A new toy store opens its doors in Jenks

Thursday, March 24th 2005, 11:09 am

By: News On 6

Sometimes, it's hard to find a good toy store. You often end up in the toy department of the so-called "big box" stores like Target and Wal-Mart. The Cat and the Fiddle is bucking that trend in Jenks.

News on 6 reporter Rick Wells takes us inside.

Somewhere just around the corner from the moose and the waterfall is the Cat and the Fiddle at 400 Riverwalk Terrace in Jenks. Cat and the Fiddle is a toy store. The owner Beth Howard hopes she'll have some things no one else has. "I have a really cool fish tank." It's an old Sylvania TV turned aquarium. She knows she's bucking the trend of finding toys in the big discount stores, but small stores offer something special maybe the big stores don't. "I think people are interested in a social experience when they shop."

She says the store is small enough that she can talk to all the customers, learn what they want and help them find it. There are areas where kids can play and try things out. It's Spring Break for some. One lady is a teacher. "We teach a unit on magnets, they would just go crazy over this."

There is a variation on the old hula hoop. "It would float in the pool or the lake." There are lots of books, and baby gifts, boots with eyes to help you in the rain. "It's nice to see the adults get into the toys too, they will get in and start playing."

The Easter Bunny will be at Cat and the Fiddle Saturday afternoon from 1 to 3 PM. The Cat and the Fiddle is in the new Riverwalk Crossing development in Jenks.

They also have a web site.