Topsy Turvy Hits a Triple
Toy store moves location in Tipp, opening new store in Greenville
“When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.”
That’s a cliché. But it’s also exactly what Cathi Hall did when she found out her retail space was going to be cut in half.
Cathi owns Topsy Turvy Toys. She’s had a store in New Bremen since 2007 and one in downtown Tipp City since 2018.
The challenge came last fall, when the owner of her Tipp City building decided to reconfigure the retail space located at 31 E. Main. The new arrangement would have left Topsy Turvy with a significantly smaller space for their inventory.
Cathi started to look for other options. At first, she was concerned that she wouldn’t be able to find another spot in Tipp. But then, the Grounds for Pleasure coffee shop down the road from Topsy Turvy closed. And just like that, a new spot opened up.
“I reached out to the owners of the building at 115 E. Main,” Cathi says, “and the timing was great. After some discussions, I signed a lease, and we moved in just a month later.”
The new space gives Topsy Turvy 1,400 square feet to play with. Nonetheless, it was still smaller than the old space. And that got Cathi thinking: maybe it was time to go really big and find a third location for Topsy Turvy.
After a bit more looking around, she found the perfect spot: 436 S. Broadway, in the heart of downtown Greenville. The 5,000-square-foot, full-inventory store will open this summer.
“When we opened the shop in Tipp City,” Cathi says,” “we named it Topsy Turvy Toys2. The shop in Greenville will be Topsy Turvy Toys3. I’m a former math teacher, so I love the idea of exponential fun.”
Cathi says that she and her crew brought “all the items they love best and hold dear” to the new Tipp City location. “The space is magical,” she says. “Our first day open was the day of the eclipse. So many returning customers walked in the door and told us that the new location looks even better than it did before.”
“The building owners also made a lot of physical improvements to the space while it was empty,” says Cathi. “They installed new flooring from the front door to the back door, put in a new HVAC system, and added retail lighting.”
Cathi says it took eight days to move all Topsy Turvy’s displays, shelving, and inventory down the road. “It felt like we were moving to a new state, instead of a new block,” she says. The move was handled by Tipp City’s Dow Moving company. “I highly recommend working with them,” Cathi says. “They were great.”
Issues of space aside, how does a physical store like Topsy Turvy compete in a world where anyone can order any toy online at any time?
In Cathi’s words, “We provide things you can’t get online. We’re experts in our products. I personally research every item we carry. We have authentic interactions with our customers. We want people to touch our toys, play with them in the store … even cause a ruckus! Also, we price most of our products under the MSRP (manufacturer’s suggested retail price). I’m willing to take a hit on cost because it benefits our customers—and helps us compete with online retailers.”
“I can’t wait for people to see the new space. I think they’ll be surprised how much fun we packed in!”
What are the shop’s most popular products? “Legos, Douglas stuffed animals, and NeeDoh squishy fidget toys are the most popular,” Cathi says. “For my personal favorite, I’ve got a category of my own: things that fly up in the air, like Blast Pads and Rocket Balloons. They’re so fun, and you can also use them to teach math and science.”
The connection between toys and education is important to Cathi. Topsy Turvy’s New Bremen location has a dedicated space for children’s classes and events. In Tipp, the shop offers drop-in activities every Friday through June and July, where kids can try out new toys and step up to physical challenges. The shop also sponsors the Tipp City Library’s summer reading program, donating 350 “Topsy Turvy dollars” to young readers who hit their goal number of books.
“We love being part of the downtown community,” says Cathi, “and we’re thrilled to be able to stay here. I always tell people when they’re coming to Tipp City that walking downtown is like visiting five blocks of neighbors. It’s a completely different environment than any other small town I know of.”
“I can’t wait for people to see the new space. I think they’ll be surprised how much fun we packed in!”
Topsy Turvy Toys is located at 115 E. Main Street in Tipp City. You can learn more at topsyturvytoys.com.