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A HEARTFELT FAREWELL TO THE VILLAGE TOY SHOP NORTH SHORE RESIDENTS PAY THEIR RESPECTS AS A BELOVED RETAILER CLOSES ITS DOORS. BY DEBBIE LEE THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND
For Stephanie Simpson of Winnetka, birthday parties are a regular fixture on her social calendar. As the mother of kids ages 3, 5, and 7, she can hardly make it through a week without having to pick up a new toy for her children or one their friends. And although she is just as guilty as any of us for enjoying the convenience of online shopping, Simpson often relied on a local retailer—The Village Toy Shop—to provide the perfect gift. So, in December, when she heard that the business would be closing its doors, she immediately drove to the store to confirm the rumor. It was true. Mother-and-daughter team Pat and Liz Berwanger, who ran the 71-year-old shop, said a confluence of hurdles—rising rents, online competition, and multiple construction projects that reduced foot traffic—led them to their ultimate decision. And unfortunately, not much could be done to change their minds. Simpson shared the news on NextDoor, a social networking app for neighbors; her post was met with a chorus of concerned voices. The response was so overwhelming that within a few days, she established a GoFundMe campaign, asking locals to contribute to a farewell fund. It was a small way to alleviate the sorrow shared by both the Berwangers and the community, as well as one last opportunity for North Shore residents to say thank you to the family for their many years in business. To date, the campaign has surpassed its original goal of $5,000, collecting $7,545 from 92 donors. “I didn’t want to put pressure on Liz [to stay open] because she didn’t ask me to do this,” says Simpson. “I wanted to be clear that this was not going towards keeping the business afloat; it was a gesture of support from the community, and the funds would be used at their discretion.”
Pat and Liza Berwanger, owners of The Village Toy Shop PHOTO COURTESY OF LIZ BERWANGER
Carrie Hoza, who was born in Winnetka and lives in Northfield, was among many customers who made contributions to the fund. “The Berwangers and The Village Toy Shop have been a staple to our community forever,” says Hoza. “I don’t think you could grow up in Winnetka and not be overly excited on your birthday when you saw a present in that historic polka dot wrapping paper… And when I was an adult, they were so great at taking care of me as a customer and making my life easier by going above and beyond with their customer service.” Hoza, who is a fourth-generation partner in a local plumbing company, also sympathizes with the challenges of keeping a small
family operation viable. “I loved that store, and I donated because— as someone who is part of a business that has been here for almost 83 years—I completely understand the changing of times,” she says. “The village has truly lost a treasure with its closing. Mollie VanderLaan, 41, is a decade-long resident of Winnetka whose children frequented the store. For her, this is more than the loss of a local retailer—it’s also a lost opportunity to teach kids about fiscal responsibility. “The ladies at the Village Toy Shop were always patient with my daughters counting Continued on PG 8
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