The Little Apple Toy Shoppe
2484 Broadway
New York, NY 10025
(646) 389-6172
https://thelittleappletoyshoppe.com/password
My review on TripAdvisor:
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Profile/R4960NKjustinw/mediabatch/14524291?m=19905
The front of the Little Apple Toy Shoppe at 2484 Broadway
When I was walking my Broadway Walk, which is the 13 mile walk down Broadway from 242nd Street to the Bowling Green, I took my time and walked through many stores I found interesting. Some had colorful displays and some just had playful merchandise in the windows. Then I passed The Apple Toy Store at 2484 Broadway and saw the cheerful sign at the door and had to walk in. What a delightful, whimsical store.
The sign that greets you on Broadway
The displays inside and out of the store really showcase the merchandise and the store has that colorful, playful appeal that attracts both children and adults.
The inside of the store with interesting costumes and wooden products
What I loved about the store was there was not a plastic toy in sight but more smaller vendor wooden toys, more toys that spark imagination and creative play. In some toy stores in the City, they are just stacked with the same toys that you see in other stores. Piles of Legos, Playmobile and construction toys that while popular and interesting and fun to play with don’t offer that unique shopping experience of seeing some of the smaller toy vendors that are not available in every toy store. This is what makes Little Apple Toy Shoppe stand out.
The unique display of costumes
The store also has an array of costumes just in time for the holidays. Halloween and Christmas are just around the corner and it will soon be dress up time. Everything is so nicely displayed and not crammed in to fit every piece in the store. There is a nice selection of sizes and varieties to both boys and girls of different ages.
The dolls on display smile and wink at you almost asking you to take them home.
What was really nice was talking with the owner that afternoon as she just opened this shop. She had told me that West Side Kids, which was located on West 84th Street had closed their doors after Christmas of 2025 and there was no toy store in this part of the City. She wanted to fill that gap and create a store that would be part of the community. A place where families could gather and shop together. I think she is on the right path with the business with all the engaging toys and whimsical displays.
The selection of books, crafts, wooden toys and clothes
These are the type of toys I loved to receive when I was small. These are the type of playthings that enhance creativity and play and a child’s imagination.
The soft opening that day gave the owner a chance to meet people in the neighborhood and tell them about her business (she did not even have the sign over the door done yet. Just the sandwich board outside the front door). The store reminded me of the mythical store ‘Shop Around the Corner’ in the movie the movie, “You got Mail!”, creating an environment where families can meet and chat with both the owner and their neighbors.
I wish this establishment the best of luck because New York City needs more creative small businesses.
The scene in “Shop Around the Corner”
The spirit of small businesses all America and what happens when we don’t support them.
mywalkinmanhattan 