A couple doors down from Shabby Chic, Heidi and Eric Langenderfer have opened Little Conductors, a toy store and train rental business. Eric, a carpenter by trade, built a colorful lawnmower engine-powered trackless train out of scrap metal and wood a couple years ago, and it’s been such a hit at area festivals, parades, and parties that they decided to offer more rentals and a toy store. With two kids, Lucinda, age five, and Tyler, seven, they’ve done their homework. The 800-square-foot store is stocked with Thomas, Chuggington, and Dinosaur Train merchandise–as well as a wide assortment of games, puzzles, and arts and crafts. There are even some ride-on train cars for sale–from Thomas cars that toddlers push with their feet to a high-end Lionel steam engine that kids pedal for $279. They rent a variety of train sets by the hour for toddlers to push or older kids to pedal. Regular story times, movie nights, and play days are planned.
Little Conductors Toy Store, 12855 E. Old US-12 (Oak Tree Plaza), 489-5153. Mon., Tues., Fri., & Sat. 10 a.m-7 p.m., Wed. 10 a.m.-8 p.m., Sun. 2 p.m.-5 p.m. Closed Thurs. lilconductors.com
