starheim, what ARE YOU THINKING HERE?????

The expansion of Off the Wagon toy store is now complete.

that’s it? C’MON SUZI. PICTURE THE STORE. TELL ME A STORY. THERE ARE TOYS IN THERE THAT JUST WOW ME. CHOCOLATE BACON; POLITICAL DOLLS; HALLOWEEN PRANKS…THAT IN ITSELF WOULD MAKE A LEAD. RIGHT NOW, I’M DOZING OFF..FFFFFF….

NOW YOU GIVE ME ALLLLLL THE BACKGROUND… AND NONE OF THE WHAT’S THERE FOR THE READER?

The business, which opened in Kent in August 2009, expanded into the area directly next to it where thrift store Rehab Vintage used to be, said owner Michelle Sahr.

MORE SPACE MEANT MORE MERCHANDISE FOR SAHR, WHO SAID SHE BEGAN FOCUSING ON EXPANDING WHEN…

Sahr said she began focusing on expanding when she heard Rehab Vintage might be relocating to South Carolina. One reason for the move is to provide more merchandise.

“We kind of did more of all the great things everyone has loved about the store,” Sahr said. WHAT? WHAT IS THAT?

WHAT DID THEY LOVE AND WHY DIDN’T YOU PUT IT IN THE LEAD.

YOU SAY THEY LOVED THINGS – AND THEN YOU TELL ME ABOUT A WALL.

The wall that originally separated the toy store from Rehab Vintage was torn down and a wide doorway was put in its place.

The store, which Sahr said was originally approximately 500 square feet, will MORE THAN DOUBLE THE SPACE…

add approximately 600 square feet to its space. Some new products, such as humorous T-shirts and games for younger children were also added.

“People come in here all the time to buy gifts for adults as well as kids,” Sahr said.

Sahr also owns two other stores called My Little Red Wagon, with locations in Stow and Hudson.

While business has been good in Kent so far, employee Kyle Buckley said he thinks the expansion is “going to help out a lot.”

He said the next step is to get the original side of the store looking as good as the expanded side.

Tiffany Zeller is one customer who said she enjoys the quirky nature of their products. The Brady Lake resident said this is the first time she has visited the store since it expanded.

“It’s a little easier to see,” Zeller said. “Before, it was kind of condensed.”

Sahr said she didn’t know the exact cost of the expansion because of all the factors, but she said the only costs that will increase in the future are rent and inventory investment.

“I think we are just starting to get the word out because we literally just opened the expansion up,” Sahr said.

Overall, Sahr said she is excited about the completed expansion and hopes it brings more joy to customers.

“We have sort of a humorous quirky sort of feel,” Sahr said. “People come in here and literally laugh. That is something we are going to keep absolutely the same, we are just expanding on it.”

Contact Suzi Starheim at [email protected].