Distinctive Toys In Fair Haven: A 'Full Service' Specialty Shop

FAIR HAVEN, NJ — As the name suggests, Distinctive Toys is the type of shop where one would go to find something unexpected and less so where you would get the latest release from big names like Lego or Barbie.

With Christmas around the corner, it might be worth visiting the Fair Haven specialty toy shop, which sells everything from technology kits to sports items, strategic games and remote control toys.

A few examples? Right now you can find a candy claw machine that has to be built from the bottom up. There is a wide variety of science-type games — everything from climate change-related to volcanos. You'll also find a section of green toys made out of recycled bottles.

"When you come here there's always somebody to help you," store owner Margaret Spicer told Patch. " We wrap every gift for free. It's a full service."

The store has been in business since 1984. It was at first a video store at first and over the years gradually shifted in a different direction.

"Friday and Saturday night it was the place to be," Spicer said. "There were tons of kids and families and local celebrities. People hung out, they talked, it was a nice place to meet everybody. We were always very crowded."

The Lincroft native settled in Fair Haven to open shop.

"It's just a beautiful little town," she said. "The town was very welcoming."

Looking back at the past few years, some of Spicer's fondest memories of the toy store are those when she's been able to help out families in need.

After hurricane Sandy in 2012, she put together a temporary free toy store for families impacted by the disaster, with the help of a few local organizations and volunteers.

She contacted all of the toy companies she worked with and asked them for donations. They were able to give out over 10,000 toys to over 1,000 families.

"That's my favorite memory of the store," Spicer said. "I wish it never happened because Sandy was horrendous for this area, but it was a good thing that we did."

Spicer set up the temporary shop in Ocean Township and for every weekend in December, parents could come in, pick out their toys, go to the register and get their gifts wrapped. Just like a regular store, expect at no cost to them.

Distinctive Toys will be participating in Fair Haven's holiday stroll, which starts at 5:30 p.m. on Friday.

"We are participating on the front lawn of another store [By George Baby]. We're giving out goodie bags," Spicer said.

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