Heim's Downtown Toy Store

Built in 1922, the Orpheum Theater in Kenosha, WI hosted films and stage productions through the 1970's, but fell into disrepair and was slated for demolition when a Chicago-area bussinessman purchased it and reopened the theater in 1995.  But that venture failed, the theater closed about seven years ago.  Another illinois-based owner bought the building in 2001, and did some renovations, but the building had remained largely empty with the exception of retail tenants on the first floor.  A plan to convert the upper floors into apartments withered.  We bought the orpheum theater in 2004, knowing we wanted to put in a little toy store but not knowing what to do with the rest of the space. 

We hope to someday renivate the entire building however trying to take things one step at a time.  But the store is based on our combined 25 years of early childhood education, with the focus on high-quality toys that encouage the imagination.  Nothing is from the mass market, its all specialty stuff.  The store features many toys for infants and toddlers, many of them made from wood or cloth, as well as many other toys for all ages.  The aim of the store is to provide toys that kids will love to play with and that parents will feel good about buying.