Jim Duncan, a retired city planner, has written more than 600 short histories of Austin businesses. The American-Statesman introduced Duncan and his series, “Jim Duncan’s Austin,” on July 6, 2025. This week, we adapt four of his stories about toy shops. — Michael Barnes
1973: King’s Hobby
The Tinplate Trackers model train club from Austin, Texas host their 10th annual Holiday Model Train Exhibit at the Round Rock Public Library. Many area train hobbyists shop at King’s Hobby, one of the oldest shops for model work.
Henry Huey @HenryHueyPhoto
If you are an Austin hobby modeler, then you have probably been to King’s Hobby. One of Austin’s oldest hobby shops, King’s specializes in the art of models.
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Founded by Bob King and his wife Alice in 1973 at 8810 North Lamar Blvd., it provides modelers with a diverse array of subjects and scales, including planes, trains, automobiles, ships, rocketry, slot cars, armored vehicles and science fiction figures.
It carries both HO- and N-scale trains and accessories, as well as an array of die-cast models of varying scales.
In 2009, Bob retired and sold the store to longtime customer Marc Hobbs and his wife, Wendy. Now located at 7801 North Lamar Boulevard, the store also offers the services of the “Train Doctor,” John Urban, a retired minister and expert repairer and restorer of vintage model trains.
As a community hub, King’s supports the Austin Scale Modelers Society, Austin Armor Builders Society, Lonestar Military Miniature Society, Lonestar Military Vehicle Preservation Association, Austin Model Cars, Austin Slot Car Club, Texas Military Forces Museum, Capitol Area Council Boy Scouts of America and the local school districts.
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1978: Terra Toys
Employees Dave Weber, left, Sylvia Edwards and Ryan Obermeyer pose for a photo in Terra Toys at 2438 W Anderson Lane, Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2018. [Stephen Spillman for American-Statesman]
Stephen Spillman/Special to American-Statesman
Austin is Terra Toys territory.
It is a locally owned toy store that was founded in 1978 by Charles Austin Edwards and Romalda Ann Allsup, two University of Texas grads with a desire to design and create their own toys. All Terra Toys were originally handmade from carved wood and hand-painted by the Edwards.
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After moving to SoCo in 1984, the family lived in the back of the store. At the time, the area was full of drug addicts and prostitutes. According to Edwards, “It was South Congress that helped us become iconic, and on the flip side, it was stores like us that made South Congress iconic.”
In 2004, the store moved to West Anderson Lane to obtain more display space. The owners carry toys from around the world and children’s clothing made in the U.S. Wind-up toys, robots and trains are out of their packages and ready for play.
Terra Toys has won the Austin Chronicle’s “Best Toy Store in Austin” award 22 times since 1990. In 2015, the store added an espresso bar, with local art on the wall.
The nationwide closure of 200 Toys R Us stores in 2018 also gave local toy stores a boost. Favorite family toys: Edwards, a rubber ball; Allsup, a Steiff bear; and their daughter, Stella Allsup-Edwards, a hula hoop.
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1986: Dragon’s Lair
Miles Thomas, 5, chooses a branch from which to make a Harry Potter-inspired wand from, at a class put on by The Worthwich School at Dragon’s Lair on July 1st, 2017. Erika Rich for American-Statesman
Erika Rich/Special to American-Statesman
When Dirk the Daring first saved Princess Daphne in the innovative, interactive 1983 LaserDisc video game, “Dragon’s Lair,” he also became the inspiration for an Austin business that lets gamers replicate his rescue.
Founded in 1986 by David Michael Wheeler, a UT physics student, the namesake hobby-related enterprise focuses on gaming, comics and fantasy products and events. It sells comic books — current and back issues; games — board, card and roleplaying; graphic novels; plush animals — fantastic and terrestrial; manga, action figures and cosplay supplies.
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It also sponsors many events, such as concerts, mini-conventions, trivia contests and signings. As Austin and his business grew, David moved from his initial location at 510 West 35th St. to 4910 Burnet Road in 2002, then to 6111 Burnet Road in 2007, and finally to a 10,000-square-foot store at 2438 West Anderson Lane in 2013.
In 2015, he sold his Austin store to brother and sister Angela Kay “Angie” and Jason Hamilton Yackley and converted the business into a franchise operation. The dragon now also has lairs in Houston, San Antonio, San Marcos and Columbus, Ohio.
1987: Toy Joy
Toy Joy, an eclectic playmaker, has operated stores around Austin since 1987.
AMERICAN-STATESMAN FILE
Crammed floor to ceiling with eye candy, this is the toy store you dreamed of when you were a kid.
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Since 1987, Austin-born Toy Joy has played a leading role in keeping Austin weird, supplying residents and visitors with an array of things odd, shiny and colorful
It has had three sets of owners since its founding 35 years ago. Sharland Reeves and Laura Heider opened the first Toy Joy in Hyde Park at West 34th and Guadalupe streets. After moving nearer UT to West 29th and Guadalupe streets, it was purchased by Elizabeth “Lizzy” Newsome and Trevor Yopp in 2008, and later moved downtown to 403 West Second St.
Despite laudatory reviews — voted “World’s Best Toy Store” by USA Today and Travel + Leisure — rising rent, overstaffing and limited parking led to financial problems and bankruptcy.
In 2014, Shelly Meyer and Fred Schmidt, co-founders of Iconic Austin, which owns Wild About Music, Austin Rocks Texas and Yummi Joy, bought Toy Joy out of foreclosure. In addition to the downtown store, Toy Joy today operates stores at 5501 Burnet Road and at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. Newsome and Yopp moved to Las Vegas and founded Kappa Toys.
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Three previous histories in this series
New series explores history of Boggy Creek Farm, Estrada’s Cleaners, more
From bread to blues: Four classic Austin bakeries and the stories behind them
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Before Uber and craft cocktails, Austin had Roy’s Taxi, the Cloak Room
Please send tips and questions to mbarnes@statesman.com.