You might not come across vintage toy shops very often, but if you’re in Pittsburgh, there are several toy shops nearby that will allow you to buy the vintage toys you want. These stores carry a variety of vintage toys, some new and some used. Some stores are bigger than others, with more than one Pittsburgh location, and others are small family run shops with friendly atmospheres. Whether you’re looking for vintage train sets, vintage dolls, or vintage action figures, one of the stores on this list can suit your needs or even be a fun place to browse through if you don’t know exactly what you want!
D & E Collectibles
A large collectible store with thousands of available toys.
700 Main St | Sharpsburg | dandecollectibles.com
D & E Collectibles likely has the vintage toys you are looking for. They buy and sell collectible toys and comics, so if you’re looking for something vintage to buy, you can probably find it there. This store has an assortment of toys you likely remember from your own childhood. They have Transformers, Star Trek, G.I. Joes, Marvel super heroes, and more. And since they regularly buy and trade, you can find different toys there on different days. If you don’t find something you may want now, you can maybe wait for later to see if they will buy it.
This shop has over 5000 items in their inventory, and if you need something, you can find out if it is there ahead of time! They list most of their inventory on Facebook and on Ebay, so you don’t have to take a drive just to find out whether or not you can even pick a certain toy up. If they have what you want, you can go there and pick it up, but if they don’t have what you want, they are open to taking down wish lists. Let them know what you want, and they will call you to let you know when they get it in!
This shop is located in Sharpsburg, just 10 minutes from downtown, and it is run by two 80s babies who still love their childhood toys. What started out as a hobby turned into a basement full of toys and eventually a storefront where they could share their passion with customers. With a large toy selection and passionate owners, this is one of the best places you can go for vintage toys.
“Great store. If you’ve got some collectibles to sell, it’s much easier than the painful process of listing on eBay and other sites. Always a fair price. They also have a fantastic selection if you are a collector/completionist and need that hard to find item. Friendly and knowledgeable staff and reasonable prices.” – Yelp Review
S.W. Randall Toyes & Giftes
One of the oldest and largest specialty toy shops around.
630 Smithfield St | Downtown | swrandalltoys.com
S.W. Randall is a great place to visit when you’re looking for vintage toys. With a large selection of toys and three different locations, it is Pittsburgh’s number one specialty toy store. Its downtown location has been a staple of the city since 1970, and walking through it can be a really fun experience. For a kid, walking into this place can feel like Christmas, and that might also be the case for you if you love vintage toys.
This toy store is one of the oldest specialty gift shops in Pittsburgh. It has been one of the largest of its kind for over 40 years and has thousands of items in stock. You can find Pokemon toys, Disney toys, LEGO, Star Wars, and more. They also have board games, puzzles, and cards. If you have something in mind, there is a good chance that they have it. They have floors upon floors for you to look through for vintage treasures.
“This is the most unique and interesting toy store I have ever been in. If you are looking for a gift this is the place to come. There are so many collectibles, stuffed animals, puzzles, games and books just to name a few. They even have a card and gift bag section which is super helpful…buy your gift, card and bag all in one stop!
They have an extensive section of trains, parts and accessories upstairs. Lots of great board games, legos and playmobil up there too. Definitely a must if you are in the area. Super fun and relaxing just to browse around.” – Yelp Review
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Too Groovy Pop Culture Toys
A small toy store with a large selection.
3910 Main St, Suite 4 | Munhall | facebook.com
Too Groovy Pop Culture Toys is a collectible store that buys and sells toys, and they might have just what you need if you are looking for a vintage gift. They are located in Munhall and can be found at events all over showing off their inventory. That inventory holds on to Transformers toys, Cabbage Patch dolls, He Man action figures, Barbies, and Star Wars action figures among many other vintage and classic toys.
You can get Too Groovy’s toys in the store, and you can catch them at different events, events that they will keep you up to date with on their Facebook page! Catch them at the Butler area Toy Show, The Eddie P Comic Con, and many other local toy related events. They even have sidewalk sales in front of their own store, so there are chances to get some of their cool vintage finds for cheaper than normal!
This store is closed on Sundays and Mondays, but during the rest of the week it is fine to visit. They are all about all types of toys that are part of pop culture, from collector figures, to models, and playsets. They even let you play with some of the toys before you buy them so that you know just what you are getting into.
“Too Groovy is always a pit stop whenever we visit PGH, and we love it there. So many fun toys, and you can play with anything you want before you buy it. Last time I was there my fiance bought some limited edition Barbies as a gift, and I bought myself a Ninja Force Snake Eyes (I had the same one as a kid.)” – Yelp Review
Games Unlimited
Unlimited games sold seven days a week.
