The Houston Toy Museum opened in October 2022 in the Heights.
The Houston Toy Museum announced this week that it will close its doors at the end of August.
Since opening in October 2022, the two-story, 5,000-square foot museum has been part of the popular shopping district on 19th Street in the Heights neighborhood. Owners Matt and Sara Broussard said in a Wednesday night news release that the cost of renting the space played a significant role in their decision.
“This is not what we envisioned as the ending to our time on 19th Street, and it comes with a lot of sadness,” the couple said. “Like many small businesses, we’ve faced the reality of rising expenses and a cost of rent that ultimately became unsustainable for us.”
Exhibits at the toy museum feature items in Matt’s personal collections of more than 10,000 toys. The space also includes special collections dedicated to famous toy lines and inventors that are on display for a limited time.
A display at the Houston Toy Museum showcases toys from different decades.
The couple said the closure will not deter them from remaining part of the Houston toy community and exploring future ventures.
“We plan to continue to be an active part of the community through our LEGO events, interactive pop-ups, and future collaborations,” Matt and Sara Broussard said. “And when the time is right, we hope to find the perfect forever home for the museum.”
The Broussards also thanked those who visited and donated to the museum over the past four years.
“We owe so much to you, our community,” they said. “You showed up for us again and again, and we cannot thank you enough for believing in what we created.”
Guests will be able to visit the Houston Toy Museum through August. It’s open Tuesday through Sunday.
Admission is $14 for adults and $10 for seniors. The cost for children ages 1-13 is their respective ages.