Houston Toy Museum Opening, Market briefs

In Houston, Who invented Silly Putty?

In Did you ever have a Hula Hoop, which was released by the Wham, O toy company in 1958?

Is it true that a Frisbee was once hurled 1,100 feet through the air?

Someday you may be able find the answers to questions like these at the Houston Toy Museum.

Houston Toy Museum has leased space in the The Heights, as stated by Davis Commercial, a Houston-based real estate firm. Houston Toy Museum has leased space at 4,932 SF in a former thrift store at 321 W. 19th St.

Described as a “nostalgic experience where toys, pop culture, and history collide,” the Houston Toy Museum plans to open in the two-story storefront in space formerly occupied by Retropolis, once a vintage clothing shop.

Ryan Neyland

The doors to the nostalgic toy Mecca will likely open in June, said Ryan Neyland of Davis Commercial, who represented the landlord, Retail on 19th Ltd., in the lease transaction. The building was constructed 1940, as stated by records at the Harris County Appraisal District. Neyland said the toy museum “is a start-up business.”

Each exhibit in the new all-ages museum “will focus not only on the toys but their inventors, as well as the artists behind the design and branding of the toys people know and love,” the Davis Commercial news release says.

Neyland described the West 19th St. area of The Heights as being a walkable district and the epicenter of “retail shops” that are locally owned, not linked to corporate businesses.

The museum will be located between two existing businesses. Tea Sip, in Suite A to the left of the toy center, is a gourmet tea boutique. To the right is Manready Mercantile, a one-stop shopping emporium for men, with apothecary items, leather goods, vintage home décor and kitchen and bar accoutrements.

Nicky Gomez with ReMax represented the Houston Toy Museum in the lease negotiations, which were concluded in December.