Sometimes, all a kid needs is a simple toy. And getting to walk into a store full of them — rather than clicking through an online catalog — is a timeless kind of magic.
At Castle Toys in downtown Castle Rock, music plays and stomp rockets fly. Children and adults alike are encouraged to play, explore and rediscover the “power of play.”
That’s exactly what owner Cindy Mendus set out to create.
“Kids can learn so many life skills through play,” Mendus said.
Those include critical thinking, creativity, resourcefulness, how to socialize, entertain themselves without electronic devices, take turns, and win and lose graciously.
These are all core life skills that can “get lost” in the contemporary world, Mendus added, which tends to teach children to place value on outcomes like test scores.
Castle Toys first opened during the COVID-19 pandemic, but as the customer base grew, so did Mendus’ dream. She wanted to offer more toys, more variety — and that meant needing a bigger space. Now located on Fifth Street, the store is settling into its new home.
“It’s been a ton of work,” Mendus said, “but it’s truly a labor of love, and all the customer support just reinforces that we made the right move.”
She said the Castle Rock community has rallied behind the shop with appreciation for having a local toy store in town.
“They’ve told me they’re tired of big-box stores and online shopping,” Mendus said. “They’re so happy to have a place to bring their kids for a little treat. Many take advantage of our free gift wrap, and my favorite thing — getting to help them shop.”
Among her favorite toys is the AirToobz by Fat Brain — a no-frills toy that uses a fan to shoot foam balls through modular tubes. The store’s display sees a lot of action, Mendus said.
Another simple, yet beloved item? A $2 air flyer.
“I love the simple engineering of it,” Mendus said. “There’s something about flying that really captivates kids. Even the teenagers and adults like it.”
Behind the scenes, Castle Toys is working hard to navigate broader challenges in the industry. Mendus said recent tariffs on imported toys have driven up costs on products, and shipping and packaging — especially for small businesses.
To the extent it could, Castle Toys made orders before tariffs went into effect, but many of its favorite brands manufacture overseas, and those costs will soon start to be felt.
“We will continue to source toys with the lowest possible tariff fees and while we’re doing our best to absorb what we can, some of those increases will start to show up at check out,” Mendus said. “We’re doing everything we can behind the scenes — working smarter, stretching farther — to keep bringing ‘the happy’ to our customer.”
Mendus said some customers have compared the shop to that in “Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium,” a whimsical fantasy film about a magical toy store — a comparison she considers the highest of compliments.
“Mission accomplished,” she said. “Our goal is for everyone — kids and adults alike — to come into the shop and walk out saying, ‘that was fun.’”
With summer in full swing, downtown Castle Rock has many events lined up – from free concerts on First Fridays and every Wednesday in Festival Park to car shows, and the Douglas County Fair and Rodeo in July.
With Castle Toys’ new location, Mendus is excited to be a part of it all, with plans to bring events to the store and other venues in town.
“We’re still getting into the rhythm of Castle Rock, but we have lots of plans,” she said.