The 2014 Toys for Toys giveaway. Photo: Berkeley Police Association Update, Dec. 18: The Berkeley Police Association has closed its fundraising campaign because it more than exceeded its goals. The drive for Toys for Tots garnered $11,114 from 193 people in one day. Original story, Dec. 17: Less than 14 hours after the Berkeley Police Association […]
Mr. Mopps’ Toy Store
Posted inBusiness
Shop Talk: The ins and outs of Berkeley businesses
Mr. Mopps’ Children’s Books opens Oct. 19 MR. MOPPS’ BOOKSTORE We brought you the news in August that much-loved toy store Mr. Mopps’ would be opening a standalone bookstore. Mr. Mopps’ Children’s Books is opening on Saturday Oct. 19 at 1417A Martin Luther King Jr. Way, near Rose Street, and just four doors down from […]
Posted inBusiness
Mr. Mopps’ in Berkeley to open children’s bookstore
Kids love to play and explore in Mr. Mopps’ toy store, which will soon be opening a bookstore. Photo: Bravo Your City By Camille Baptista The beloved 51-year-old toy store Mr. Mopps’ is preparing to open a bookstore this fall just two doors down from its space on Martin Luther King Jr. Way at Rose Street. […]
Posted inBusiness
‘We’re going on a Berkeley business scavenger hunt’
By Pete Rosos You may know Pete Rosos as 2812 Photography; you will almost certainly have seen many of his photographs on Berkeleyside, including his wonderful Snapshot series, in which he takes the pulse of some of the most interesting, not necessarily high-profile, people of Berkeley, accompanied by gorgeous photographic portraits. Last weekend, Rosos embarked on an […]
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Photos: Mr Mopps’ toy store celebrates 50th birthday
Mr Mopps, which was established in 1962, threw a party for its 50th birthday on Sunday. Photo: Bill Newton Berkeley’s venerable Mr Mopps’ toy store celebrated its fiftieth birthday on Sunday (as we alerted readers in our weekend It List, published last Thursday). The store at 1405 Martin Luther King Jr. Way at Rose, was […]
Posted inOpinion
Play is vital: finding more play and toys in Berkeley
“We don’t stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing.” George Bernard Shaw Play is alive and well in Berkeley! But not everyone realizes how important playtime is to improving well being, reducing stress, and increasing joyfulness. We know children and adults need plenty of time to play, using all […]
Posted inEvents
The Ukulady strums her way to Mr Mopps’ in Berkeley
The Ukulady (aka Thessaly Lerner): searching for the approval of 5-year-olds. Photo: Ariana Cosmos By Tara Taylor Mind your peas and carrots: the Ukulady is in town. Performing in a toy store is not something new to the Ukulady (Thessaly Lerner). She performed for a group of kids in Heebe Jeebe General Store in Petaluma, […]
Posted inBusiness
Photo essay: Mr Mopps’ grand opening party
It was a story with a happy ending, sealed with an official opening party on Saturday, attended by face painters, balloon artists — and lots of wide-eyed children. A mural was painted on the store’s façade and photographer Richard Friedman chronicled the festivities.
Posted inCommunity
Your neighbors: Mr and Mrs Mopps’
https://youtu.be/2h9H1WD8m2w Devin McDonald and Jenny Stevenson took on a much-loved Berkeley institution when they bought Mr Mopps’ toy store in October. The couple read about Mr Mopps’ being for sale on Berkeleyside and decided it was their mission to save it. Kim Aronson is an online community builder who has lived in Berkeley for the […]
Posted inBusiness
Mr Mopps’ new owners cut ribbon on reopened toy store
The ribbon about to be cut at the newly reopened Mr Mopps'. Left to right: Chamber of Commerce joint-CEO John DeClercq, Mayor Tom Bates, Mr Mopps' owners Jenny Stevenson and Devin McDonald, Chamber of Commerce joint CEO Polly Armstrong, and councilmember Laurie Capitelli. And, in front, Reuben Lenear. Photos: Tracey Taylor. Mr Mopps’, which has […]
Posted inBusiness
Thanks from Mr. Mopps’
Devin McDonald and Jenny Stevenson When Berkeleyside first wrote about Mr Mopps’ toy store in April, we could not have anticipated the reaction. That story, breaking the news that the long-established neighborhood toy store in North Berkeley was closing, had 905 Facebook Likes, 21 tweets and 30 comments. More importantly, as it turned out, it […]
Posted inBusiness
Berkeley couple buys Mr Mopps’ toy store
Devin McDonald and Jenny Stevenson, new owners of Mr Mopps A couple with deep roots in Berkeley has purchased Mr. Mopps’, the venerable toy store loved by generations of Berkeley children. Devin McDonald, 34, and Jenny Stevenson, 30, finalized the purchase Friday and intend to take over the store this weekend. “We’re unspeakably excited,” said […]