5876 Forbes Ave | Squirrel Hill | gamesunl.com
Games Unlimited is a store that sells games seven days a week. They have new releases and pre owned games that are all in great condition. You can find out what they have in person or check out their inventory online so that you know what you’re getting before you go in. On any day, they will have hundreds of toys and games for you to choose from, and those can be new or used. They even have games set up for you to try if you need to experience anything before buying it.
This store is not only filled with fun toys and games that you can buy, but they make sure to make spending time in their store a fun experience. They regularly host different gaming events that allow people who love games to connect and enjoy each other’s company. They even offer deals frequently, so if you even want a deal, you just might find one there. They have a wide selection of games and staff who are passionate about them to help you out, so if you want vintage party games, family games, or children’s games, this is a place you should visit.
“I love this place. I might love it too much. We have been known to drop hundreds of dollars here. I just really appreciate the demo tables and the used and of course the section of mystery games like Unlock. And RPGs in the back I got this Labyrinth book RPG which was the most fun party I’ve ever hosted. Also so many puzzles! But right before vacation or a weekend away it’s good to hit this place up in case of a rainy day or something to do at night.” – Yelp Review
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Shadyside Variety Store
A variety of toys at a local spot.
5421 Walnut St | Shadyside | facebook.com/shadysidevarietystore
At the Shadyside Variety Store, you can find all kinds of vintage toys. They are a family business that sells the types of toys that kids want to play with. They have toys for kids from a wide range of ages and for adults who like to collect them. Whatever reason you want some antique toys, you can find something among their selection, both old and new. They have dolls, costume pieces, and even candy.
This store sells LEGOs, clown wigs, silly string, and more. Plenty of the things on their shelves will remind you of the favorite toys from your own childhood. Even some of the candy is nostalgic! They have Milk Duds, Milky Ways, and Swedish Fish, and other nostalgic sweet treats that you can buy along with your antique toys.
“I was like a kid in a ca…err, I mean a toy store. I came in here to get some noise makers and ended up browsing the shelves and thinking, “Man, to be a kid again.” It takes some time to browse through everything they have. They’ve got just about every little trinket and small toy you can imagine.
I was just browsing away and picking up just about everything I came across. I had completely forgotten why I came in here until the lady working the floor brought me back to reality. I mean I ended up getting a slide whistle, kazoo, and maraca, just to name a few.” – Yelp Review
Esther’s Hobby
Decades of sweet treats and model cars.
219 North Ave | Millvale | facebook.com/esthershobbyshop
Esther’s Hobby is a hobby shop in Millvale that may have the vintage toys you are looking for. They sell everything that could be used for a hobby, from art supplies to toys. They have model cars and trains, Star Wars sets, LEGO sets, and more. Some of their toys are even modeled after vintage TV shows you may not even remember until you check out this store.
The toys you will find the most at this hobby shop are model trains. This store is great for anyone who likes to collect toys, but if you collect trains, especially ones modeled after trains from an older time period, then this store is more than perfect for you! You can find different types of model trains to suit your preferences and round out your collection. They also have model planes and rockets, and also have toys for your pets.
“My Husband has a new interest in N gauge trains. Everywhere we found a hobby store, we were unable to find track or other items for his layout until we heard about “Esther’s. To say they were impressed is not expressive enough. They were blown away! Hundreds of dollars later, they came home with almost enough to fill an entire room. They are thrilled with everything they bought and can’t wait to build their train village. Great experience!” – Yelp Review
When you are in need of vintage toys in Pittsburgh, you have several great options to choose from. From bigger stores with locations around the city to smaller stores with one family run spot, they all have something fun to offer you. Some of the stores on this list are best if you want a specific toy and some are great for any kind of toy. Just check their websites or give them a call to see what’s in stock and go enjoy a stroll down their magical aisles to find what you need!
This article originally appeared on GiftYa.com and was syndicated by MediaFeed.org.
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Pittsburgh or Philly: Which is best for GenXers?
The Gen X generation typically includes anyone born between 1965 and 1980, right between the baby boomers and millennials. This is the generation that listened to grunge and hip-hop and learned to be self-reliant, while also maintaining an air of skepticism.
Gen X grew up wearing dance leggings and off-the-shoulder sweatshirts inspired by the movie “Flashdance” (set in Pittsburgh) and raising their arms in victory every time they ran up a big set of stairs, inspired by “Rocky” (set in Philadelphia). As a result, both cities play a big role in Gen X culture.
