For kids and collectors: New store in Batavia specializes in farm- and construction-themed toys, models
Walking into a toy store creates visions of childhood, but hardly any carry the toys that kept me busy for hours on end - the "playsets" often based on popular movies.
As such, Santa brought me "Fort Apache," "Zorro," "The Alamo" and "Ben-Hur" sets in the late 1950s and early '60s.
Still, I was like most young boys in that large trucks also caught my attention.
That's something Sebastien Coron has been banking on for the past 20 years, culminating in his opening of the Toys'n Hobbies 4 All store at 1952 Fabyan Parkway in Batavia, next to the Trader Joe's grocery store.
It's a store for boys, girls and adult collectors in which farm- or construction-themed toys fill the shelves. As such, it is not hard to find a UPS warehouse model set with its iconic brown delivery trucks, or a John Deere tractor model or a large construction site cement truck. Various other models, erector sets or plush toys of tractors and other equipment also stand out.
Tricycles and smaller "push" toys in which young children use their legs to "drive" are modeled after many farm or construction vehicles. "I've been interested in this for 30 years because one of my brothers liked cars, and we started making high-quality models of cars, starting with Ferrari, Porsche and others," said Coron, who lived in Dijon, France at the time.
Famous French car manufacturer Renault took notice because it operated a tractor division and asked the brothers to build tractor models to use at presentations, conferences and as toys. "We made our first tractor at that time, but we didn't really look at what the market might be for tractor models," Coron said. "Soon, other tractor manufacturers got enthusiastic about it because no one was making high-quality tractor models."
Eventually, Coron and his brother went from a production strategy that was 100 percent cars to one that was "100 percent tractors and construction vehicles," he said.
It ultimately became American Hobbies and Merchandising, of which Coron is CEO. His brother operates a warehouse in China, and Coron operates a warehouse in St. Charles.
He looks at the Batavia retail spot as the first of at least four or five he hopes to open throughout the Midwest - as soon as the current pandemic subsides. Eventually, he'd like to see the Universal Hobbies brand on franchised stores in the proper markets.
"If you go to New York City, you are not going to have a store like this because it wouldn't make sense," Coron said. "But here, in the Midwest, it remains mostly rural and agriculture."
Plus, he notes, there is a never-ending joy for a youngster to see a big truck or tractor.
"Kids come in here, and their eyes open wide," Coron said. "They can't believe all of these types of toys in one place."
And it's not just the boys. "Girls like to do what their fathers do, too, so they may like a toy tractor to help with yard work," Corron suggested.
Generally, Coron's biggest clients in the U.S. are not wide-eyed kids but dealers who sell the toys for him. In addition, manufacturers of construction and farm equipment come to him for high-quality models that can draw attention to their brands.
But kids and their parents are catching on as well.
"It's really been good so far," Coron said of the Batavia store, which he opened in late September. "I really can't complain at all."
Dunkin' work progress:
After more than a year of not much happening, those who like Dunkin' coffee or doughnuts were likely happy to see work crews finally busy at the future Dunkin' site along East State Street in Geneva at Crissey Avenue.
For the longest time, the Hari Group working on the former gas station site project said it was delayed in the Dunkin' work because it had crews finishing up other projects.
In the middle of a pandemic, there is likely no rush for new sites to open. But, this one had been moving at a snail's pace before the past week or two.
Add masks to Snopko effort:
In what has become a holiday tradition, Wyatt and Porter Snopko of St. Charles are collecting new socks and underwear to distribute to homeless shelters during the holidays.
This marks the fourth year the Snopko boys have collected items to donate to the Lazarus House and Hesed House homeless shelters.
This year, they've added new masks to the collection items. They will be accepting donations up until Christmas Day.
The boys have a collection bin in front of their house at 612 Fellows St.
Last year, the Snopko collection effort resulted in more than 700 pairs of socks being distributed. It has steadily grown from about 500 pairs the first year when the boys were students at Richmond Elementary.
Sweet tooth explosion:
Just in time to give your sweet tooth an even bigger jolt during the holiday season, Cookie Dough Bliss in Geneva has opened this week.
The shop at 227 S. Third St. has been remodeling and getting ready since Kirstie Geyer of St. Charles revealed in May that she was going to open the store at the former Latest Crave cupcake shop site. Latest Crave changed its brand and opened Hey Sugar at 507 S. Third St.
Add it all up, and it's pretty hard to match Geneva's push in the sugar category with all of the great options available in all parts of town.
A cool pet shop:
We knew we liked taking our dog to Just for Paws for grooming, and Pets+ magazine confirmed our feelings last month in citing the business operated by John and Lindsay Webb as one of "America's Coolest Pet Stores in 2020."
It's not likely to stop our poodle from shaking like a leaf every time she goes for her hairdo because that's what poodles do.
But we'll have to convince her she's going to a really cool place at this shop at 40W160 Campton Crossings Drive on the far west side of St. Charles.
Quite a gas hike:
For a moment, it was like a flashback to 2008 when the price of a gallon of gas was more than $4 at some pumps.
Luckily, this sign touting gas at $9.99 a gallon is up for laughs at the long-vacant Clark station site on West Main Street in St. Charles.
dheun@sbcglobal.net