One of the best parts about being a parent is getting to be a kid again. You basically get to relive your childhood — minus the super-cool toys from the ’80s and ’90s. (We had original Star Wars action figures and GI Joes and Care Bears and Matchbox cars.) Those toys exist today, but I think everyone can agree that they aren’t nearly as cool as the originals.
My husband has made it his mission to educate our kids on all things superheroes and Star Wars, and considers it his greatest victory as a dad that our three year old knows what a battarang is, our four year old can tell you what Wonder Woman’s real name is, and our six year old could pick an AT AT Walker out of a lineup.
So when, on a Friday afternoon after work, he drove past a brand-new store in Sharonville called Saturday Morning Heroes, he totally had to stop and check it out. And for Father’s Day, he got to show our kids around this fun store and geek out with all.the.toys.
Saturday Morning Heroes is a used toy store that sells the kind of toys highly sought after by collectors. And while these toys (many of which come in original packaging), are suitable for collectors, they’re really for kids to play with. Owner Ray Walker is a big kid at heart, and has been collecting toys for decades. A war veteran, Walker had always wanted to open his own toy shop, and you can tell he really loves what he does — his enthusiasm is infectious. He kindly showed my kids all the different play
sets and action figures, and had an impressive knowledge of popular culture which was helpful for answering my kids’ endless questions.
In addition to buying and selling vintage toys, he also has a distributor for modern toys at his shop, which is clean and well-organized. Walker personally cleans all the toys that are on the shelves; and, despite their age, the toys are all in excellent, ready-to-be-played-with condition. The store is divided in a way that’s accessible and easy to navigate, and you’ll definitely have a smile as you see Strawberry Shortcake, giant Crayola Crayon banks and walls full of old-school wrestling figures.
The best part about this store is how reasonable everything is. This is not your typical collector’s store; the toys almost all just a few bucks. As a parent, I’m always looking for fun outings and incentives for my kids, and Saturday Morning Heroes is the kind of place that’s a win in so many ways: your kids will find something they’ll love, the toys are all used and much more environmentally friendly, you won’t spend a ton of money, you’ll support a local business and you’ll take a fun trip back in time to your childhood.
Walker wanted the store to be accessible to anyone, and he has succeeded. Saturday Morning Heroes is a locally-owned business that’s oozing with nostalgia and charm, with a real-life hero who’s happy to talk toys with your seasoned collector as much as your curious 3 year old.
Saturday Morning Heroes is located at 11119 Reading Road, in the heart of downtown Sharonville. Currently, it’s open on Fridays and Saturdays from 11 a.m.-7 p.m.