Founded by Jim and Mary Thornbury in Louisville, Kentucky, in 1954, Thornbury's Toys was initially a true "mom and pop" shop. After expanding a few times they outgrew the first store located at 117 Breckinridge Lane in St. Matthews and opened a new store nearby at 4101 Shelbyville Rd. in 1960. This store became headquarters. Thornbury's, incorporated in 1965, grew year after year, peaking in the mid 1980's with stores in Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi, Florida, Ohio and Alabama. The formula for success: customer service, high "play-value" toys and bikes, and a strong management team combined with Uncle Jim's entrepreneurial and promotional flair, love of children, understanding of his customers, attention to detail, and loving family. Uncle Jim's motto was "the customer is always right". The company mascot, Thorny the monkey, who pedaled his bike day and night atop the St. Matthews store, also helped Thornbury's stand out.
Showing posts with label in store. Show all posts
Showing posts with label in store. Show all posts

Thursday, May 7, 2015

 Santa Shopped The Doll Department at Thornbury's Toys

Besides a full line of collectable baby dolls Thonbury's also carried a huge selection of cute huggable everyday dolls.
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Thursday, February 19, 2015

Advertising and Promotions Were Uncle Jim's Specialty

Looks like this young lady just won a new Schwinn Bicycle in one of Thornbury's Toys give-ways.


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Tuesday, February 17, 2015

Malls Eclipsed Freestanding Stores in Shopping Convenience


When Thornbury's was founded in 1954, there were no enclosed, climate-controlled shopping malls; the first one opened two years later in Minnesota. Between 1956 and 2005, "about 1,500 malls were built," though many have since faded away or are in the process of doing so. At various times, Thornbury's owned and operated stores located in Oxmoor Center (Louisville, KY), Turfland Mall and Fayette Mall (Lexington, KY), Jefferson Mall (Louisville), Bashford Manor Mall (Louisville), University Mall (Pensacola, FL), Bel Air Mall (Mobile, Al.), Edgewater Mall (Biloxi, MS), Beechmont Mall (Cincinnati, OH), and elsewhere.

Above is a photo of one of the Thornbury's mall stores, circa 1980. It's from PlaidStallions.com in the "Vintage Toy Store Pictures" section ("shot[s] of long lost toy and hobby retailers"). Its caption includes "A picture of a Thornberry's store in 1980 shows some toy classics from the 1970's sitting on the shelves, most noticeable the Shogun Warriors, Gabriel Lone Ranger and Mego World's Greatest Superheroes..."
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