Old School Southie: Slocum’s Toyland
Stacks of board games, boxes containing dolls, action heroes, View Masters, and Fisher Price toys stood from floor to ceiling. There was candy section with Fortune Bubble, Fun Dip, Chuckles, candy cigarettes and Nik L Nips. You could buy Wiffle balls & bats and hula hoops. No matter what toy you asked for, Mr. Slocum would disappear behind a wall and come back with it. A trip to Slocum’s was magical.
The legendary tiny toy shop opened in 1900 and closed in the early 90’s.
Photo by Fran Canavan
Editor’s Note: best part of this photo is the sign next to Mr. Slocum – “Big Balls .59 cents.”
God, I still miss “Slokies”
i didnt know it closed, it was so wonderful got all my toys and penny candy there. for 99 cents i always got a package stuffed with all that fit barbie doll stull, shoes, sports stuff. he never let me pick, in and out quick, he never let you get anything he knew where everything was, now its funny
This place was epic when I was little boy….. they had official G.I. Joes of all sizes and the predecessors to transformers a.k.a. Grandizer ect. I feel so bad for kids growing up who don’t even know what a toy store is cuz of Amazon.
Where can you purchase copies of the Slocum’s Toyland picture shown above
amazing memories…sorry it closed…Mr Slocum knew where everything was…even as a kid i was amazed
Mr. Slocum was the nicest and the most patient adult that I knew.I would spend hours looking at all the cool toys he had. He knew i didn’t have much money to buy toys, but he always let me look. I think about he often.
they had everything LoL
My parents would takes us all the way from Billerica to go here- I was 5 years old and almost thought I’d dreamt it up. Glad to know it actually existed!