Brookside Toy & Science

Brookside Toy & Science is a beloved independent toy and science store in the Brookside neighborhood of Kansas City, Missouri, in continuous operation since 1964 — making it one of the oldest toy stores in the country.¹² Founded by Donna Furry and owned since 2019 by Holly Pollard, it sells classic and contemporary toys, science kits, and natural-history specimens.²³

Description

Brookside Toy & Science is an independent toy and science retailer at 330 W 63rd St in the Brookside neighborhood of Kansas City, Missouri, sitting between Nothing Bundt Cakes and EB and Co.³² The store has operated continuously since 1964 and is regularly described as one of the oldest toy stores in the United States, having celebrated its 60-year anniversary in May 2024.¹²

The shop carries a deliberately curated mix that spans both classic and contemporary toys, games, dolls, and collectibles alongside its science line — chemistry, green-science and STEAM kits, science-fair supplies, robotics sets, and natural-history specimens including rocks, minerals, fossils, bugs, butterflies, and skeletons.³ Brands stocked include LEGO and Calico Critters.³ Owner Holly Pollard describes her buying philosophy as seeking out items mass-market chains won’t carry: “I’m trying to find the things that they wouldn’t carry because it wouldn’t appeal to mass markets.”²

The store is family-owned and woman-operated; Pollard runs it with the help of her two daughters.² It offers complimentary gift wrap and maintains a physical storefront with regular retail hours.³

Ownership and history

Brookside Toy & Science was founded in 1964 by Donna Furry, a mother of five, establishing it as a woman-founded business.² The founder’s son, Jim Ward, operated the store for many years and is credited by the current owner with creating the shop’s distinctive “welcoming weirdness.”² Holly Pollard worked under Ward for roughly 20 years before purchasing the business from him in 2019.² Pollard has said she aims to maintain “the welcoming weirdness that previous owner Jim Ward created while maintaining the pride and legacy of a female-founded business.”² She now owns and operates the store with her two daughters.²

Links

• Official website: https://www.brooksidetoyandscience.com/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brooksidetoy/

Sources

Disputes

None recorded.

See also

• _Tier1-Non-Service-Local-Businesses

Footnotes

1. Fox4KC — “Brookside Toy & Science celebrates 60 years of fun in Kansas City.” https://fox4kc.com/community/brookside-toy-science-celebrates-60-years-of-fun-in-kansas-city/ — asserts: store founded 1964 and celebrated its 60-year anniversary; longstanding KC toy store. ↩ ↩²

2. The Pitch KC — “Brookside Toy & Science set to celebrate a 60 year legacy of unique finds.” https://www.thepitchkc.com/celebrating-a-60-year-legacy-of-unique-finds/ — asserts: founded 1964 by Donna Furry (mother of five); Jim Ward (founder’s son) operated it; Holly Pollard worked under Ward ~20 years and bought the store in 2019; runs it with two daughters; curation philosophy; woman-founded/woman-operated; location between Nothing Bundt Cakes and EB and Co.; 60th anniversary May 2024. ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶ ↩⁷ ↩⁸ ↩⁹ ↩¹⁰ ↩¹¹

3. Brookside Toy & Science — official “About Us” page. https://www.brooksidetoyandscience.com/pages/about-us — asserts: product range (classic/contemporary toys, games, dolls, collectibles; science/STEAM kits, science-fair supplies, robotics; natural specimens; LEGO, Calico Critters); complimentary gift wrap; address 330 W 63rd St, Kansas City, MO 64113; hours Mon–Fri 10–6, Sat 10–5, Sun 12–4. ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