Step Into a Fairytale at Quinnderella's

It’s not often a store is named for a family member.  Sure, we have Macy’s, and Harrods, and the latest addition, InvenTORI named eponymously for Tori Spelling.  Those are for grown-ups, but a child with a store named after them?

That’s precisely the concept of Quinnderella’s Toys, named for 14-year-old Quinn Robertson.  Quinnderella was “My husband’s nickname for my daughter, Quinn,” said store owner Jenny Robertson of Manasquan.

The 1,000-square-foot emporium at 119 Main St., Manasquan, was opened by Robertson 11 years ago, following a stint doing MRI at several large area hospitals as well as in New York City.

“My husband Charles worked for the Department of Defense, and I traveled with him to several states, and after I had Quinn, I opened Sea for Yourself in Manasquan,” stated Robertson, who also works as a Realtor at Cara Realtors, Point Pleasant Beach.

She owned the nautical-themed store three years, then decided upon a toy store.  The energetic Robertson made the leap from MRI to … a toy store? 

“I thought the town of Manasquan could use a toy store,” she quipped, and when asked how and why she does it all – caring for two school-age girls, managing Quinnderella’s plus her other store, Big Fun Toys in Hoboken, selling real estate – she claimed “It’s just my personality.”

The hectic lifestyle doesn’t annoy Robertson, and neither do the big box stores. 

“I’m not intimidated by them.  I think a specialty toy store can offer better customer service,” she claimed.  “We do free gift wrapping, we do free personalization."

A specialty toy store it is. Upon entering, patrons are greeted by a miniature Adirondack chair – perfect for children – filled with stuffed animals which are also housed on colorful shelving.

Look upward at Quinnderella’s and you’ll see unique plush marionettes such as a green dragon and fluffy white goat suspended from the ceiling on clear wire.

Little girls will think they’ve entered a fairy tale fantasy world with the emporium’s selection of not only Hello Kitty merchandise, but doughnuts, bake and decorate cupcake sets, ice cream, make and serve apple pie sets, and fruit … all made of wood.

Hanging on a wall – perhaps for the more adventurous – are bright red Radio Flyer wagons, and the popular Carrera electric slot cars that run on tracks 17-feet and longer, and come in models such as Nascar, Race O Rama and Spiderman.

According to Robertson, her inventory numbers in the “Thousands because we have small things like finger puppets – all that little stuff adds up.”

Quinnderella’s Toy Store offers not just finger puppets, but whimsical plush hand puppets of pirates, princesses, sharks and princes by the upscale Melissa & Doug, and perched on a rack easily accessible to children.

What separates the emporium from other toy retailers?  Well, for one, the time and consideration given by its owner. 

“I handpick everything in my two stores; I look for quality educational toys,” stated Robertson, a member of the Manasquan Chamber of Commerce, who noted she takes her time to look for USA-made products.

Big box stores can’t compare to this “mom and pop” (or just “mom”) establishment which offers educational toys such as books, alphabet blocks by Uncle Goose that are made in the United States, and level readers so children can read by themselves.

Robertson is proud of her trademark feature, Quinnderella’s “Personalize It!” service, which offers free hand-painted personalization in various colors on children’s merchandise such as mini-briefcases, lunch and sand pails, art bins, treasure boxes, pencil boxes and other items.

The emporium also just began its “Free Craft Fridays,” which lasts throughout the day, and children may come in and do a free craft project, with projects changing weekly.

Budding artists visiting the store will delight in supplies such as coloring and sketch pads, construction paper, and a multitude of alphabet and numbers sticker collections.

While its inventory is unique and out-of-the-ordinary, Quinnderella’s is not over-priced.  Prices range from $.25 for candy to $200 for a wooden kitchen by Plan.

“It’s all very competitive; it’s about the same, except for the big box stores – they’ll advertise something at cost just to get you in the store,” said Robertson in comparing her prices to other area establishments.

She noted her clientele is mostly female – moms and grandmothers – but, “we do have dads that bring the kids in to play.”

Christmas is the best season, as well as summer, but birthday parties bring in clientele as well.  When questioned about bestsellers, Robertson stated it varies, but “right now it’s the Squiggle Worm that was seen being held by a small girl in the recent royal wedding.” 

Another popular and reasonable item priced from $.50-$1 is Sqwishland pencil toppers which are shaped like small animals and children may go online and use them to play games.

Perhaps the above may interest Buddy Valastro, host of TLC’s Cake Boss, who is a client at Big Fun Toys, Hoboken; Robertson noted she doesn’t yet have any celebrity clients at the Manasquan location.

Robertson noted “our stock is always changing,” and explained how she makes sure to go to all the toy and gift fairs in search of new items.  She has no present plans for expansion, but “you never know what the future may hold,” she claimed.

While the long cold winter may not have pleased Robertson so far as sales were concerned, those days are few and far between. 

“The best part of my day is the stores are always happy, bright and cheery – to see the kids’ faces light up when they come in – it’s priceless,” she commented.

Quinnderella’s takes special orders via catalogs in the store.  Its hours are Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., and Sunday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.  The phone number is 732-223-1124, the website is www.bigfuntoys.com, and the Facebook address is www.facebook.com/pages/Quinnderellas-Toys.