Ocean City Toy Store Focused On Family Fun For Over 3 Decades

OCEAN CITY, NJ — Over the years Katy Himes has seen whole families grow up while working at Kay Jay’s Doll Shoppe in Ocean City.

The games and toys sold in the store have evolved with each new generation, though some things haven’t changed since Himes and her mother first opened the store in 1985. Even in an era dominated by online shopping, Himes sees young kids experience the same thrill as they walk into the store.

“First I’ll hear squealing out front,” said Himes. “I know kids are looking in the window and then I hear them running through the foyer and they’re coming in the store and there’s that (gasp). The parents can’t even get them to walk around the whole store. They stop immediately — ‘Look at this!’”

There are more than 50 dolls to choose from in the store, each varying in size and style, including stand-up dolls, chubby baby dolls, and cloth and vinyl dolls. Half the store is dedicated to the American Girl line of dolls along with a variety of accessories like shoes and hand bags to match any 18-inch doll.

Himes now runs the store with her four daughters. The family-owned shop strives to sell toys and dolls that are hard to find online and in big box stores, including a line of realistic-looking dolls from Spain.

The store is also focused on selling family-friendly games like puzzles, board games and crafts that don’t require batteries or electronics, along with exclusive handmade toys that are not sold through their online store.

“When they come into the store, they’ll see those kinds of things,” Himes said. “We tell people if they haven’t been in the store for at least an hour, then they have not seen everything.”

Toy trends have changed since the store opened 36 years ago. This holiday season, Himes said the popular items are fidget toys like Neato, Crazy Aaron’s Thinking Putty and Squishmallows.

Though Himes has noticed that classic games like jax, marbles and pick-up sticks have regained popularity among some families and continue to bond generations.

“When I was young they had this beacon’s bell and they brought that back out again. And the kids are like ‘What is that?’ while the grown-up is all excited,” she said.

More astonishing than the new toys is the change in faces over the years. Himes has seen three generations of families return to the store each year.

“This little child came in and then came in as a mom and then came in as a grandma,” she said.

Kay Jay’s Doll Shoppe is open year-round in Ocean City at 737 Asbury Ave. Its current hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.

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