CLEVELAND — At Apple Jax Toys in Tower City Center in downtown Cleveland, nostalgia sets the scene.
"Some of the items you have here are 40 to 50 years old. Some items came out this year," Allen Singleton said.
Singleton and his wife Diana own the store that just opened up last week. It's their third location to go along with Lakewood and Chagrin Falls.
Now they're preparing for Small Business Saturday to hopefully kick off a busy holiday season.
"Were hoping to fill this store with double the merchandise you see today, we also plan on seeing a lot of people come through," Singleton said.
With once barren storefronts in recent years, these new shops are part of a years-long upgrade by Bedrock, the real estate firm that owns Tower City, renovating the iconic location that houses memories for many.
"I was a west side Clevelander and we took the (RTA) Rapid down here all the time to go to Tower City," Singleton said.
"I can remember as a kid coming down and it being full and stores, being crazy and people everywhere. It got a little slow and then [the] pandemic, but it's on the way back and it's looking promising," Carlton Story Jr. said.
Story is the internet sales manager at Mike the Hatter.
The shop just opened inside Tower City Center this month, but has been in business in Cleveland for nearly 90 years.
A testament to the power of shopping small.
"It helps you get back in touch with some of the shops who are here trying to make the city a better place for the people who live here, the tourists that come and visit the city, it helps rejuvenate the name of Cleveland," Story said.
Tower City will have free holiday events from November 25 - December 31 including a snow show, holiday spirits bar and indoor iceless skating. You can find more information on days and times here.
WinterLand Tree Lighting Ceremony at Public Square will take place November 25 from 4:00 to 6:30 p.m.
