Mamaroneck's Miller’s Toys Earns Spot On Historic Business Registry

MAMARONECK, NY — It is immediately apparent that Miller's Toys in Mamaroneck harkens back to a gentler time, when peering in a display window was the best way to plan a list for Santa and cajoling mom and dad into stopping at the toy store was one of life's little victories.

The Mamaroneck Avenue storefront is a living relic of the days before door-buster Black Friday madhouses, Cyber-Mondays and social media influencers sharing their thoughts on the hottest toy of the season.

Now, the rest of the world knows what we already knew — Miller's is better, we're lucky it's still around and if you can steal a few moments to window-shop or drop in, then you might just remember when shopping used to be fun.

State Sen. Shelley B. Mayer announced Wednesday that Miller’s Toys of Mamaroneck was added to the state's Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation’s Historic Business Preservation Registry.

"Whether it was a trip to pick out a special treat or a first bicycle, many of our neighbors have fond memories of Miller’s Toys," Mayer said. "Thank you to Miller’s Toys for providing decades of fun to the children of Mamaroneck and surrounding communities, and to Brooke and Taka Andrews for their commitment to the family business."

The online registry was established by the legislature in 2020, as many businesses faced new and unique challenges, to honor and promote businesses that operated for at least 50 years and that contributed to the communities' character and history, according to elected officials. The program is intended to provide educational and promotional assistance to New York's heritage businesses.

"We are honored and humbled to be recognized by New York State as a Historic Business," Brooke and Taka Andrews, owners of Miller's Toys said. "It’s been our privilege to serve our community by striving to bring best-in-class products and services to multiple generations of local families. We hope that we can continue to bring fun, friendship and fitness to these families for years to come."

The registry will now preserve the legacy of the generational family business. Brooke and Taka Andrews are the third generation of the Miller family to own and operate Miller’s Toys in Mamaroneck. Irving Miller first opened the store on Mamaroneck Avenue in 1948. A few years later, he moved the business across the street to its current location, which features a brick exterior and large show windows. Miller’s mainly sold bicycles in the beginning before introducing outdoor play equipment, including swing sets and trampolines in the 1970s.

"For those of us who live in the Sound Shore and have children in our lives, Miller’s Toys has been a staple of our shopping for holiday and birthday gifts for many years," Westchester County Legislator Catherine Parker said. "As a former retailer myself, I know that it is no small accomplishment to keep evolving and reinventing to sustain business in a growing online world. Congratulations to Miller's Toys for its recognition to the NYS Historic Business Preservation Registry."

While the new designation makes it official, Miller's is already considered an important example of living history in the community.

"Miller's has been a fixture in our community my entire life here," Mamaroneck Historical Society Co-President John Pritts said. "It was the go to place for toys and bicycles when I was young. One of my favorite Christmas presents, my first big guys Schwinn ten speed, came from Miller’s. Congratulations to the owners for this timeless recognition."

In fact, you would be hard-pressed to find someone in the local community who doesn't have fond memories of Miller's.

"My husband and I, having grown up locally, are lifelong Miller's customers," Village of Mamaroneck Trustee Nora Lucas said. "Not only is Miller's the spot to find the perfect toy, they also go above and beyond — from finding the necessary part to repair the high chair, to delivering a toddler bed or locating a hard to find doll to replace the special one that was lost. Miller's is an important presence in our downtown. Miller's is a local treasure."

The full registry can be found on the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation’s website. Those interested in being added to the registry in the future should contact their state representatives.