Because of this, FinanceBuzz dug into the data to see which Pennsylvania city is “the bomb” and which is a “total buzzkill” for Gen Xers looking to settle down today. Will the Steel City or the City of Brotherly Love prevail?
We evaluated the cities on six criteria to see which is the best for Gen X. Our first three criteria focus on the financial aspects of living in each city.
Related: Recession checklist: 7 things you need to survive an economic downturn
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For a generation known for their independence, having a job is key. We looked at the latest U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics unemployment data for June 2020 in each city to see the recent unemployment rates. Keep in mind, unemployment rates have been rising across the U.S. since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. This has caused thousands of individuals to seek unemployment benefits in all 50 states, not just Pennsylvania.
But when these statistics were gathered, both cities had unemployment rates above the national average:
Pittsburgh: 12.6%
Philadelphia: 14.0%
The unemployment rates aren’t stellar in either city and are fairly close to each other. However, Pittsburgh wins by a slim margin when it comes to potential job opportunities.
Winner: Pittsburgh
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Beyond just unemployment, we wanted to get a gauge of the best jobs available in each city for Generation X individuals. Gen Xers are at a point in their careers in which they should be maximizing earnings, so the more high-paying jobs, the better. We took a look at the average household income in each city for individuals between ages 45 to 64 using U.S. Census data.
Here is where the two cities ended up:
Pittsburgh: $80,109.91
Philadelphia: $75,331.31
According to U.S. Census data, the median income of U.S. households sits at $61,937. Both Pittsburgh and Philadelphia have average household incomes well above this number, which is a good sign for prospective income opportunities. Pittsburgh sits about $5,000 above Philly, though, and wins this round.
Winner: Pittsburgh
AleksandarNakic
For a generation that’s saving for college for their millennial kids and saving for retirement (and heck, might also still be paying off their own student loans), it’s essential to look at how far a dollar can stretch. The cost-of-living index we used looks at housing, food and groceries, transportation, utilities, healthcare, and miscellaneous expenses such as clothing, services and entertainment.
Each type of expense receives a numbered score to indicate whether it’s less or more expensive than the national average. The national average gets a score of 100. So if your overall score is less than 100, it’s cheaper to live in your city compared to the average. If it’s higher than 100, it’s more expensive.
Here is where the two PA cities ended up:
Pittsburgh: 87.5
Philadelphia: 101.2
Pittsburgh’s cost of living is below the national average while Philly’s is slightly above. Overall, Pittsburgh is 13.5% less expensive than Philadelphia.
Winner: Pittsburgh
JGalione
Both cities have great school options for families, but for our scoring we looked at the overall rating for K-12 public schools from niche.com. In a comparison of 67 public schools in Pittsburgh versus 315 public schools in Philly, the two cities received these overall grades:
Pittsburgh: B-
Philadelphia: D+
Once again, the advantage goes to Pittsburgh. This time, it’s not even close, as Philly’s overall rating is more than a full letter grade below Pittsburgh’s.
Winner: Pittsburgh
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Philly is home to the Hospitals of the University of Pennsylvania-Penn Presbyterian, which is ranked as the number one hospital in Pennsylvania and the number 19th hospital nationally for geriatrics according to U.S. News. Pittsburgh is home to UPMC Presbyterian Shadyside which is the number two hospital in Pennsylvania and ranked 23rd in the country for geriatrics.
In either city, you’ve got first-class medical options, but we’ve got to give this category to Philly as its rankings are better.
Winner: Philadelphia
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The generation that grew up with “I want my MTV” will want their live music back once it’s safe again. Both Philly and Pittsburgh have (or had, pre-COVID) a lot of live music options. We looked at Yelp to estimate that Philly has 247 live music venues versus the ‘Burgh’s 231. But just music isn’t enough — Gen X wants a quality music experience. So we also looked at the percentage of live music venues in each city that received at least a four-star rating on Yelp. The results:
Pittsburgh: 68%
Philly: 77%
Both cities have plenty of music venues to choose from and their Yelp ratings are fairly high, but Philly edges out Pittsburgh on this one.
Winner: Philadelphia
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Although both cities have a lot to offer Gen X, the overall winner is Pittsburgh. The Steel City came out on top in four out of six categories, including unemployment rate, average household income, cost of living and school ratings. It wasn’t far off in the elder care or live music venues categories either.
Philadelphia had a good assessment for the most part, but it fell short in the cost-of-living and school rating categories. So if you’re a Gen Xer deciding between living in Pittsburgh or Philadelphia, just know the data recommends Pittsburgh as the better fit.
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This article originally appeared on FinanceBuzz.com and was syndicated by MediaFeed.org.
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