Foster’s Toys & Party Center

Celebrating Fun in Doylestown for 60 Years
Maryanna S. Phinn

Back in 1949, kids could stop by Foster’s Toys & Party Center in downtown Doylestown for popular toys of the day, such as a Duncan yo-yo or an Erector set. Sixty years later, Foster’s is celebrating its tradition of making shopping for toys and party supplies fun for kids of all ages.

“We have four stores in one,” explains Gene D’Argenio, the store’s third owner since it opened sixty years ago. D’Argenio bought the store in 2001 and eventually moved it to the Cross Keys Place Shopping Center next to Kmart on West Swamp Road and the Route 611 Bypass in Doylestown.

John and Kathryn Foster were the store’s original owners. It was a favorite family fixture on South Main Street for many years. In 1989 the Fosters sold the store and the second owner relocated it to Union Street in 1998. When D’Argenio took it over, he greatly expanded the store’s product lines, offering a vast selection of specialty, collectible and traditional toys and a huge inventory of party goods and balloons, costumes and teacher/classroom supplies.

“We have a happy environment here. People enjoy themselves while shopping especially when they are throwing a big birthday party or buying Christmas gifts,” notes D’Argenio, who spent most of his career in legal publishing before he bought the store. “We rent and sell costumes all year long. We have all sorts of party supplies for sports and theme parties and just about every holiday and special occasion.”

From Pick Up Sticks to Crazy Bones
At Foster’s, parents and grandparents can take a trip down memory lane and find childhood favorites like hula hoops, Rubik’s Cube, army men and Etch-a-Sketch. Or, they can buy their kids and grandkids the hottest toys and collectibles on today’s market (the store does not carry electronic games).

“We are diverse and flexible and often adjust our inventory for whatever is popular or the latest fad,” notes D’Argenio. For example, the store sells Webkinz, but as the popularity of the furry interactive collectibles fades, D’Argenio brings in new hot items such as Tracksters, Bakugan and Hex Bugs. Or the store brings back toys that have regained popularity such as Legos.

“I often tell people that our toys are the kind that won’t end up at the bottom of the toybox,” says D’Argenio, noting that most of Foster’s toy suppliers are small independent companies with rigid standards for quality control. “We sell creative toys and games not usually sold in the mass market. We find toys that challenge the imagination so kids will play with them often.”

From 2006 to 2008, The Intelligencer awarded Foster’s Toys & Party Center first place for its toy selection in “The Best of Bucks-Mont.”

Halloween All Year Long
Foster’s outfits people with costumes, wigs, masks, hats, makeup and accessories for events and parties throughout the year. “Kids come in looking for outfits to dress up as historical figures for school projects. We have famous people like Abraham Lincoln, Teddy Roosevelt and Amelia Earhart,” notes D’Argenio, “and Darth Vader and Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz continue to be our most popular Halloween costumes. Batman and pirates are also always popular with the kids.” The store’s walls, shelves and display cases are lined with every type of superhero, cartoon character, celebrity and politician. “This year, we sold out of Obama and McCain,” adds D’Argenio

Let’s Party!
Customers can count on Foster’s for the perfect party favors if they are throwing a luau during a winter blizzard, heading to a Jimmy Buffet concert or hosting a Cinco de Mayo fiesta. Over-the-Hill gag gifts are always a big hit. Plus the store carries paper products with everyone’s favorite children’s characters like SpongeBob, Diego and Dora, WALL*E and Spider-Man.

Princess-themed items are in abundance, especially those featuring Ariel, Jasmine, Aurora and Snow White. “Right now, Tinkerbell is making a big comeback because she’s a princess and a fairy,” notes D’Argenio.

In addition, shoppers will find all the standard party items from mylar and helium balloons, piñatas and plastic products to invitations and thank you notes for graduations, birthdays, baptisms, communions, bar and bat mitzvahs and engagements.

Supplies for Teachers and Classrooms
In 2006, Foster’s further expanded its product line when it launched its division for teaching and classroom supplies. The store carries the best brands favored by elementary, middle and high school educators including readers, posters, maps and bulletin boards.

“We gave $25 gift certificates to the entire Central Bucks School District and some local Catholic schools for the teachers to use in our store,” adds D’Argenio.

Visit Foster’s in 2009 and Save!
D’Argenio encourages customers to go to the store’s web site at www.fosterstoysandpartycenter.com and print out a 15% coupon every time they visit in 2009. The coupon is a thank you to customers who supported the business that promotes fun for 60 successful years. In addition, Foster’s is also giving away sixty $60 shopping sprees. Information on entering to win a shopping spree is available online.

Foster’s Toys & Party Center is located at 4373 W. Swamp Road in Doylestown and is open daily. Visit www.fosterstoysandpartycenter.com or call (215) 345-0710 for store hours or more information.

Maryanna S. Phinn is a freelance writer from Washington Crossing, PA