Independent business owners all over South Jersey are still struggling amid the ongoing pandemic. One toy store hopes that if you still need to buy Christmas gifts, you'll shop local.

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Toy Market, with locations in Downtown Hammonton, Historic Smithville, and most recently, as a pop-up shop at DiDonato Family Fun Center’s Rolling Railway, counts on a prosperous week before Christmas outside of the current health crisis. But this holiday season has been even more of a struggle.

In a press release to SoJO 104.9, Toy Market owner Kelly Donio says, "When I founded Toy Market a decade ago, I knew it would be challenging. We faced so many obstacles and survived, it taught us resiliency. When Coronavirus hit in March, it forced all locations to close for months. By adapting quickly to a changing retail landscape, the stores managed to rebound through the summer. Now it will take a Christmas miracle to get sales back on track in the final few days of the year.”

Donio wants those who still have some shopping to do before Christmas to know that Toy Market, which has been voted “South Jersey’s Best Toy Shop” by South Jersey Magazine, has added protective equipment, space to enhance social distancing, free curbside pickup, an expanded website and e-commerce store (with worldwide shipping), private in-store shopping before or after hours, and virtual shopping over FaceTime and Facebook Messenger Video.


All Toy Market locations are open every day from now through Christmas Eve. For store locations, or to shop online, visit mytoymarket.com.

SOURCES: Press Release sent to SoJO 104.9 by Jim Donio; mytoymarket.com

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