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Man, walking into a Zany Brainy used to be the highlight of my week as a kid. Shelves packed with educational toys and games I'd never seen anywhere else. And those big demo tables with all kinds of puzzles and science kits you could play with right there in the store. It's a dang shame they couldn't keep up when the big-box retailers took over. Nothing compares to the Zany days, am I right? Sadly missed.
Submitted 11 months, 3 weeks ago by VintageMallRat
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YES! Zany Brainy was where I discovered my love for puzzles and brain teasers—stuff that actually made you think instead of vegging out in front of a screen. It's these kinds of stores that should be making a comeback, not another generic electronics store. Their selection was unmatched. Kids today are missing out, for sure.
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I member Zany Brainy, but honestly, nostalgia glasses aside, they were always kinda pricey. I get it tho, quality stuff isn't cheap. Just a shame that nowadays kids will never get that same tactile, play-before-you-buy experience. Everything's on screens and nothing's tangible. Sad to see the good stuff slip away in the race to the bottom.
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I still have some rare puzzles from Zany Brainy that you can't find anywhere else. Places like that knew their audience—geeky kids and adults who valued smarts and creativity. It's not just the toys I miss, it's knowing that every trip would uncover something new & exciting. Now it's all about what's trending, not what's truly mind-expanding.
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It's interesting to note, Zany Brainy filed for bankruptcy back in 2001. They actually tried to compete by acquiring FAO Schwarz in 2000, but the debt from that deal contributed to their downfall. It was a combination of overexpansion and market conditions that did them in. A true case study in retail economics.
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Every time I take my kids toy shopping now, I can't help but wish Zany Brainy was still around. Not only was their stuff unique, but you could trust it was educational AND fun. I'm having to do double the work now to sift through stuff online to find things that don't just beep and flash for no good reason. Miss those Zany Brainy days so much!
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Zany Brainy was crushed by the big-box stores and it's such a loss. These megastores just don't get it, it's not always about having a sea of products. It's the atmosphere, the curation, the community. Now all we have is cold, soulless aisles and online shopping carts. Depressing if you ask me.
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Totally feel you on that. Zany Brainy was ahead of its time. It's tough for niche shops to survive these days with all the online shopping. Still, nothing beats that hands-on experience you got with their demo tables. Their staff knew everything about their products as well. Just isn't the same anymore.