Tin Soldiers, race cars, planes & tiny furniture. We tripped into Second Childhood a few weeks back and have just been dying to post it.
Part toy store, part antique store and part art gallery, this store has been open for over 30 years, filling a niche that is not to be found anywhere downtown.
The "toys" range from 1865 right up to 1970 and come to a screeching halt right there.
We recommend Second Childhood mainly for its one of kind pieces that would make unparalleled decorative elements and remarkable gifts for nurseries or living rooms as well. Pick through the odd stuff and the treasure trove of classic figurines, toys, and signs become pure art.
| Location: |
283 Bleecker Street
New York,
NY
10014
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|---|---|
| Phone: |
212.989.6140
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| Website: | www.google.com/maps?hl=en&lr=&safe=off&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&q=second+childhood+toys&near=New+York,+NY&radius=0.0&latlng=40714167,-74006389,14184012389973113320&sa=X&o |
| Categories: | artwork |
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© 2009 Apartment Therapy
*sigh*
And I can't really put on the MBA program application, "Must change careers so I can afford to buy last-minute tickets to NYC and go to all the cool stores."
Oh well. It's not like our home lacks for playful touches.
I was hoping you had seen this Wende.
My ds loves the soldiers on the parapet. I like the planes. (sigh).
All of these toys can be found much cheaper on ebay. Actually, many children's toys can be found cheaper on the internet. Look at the NY toy store Kid-o. They make it seem like Montessori toys are for the extreme wealthy. This was not the intent of Maria Montessori; I assure you. These Ny stores might be fun to stroll through to get ideas, but honestly aren't they trying to pay their high rents and seem elitist?
And the claim of "elitist" in this case is laughable. I know there are galleries and boutiques that have popped up recently that fit that bill, but Grover Van Dexter's Second Childhood is not an elitist place. And his store is a wonderful piece of NYC history that is alive and well and should be patronized as much as possible.
I discovered them as a 10-year-old kid in the 1970s--when the Yen was weak and the Dollar was strong--Second Childhood also sold cool Japanese toys at real prices. I was a kid from Brooklyn I passed by his place on a trip to the Village with my sister in 1977. And it was an amazing place. And still is.
It's an old time toy store with a real person selling real things who actually knows what he's talking about. And you will never get that experience placing bids on eBay.
I highly recommend anyone stop by the store or read this article about it in the Villager.
http://www.thevillager.com/villager_134/toystoryactor.html
An update for anyone coming by this page, but I have posted a FLICKR set of photos and a short essay about the importance of NYC in my life growing up in NYC:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jackszwergold/sets/72157603928230106/
In short: Grover Van Dexterâthe owner of the shopâis closing the business at the end of the month. Rent increases and age have caught up with him and heâs decided to quit no rather than later. Sad news when I heard it when I passed by his place. But heâs a great guy, sold me some great stuff and allowed me to photograph the inside of his awesome store so all can share the wonder and magic of the world he created.
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