New Store Brings Toy Shopping to Hillsborough

The new Boro Toy Shoppe opened a few weeks ago, and has quickly found parents are looking for gifts that can't be found everywhere.

The store, located between Sal's Dry Cleaning and Dunkin' Donuts at Route 206 and New Amwell Road, has been busy with its assortment of cases, trays, totes and baskets that customers have personalized.

In fact, store Supervisor Noelle McGowan said "personalization is really hot right now."

But there are more surprises inside the fun store, which will kindle memories of childhood visits to a toy store where many of the games and toys are new and unfamiliar.

McGowan said in addition to personalized items, many customers are buying the Laser Maze game.

And few can resist the temptation of card games from Blue and Orange games—which manage to often combine educational aspects with flat out fun. That's why open games of the company's Ooga Booga and picture-matching game Spot It are kept handy.

"We play the game with them (customers) and they end up liking it," she said (disclosure: I walked out with Ooga Booga, anxious to play with family members).

The store has a large crafts room, and a wall of games. McGowan said an expanded science toy department is in the works, and she is also looking to offer more toys and games aimed at the "tween" market.

The store offers a customer rewards program, too, and coupons mailed to local households in Money Mailer and Raider Savers are offering holiday shopping discounts.

The store's regular hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday—though McGowan said the weekday hours will be extended to 8 p.m. through December.