’s imagination. Light non-plastic toys can also arguably be seen as a safer option. “As parents of a 4½ -year-old, safety is our No. 1 priority,” Atila Lotfi said. “That’s
VIRTUAL VOLUNTEER ORIENTATION AND TRAINING 7-8:30 p.m. Take the first step in becoming an official volunteer at The Nature Reserve. Participants will get to learn about the outdoor area’s history, purpose, and other relevant information, as well as how to communicate that to the public. The event will be held over Zoom. Sign up at rmvreserve.org.
the thing we were really looking after: toys that were non-toxic and safe and no chemicals.” Lotfi also praised the neighboring businesses in Los Patrones Business Park, including Evolve Checkmat Jiu-Jitsu and Evolution Swim Academy. “We only have positive things to say at this point. It’s been really great,” Atila Lotfi said of their experience so far as business tenants. “There are a lot of people that know us that come in, but there are a lot of people that don’t know about us that come in while walking with their kids or dog. Everyone has been so supportive.” As for the business name, Atila Lotfi said it just came out of thin air. Parker is their son’s middle name, and Odin is a name the couple came across while searching for a business name. Odin Parker has a philanthropic program in which a portion of purchases goes back to provide foods for kids in need, in partnership with the Children’s Hunger Fund and No Kid Hungry program. For more information or to order online, visit odinparker.com. CD thecapistranodispatch.com
