Anthony Lopez has opened other toy stores in Tucson, but never with the confidence he has now.
His newest, Retro Toys and More, got underway three months ago with different hours and more space for what Lopez loves to sell: toys and novelties dating back to the 1960s up through the 1990s.
Retro Toys, 2602 N. Stone Ave., is his fourth store and, he says, his last.
Customers might remember his first, Gertrude’s Collectibles, at 118 E. Congress St., which was open from 1990 to 1996. Or perhaps Broadway Toys on East Broadway near North Plumber Avenue. That store was open for two years before closing in 1998.
Lopez’s third store was a little shop next door to where he is now: Nostalgic Novelties, 2604 N. Stone Ave. That one closed in 2009 after the economy tanked.
“As you can see, I’ve been chasing this dream for a long time,” he said. “This time, I’ve prepared in a different way. And I am better prepared financially.”
Lopez started collecting as a child in the 1970s and began dreaming of his own shop as a teen. His previous three stores have helped him realize what people want most. To that end, Retro Toys is pet friendly, and open every day from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m.
“When I had my previous store, the biggest complaint was that we were not open late enough,” he said.
Store manager Amber Stiltner said they spent about a month painting and cleaning to get the 1,100-square-foot shop ready.
“The inside was a mess when we first got there,” she said. “We put in carpet and took it from trashed to what it is now.”
The shelves are now lined with action figures, old board games, collectors items, vintage video games and puzzles.
“I try to throw everything I can in there. Lunch boxes, paper dolls, vintage Halloween, vintage Christmas,” Lopez said. “If it’s kid-related or child-related, it’s in there.”
Stiltner has been friends with Lopez for years. She was helping him sell merchandise online — he has two bedrooms and a garage’s worth at home — but they’ve stopped doing that now.
“We just go out there and dig out a few boxes and bring them in to the store,” she said.
Lopez’s parents fostered his love of collectibles by spoiling him, he said, and allowing him to buy lots of old, original toys at thrift stores.
“My father built me a play room outside,” he said, “and that’s where I kept all of my toys.”
Customer Jason Horseman has known Lopez for years, and said he is willing to go out of his way for his customers. Horseman collects and trades action figures, including anything from the 1970s and 1980s as well as modern day superheroes, science fiction and sports figures.
Danny Buccellato was driving by a few weeks back when the new store sign caught his eye. As a small-time collector, he was happy to find Lopez’s store. Buccellato looks for Marvel Action Figures, and figurines from movies, such as Jaws, among other things such as the Incredible Hulk and X-Man.
In addition to Lopez’s collections, the store also features some NECA Toys and Sideshow Toys, as well as consignment space. Customers also will find Debbie Fineis’ old Fisher Price sets and Lisa Hernandez’s Star Wars, Lord of the Rings and Nightmare Before Christmas items.
Hernandez has been collecting for a long time, although she cut back after becoming a busy teacher a few years back. For a while, it was Kick-Ass Girl action figures, she said. She also likes anything to do with “The X Files,” “Peanuts” and “Lord of the Rings.”
“It’s almost visceral, when you see something you really like,” she said. “You like it, you want it, you’ve gotta have it.”
