The Imagination Station II toy store held their grand opening on March 17. From left to right are Dulcie Juenger, Tim Edgens, Robert Briggs, Shawn Evans, Caitlin Cothran, Tracy McCall, Lena McCall, Rokel McCall, Brittany McCall, Marley McCall, Jaxen McCall and Mike Southern. (Photo submitted by Janet Sciacca)

A new toy store for kids, and adults too, has opened on N. Church Street in Landrum. Owners Lena and Tracy McCall held their grand opening on St. Patrick’s Day, March 17.

The opening and official ribbon cutting was a small reception, featuring Carolina Foothills Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Janet Sciacca and Landrum Mayor Robert Briggs and his wife, Debbie, following a soft opening on March 1.

Lena and Tracy moved to Landrum from Gramling, S.C. in November and officially started planning the toy store during the first week of February. Tracy owns his own electrical business in Spartanburg, Tracy McCall Electrical, which has been open for nearly 25 years.

“We had bought out a little consignment store here and my husband had started talking about doing a toy store,” McCall said. “We just moved up here and he said Landrum would be a good place to have one.”

The initial plan was for the McCalls to combine the consignment store with the toy store, but because the couple decided to focus on just toys they ended up selling the consignment store, The Carousel Shop.

The McCalls add inventory for the store by talking with sales representatives from worldwide companies. They say the toys in their store set them apart from places like Toys ‘R’ Us.

“The consignment shop was down in Gramling/Campobello and it was an existing shop that we had just bought out from somebody else,” McCall explained. “We’ve got two grandkids and we love taking them into toy stores like this one and let them pick out their toys.”

Lena said her husband loves to try out the toys and games they find in the toy stores they have been to, which sparked the idea to open one of their own near downtown Landrum. There is no relationship to the Imagination Station in downtown Spartanburg, although the McCalls are good friends with the owners there.

“We wanted to expand the reach of the Imagination Station in Spartanburg,” Tracy McCall said. “Bringing the toy store here in Landrum and using the same name will hopefully bring customers from Spartanburg up here, too.”

Inside the store are items like plush animals, keychains, toy guns, board games and a variety of toys for infants and toddlers. Brittany and Rokel McCall, who call themselves the “Savvy Sisters,” can also do customizable vinyl prints.

Play days, where kids can come in the store and do arts and crafts, are also an idea being toyed with by the McCalls at Imagination Station II. As of now, no dates have been set for these opportunities.

The store is open from 10 to 5 Tuesdays through Fridays, from 10 to 4 on Saturdays and closed on Sundays and Mondays.