This Christmas season turned into a defining moment for one of Salina’s local toy stores.
Owner Yesica Swenson said she wasn’t sure what to expect heading into the holidays, but the response from the community quickly made things clear.
“We certainly did not know what to expect, especially this Christmas season,” Swenson said. “We have been blown away.”
The store saw enough demand that restocking became a constant task throughout the season.
“We have had to order like crazy to replenish our shelves,” she said. “The support has been incredible.”
As the store worked to keep up, Swenson said customers showed patience as the business learned, in real time, how much inventory was needed to meet demand.
“We appreciate everyone’s patience with us as we are learning how much we need to fill our shelves,” she said.
One unexpected takeaway from the holiday rush was how strong Mondays became. What is often a slower retail day turned into a reliable shopping day this season.
“Mondays have been very good to us this holiday season,” Swenson said.
Swenson said the experience has been encouraging as the business looks ahead.
“We look forward to what 2026 will bring,” she said.
Beyond one successful holiday season, stories like this point to a broader shift in Salina. Locally owned stores offering something unique are finding a community increasingly willing to show up, shop local, and support small businesses as they grow.
Shops like this, and owners willing to adapt their hours and inventory based on customer demand, reflect a city that is changing. This season showed that Salina’s community is not only capable of supporting local retail, but ready to move in that direction.
As the holidays wind down, the shelves may be refilled and the hours adjusted, but the message from this season is clear: Salina showed up, and local businesses felt it.
Puzzles: Piece by piece, family time comes together.
According to owner Yesica Swenson, several toys clearly stood out this Christmas season. Bulidzi, Wigglitz, Tongues Out, and Heap of Sheep were by far the top sellers, consistently moving off the shelves throughout the holiday rush.
Close behind were SmartMax, Peachybbies, LEGOs, stuffed animals and dolls, puzzles, and toy trains, reflecting strong demand for hands-on, imaginative, and family-friendly play.
Swenson said the popularity of these items helped shape restocking decisions and offered a clear picture of what local families were most excited to give and receive this year.
Christmas week hours are:
Sunday: 1–5 p.m.
Monday: 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
Tuesday: 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
Wednesday (Christmas Eve): 10 a.m.–3 p.m.
Thursday (Christmas Day): Closed
Friday: 10 a.m.–7 p.m.
Address: 143 S Santa Fe Ave Ste 100, Salina, KS 67401
Phone: (785) 251-3172
Wigglitz: Wigglitz — collect them all.
LEGOs: Big ideas start with small bricks.
Stuffed animals: Soft friends for big imaginations.