Step inside and visitors are surrounded by classic toys — Barbies, Hot Wheels, Star Trek figures and Six Million Dollar Man dolls — from the 1970s, ‘80s and ‘90s.
Patterson believes nostalgia makes vintage toys a popular collectible.
“Toys bring people back to their childhood when times were a little more carefree, easy and fun,” he said. “Toys bring up certain emotions.”
Visitors, “ages five to 50,” comb the aisles of his store searching for familiar memories. Cabbage Patch Kids, a Fisher Price doll house with a working doorbell from 1980, and G.I. Joe lunchboxes fill the shelves.
Patterson said his store is known for hundreds of Star Wars toys and collectibles dating back to the 1970s as well as Marvel Super Heroes and the early style LEGO bricks made a bit bigger than they are now.
Malcom Miller, 22, of Dayton browsed for the same toys he played with as a kid to purchase for his god son and daughter on a recent visit.
“He’s got a lot of stuff I used to have but my Mom made me sell,” he said.
As Miller sifted through Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles action figures, Tonka trucks and comic books he observed the vintage toy store brings people of all different ages together. “It takes you back down memory lane,” he said.
The store has something for everyone. Visitors can sort through hundreds of plastic toys and action figures piled in plastic tubs that sell for $1 and $2 each. Some of the rare collectibles in the store reach $300 to $400.
Patterson said he hopes visitors will relive their childhoods and add to their collections during a trip to the store.
He encourages people to bring toys in for him to buy or trade. But if you are thinking of hauling in a garbage bag full of Beanie Babies, his advice is leave it at home.
Mike’s Vintage Toys is open Tuesday – Saturday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 6 p.m. He also sells toys on Instagram, Facebook and Ebay.
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