Greetings, Learning Expressions Readers!
We’ve spent much of the last few months sharing our very favorite toys with you. Today, however, I won’t be introducing you to a brand new toy…instead we’ll be introducing you to some brand new store owners! Back in November we had Learning Express Toys open up in both Wayne, NJ and Shreveport, LA.
Introducing the new store owners of Learning Express of Shreveport, LA
Local residents Brandy and Robert Stroud kicked off their grand opening celebrations the weekend of 
November 2, and the festivities included hourly prize drawings, balloon animals, and special visits from Elmo and Abrakadoodle Face Painting.
“As the parents of six children, we understand how important it is to provide the young people in our community with the very best toys, books, and games on the market. And beyond that, we want Learning Express Toys of Shreveport to be that special place where kids can go and just be kids,” Brandy told us. “We want it to be interactive and memorable—we want kids to walk through the door and feel like our store is a place made just for them. Growing up, I can remember walking into a toy store and having it feel so magical. That’s what we aim to create at Learning Express.”
The holiday season was a busy one for Brandy and Robert, and even included a special visit from the Elf on the Shelf! January is shaping up to be no less exciting: Shreveport is hosting weekly story times, Rainbow Loom classes, and offering a special 20% discount on all puzzles to celebrate National Puzzle Day on January 29. Shreveport also has an active Facebook presence, so be sure to connect with them there if you want to find out more!
Introducing the new store owners of Learning Express of Wayne, NJ
On November 30, Learning Express re-opened its doors under new ownership in Wayne, NJ. Longtime customers of the Wayne store, Hana and Peter Farewege were disappointed to hear their favorite toy store was closing. “We were so sorry when the former owner retired but it turned out to be an ‘aha’ moment for us,” said Hana.
The Fareweges are no strangers to the world of retail. Peter’s family owned and operated a retail furniture center for 75 years, and Hana has over 25 years of experience in the business. “When I was a child, my father owned a toy store,” Hanna told us. “Owning a Learning Express allows us to replicate the charm and customer-centric focus of the neighborhood toy stores of yesteryear. Our goal is to delight children with educational and stimulating toys, while providing a convenient, hassle-free shopping experience for customers.”
Grand opening weekend at Wayne was a big success, and included raffles, free glitter tattoos, and a
visit from Spiderman and a Princess. Mayor Vergano was in attendance and officially opened the doors (and cut the ribbon!) at the ribbon cutting. Residents of Wayne were clearly pleased to have Learning Express back in the community, with one Facebook fan commenting, “So glad to have Learning Express Back in Wayne!!! Thanks for coming back just in time for the holidays!!”
The holidays were hectic at the store, and both the Grinch and the Elf on the Shelf managed to stop by. Be sure to connect with them on Facebook if you want to learn more about Learning Express of Wayne!
We hope you’ll join us in welcoming the Strouds and the Fareweges to the Learning Express family. We are so delighted to have them on board.