Stamford Toy Store Offering Curbside Pickup FaceTime Orders

STAMFORD, CT — As restaurants and breweries across the state move to take out and contactless curbside pickup orders in response to the new coronavirus, a Stamford toy store is adopting a similar business model. While they are temporarily closed for in-store shopping, Awesome Toys and Gifts on High Ridge Road is offering customers a number of ways to shop safely.

According to owner Nick Tarzia, customers can purchase toys, games and gifts through the store's website, and they can also place orders over the phone. If it's easier, customers can even place their orders through text message or FaceTime with an employee to pick out what they want. (To sign up for Stamford breaking news alerts and more, click here.)

"We appreciate every text, phone call and online order," Tarzia said in an email to Patch. "We are here for you and will continue to be far into the future. Making your children happy is our job, and supporting our community is our mission. We thank you for allowing us to do that."

In addition to offering curbside pickup at the store, Awesome Toys is continuing to make same-day deliveries for orders over $25. Tarzia said the store is not only "sanitizing everything," but they are also limiting contact for customers as much as possible.

"We place pick up bags outside [the store] to reduce face to face contact," Tarzia said. "We leave our bags on front porches, ring the doorbell and walk away, so as to keep our distance and keep everyone safe."

With Easter coming up this weekend, Awesome Toys is even able to help out parents who may have a difficult time getting to the store for fun items this week. Customers can have the store pick out items for their baskets and fill them with fun surprises like kites, Hot Wheels, stuffed Jellycat bunnies and more.

"We have some of the best Easter basket items in the market," Tarzia said. "We can help you pick out items to include in your baskets that are sure to make your children happy this Easter morning."

Awesome Toys, formerly called Stamford Toys, has been a part of the Stamford community since 2007. In late 2018, the store opened a second location in Westport, a community Tarzia said he "could not be happier to be a part of."

Though customers won't be coming inside for a while, Tarzia is continuing to constantly clean and disinfect the store and its products. He said both Stamford and Westport residents have been "amazingly supportive," and he continues to feel a sense of unity in both communities even though everyone must stay at a safe distance from each other for now.

"We are all in this together even though we are all apart," Tarzia said, "If we can do anything to help make your life a little easier, whether its supplying you with an educational book, a 1,000-piece puzzle or a game to bring the family together, we are here for you. We have families too and understand the challenges we are faced with during these new times. It is an honor to help make these trying times a little easier any way we can."

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By Beth Dalbey, Patch Staff