For nearly three decades, Big Fun vintage toy store has been a mainstay in Cleveland Heights’ Coventry Village, with its seemingly bottomless supply of vintage toys, novelties, collectibles, books, cards and other whimsical items from every decade of the late 20th century and today. It’s the place to go for stocking stuffers or humorous gifts for weddings and birthdays.
Now, owner Steve Presser, who himself has been a mainstay and driving force in the neighborhood, has announced that the store will be closing.
He posted a long statement on the Big Fun website that says, in part,
“When I told family and friends that I was going to open a shop that would specialize in collectible toys, novelties, and jokes and gag, the majority responded, ‘Are you nuts ?’ Before I could even respond, almost all, immediately answered their own question. “’Yep, you’re nuts…Tell me again what you are planning to do.’
“I’ve often been asked what I do for a living. My response would often be ‘I have an award winning toy and gift store.’ Or, depending on whom I was speaking to, I would respond ‘I sell collectibles’ or ‘I’m a purveyor of poop and fake vomit.’ However, I realized a short while ago what I actually have been doing all this time and now I answer, ‘I make people happy’ and I’m damn proud of that!
“I used to joke that they would have to carry me out of Big Fun horizontally. I’m here to say that I much prefer the alternative. This is a decision that is incredibly difficult. There are so many variables to this equation — so many layers and so many people involved. After countless hours of discussion with family and friends, I’ve decided to close Big Fun.
“We are going out with a bang. The final huge 50% off sale event starts this Friday, February 2. There’s tons of great stuff and everything in the store will be HALF off. We will also be bringing items up daily from our 3000+ sq ft basement.”
He adds that he will be replenishing with stock from his warehouses “boxes of stuff 25 years ago, that was 35 years old back then and this stuff hasn’t seen daylight since! There’s parts and pieces that would be great for artists to create their own works of art.” The sale will continue until his lease expires in June.
In addition, the vintage knitwear pop-up shop he’s been doing a block up Coventry, selling never-worn knitwear from the ’60s and ’70s, will continue its 50% off sale until it closes Sun Feb 11.
Cleveland Heights, OH 44106