Magical Moon Toys boasts large variety of toys, games

“Come in and play with us!” announces the slogan of the Magical Moon toy store, which boasts more than 1,300 types of games, railway models, remote control rockets and other toys.

“It’s a bit crowded,” said Steve Shelton, the store owner. “But I’m hoping to expand the store within the next year.”

Shelton and his wife Tiffany are third to own the toy store, which opened in 1993, he said. In 2003, they bought the store, which had begun to go downhill, and he said they have been working to build it back up to where it is today.

Shelton said he feels good that he and his wife are contributing to the community.

“The ironic thing is, we can sell toys for so much cheaper that kids can get so much more from,” Shelton said. “These toys are more imagination-powered and don’t break as easily.”

And it’s not just the toys that are worth getting excited about. The Sheltons’ plans include not just more space for toys and games, but a sweet shop, a corner for children’s books, a reader’s theater, a Jurassic center, a mining center and more, he said. After years of planning and preparation, Shelton said he is ready to make this dream come true within the year.

“This isn’t just a store for kids,” Shelton said. “I would really like college kids to know that this is a store where they can have fun, too. We have tons of games, remote control cars, airplanes, rockets. Most games we have are sold to adults.”

Besides having a lot of card games, board games and toys, the store features many selections designed to fire the imagination, he said. Puppets, magnets, marbles, railroad models and building blocks are available throughout the store.

Stephanie Crockett, senior in geology, has worked at the store for more than a year and said a lot of people think Magical Moon is just a basic toy store.

“But there really are so many games here that I love to play with my friends,” Crockett said

Shelton said the game Ruckus is very entertaining.

“It’s a heart-pounding, card-bending, knuckle-cracking game,” Shelton said.

Magical Moon has been named by Trade Magazine as one of the top-10 retailers in the nation for Ruckus. When the game first came out, Shelton said he would put in orders for 700 to 900 at a time. The game continues to be sold for $9.99 and is a customer favorite, he said.

Crockett said she bought the game when it first came out.

“I love working here,” she said. “We get to try out all the new products so we will be able to explain how they work to customers better.”

-chari.a.i@aggiemail.usu.edu