KIDDOS, TUESDAY AT 10 A.M. RIGHT
HERE ON "LIVE IN THE D."
♪
>> Jason: BEFORE THE BREAK, WE
ASKED, WHAT IS THE CHILD-LIKE
THING YOU STILL DO OR THE KID AT
HEART?
RIGHT NOW, I’M NOT WEARING MY SHOES.
>>> THE SCHOOL YEAR IS OVER OR
ALMOST OVER, AND PARENTS ARE
WONDERING HOW TO KEEP THE KIDS
ENTERTAINED ALL SUMMER LONG?
WHY NOT INTRODUCE THEM TO A NEW HOBBY?
FIND EVERYTHING YOU NEED IN ST.
CLAIR SHORES.
JULIE IS THE MANAGER AND
CO-OWNERS OF THE WHISTLE STOP
HOBBY AND TOY SHOP.
>> HELLO!
>> Jason: HOW ARE YOU?
>> I’M GREAT, HOW ARE YOU TODAY?
>> Jason: SHOELESS.
THE WHISTLE STOP IS FAMILY OWNED
AND A STAPLE IN ST. CLAIR SHORES
HOW LONG?
>> IT’S OUR 30th ANNIVERSARY.
>> Jason: AND HOW HAS THE
INVENTORY CHANGED?
>> MY DAD STARTED THE STORE
BECAUSE HE WAS A TRAIN
COLLECTOR, SO IT USED TO BE
TRAINS AND KITS, BUT NOW MORE
ARTS & CRAFTS AND TOYS FOR KIDS. FOR EXAMPLE, LEGOS.
FOR EXAMPLE, LEGOS.
>> Jason: WHAT MIGHT SOMEONE NOT
EXPECT FROM YOUR TYPICAL
NEIGHBORHOOD HOBBY SHOP? >> PEOPLE ARE SURPRISED ON HOW
>> PEOPLE ARE SURPRISED ON HOW
MUCH INVENTORY WE HAVE.
BECAUSE WE WERE A SMALL HOBBY
SHOP WITH TRAINS AND MODEL KITS.
WE HAVE ONE OF THE LARGEST
PUZZLE INVENTORIES IN THE AREA
AND LOTS OF ARTS & CRAFTS FOR KIDS AND ADULTS AND WE CARRY
KIDS AND ADULTS AND WE CARRY
LEGO, PLAYMOBILE AND EVEN
OUTDOOR AND SENSE THINGS, PRETTY
MUCH EVERYTHING, COVERS IT ALL. >> Jason: SO LIKE A CANDY SHOP,
>> Jason: SO LIKE A CANDY SHOP,
A TOY STORE AND A HOBBY SHOP ALL
ROLLED INTO ONE, IS WHAT YOU’RE
TELLING ME?
>> WE DO HAVE CANDY, TOO.
>> Jason: DO YOU HAVE CUSTOMERS
WHO HAVE BEEN COMING IN FROM DAY
ONE AND STILL BUILDING TRAINS
AND FIRING OFF ROCKETS?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
MY FAVORITE THING IS TO SEE THE PEOPLE WHO COME HERE AND NOW
PEOPLE WHO COME HERE AND NOW
THEIR KIDS HAVE GROWN UP AND
THEY BRING THEIR KIDS COME IN
HERE.
SO YOU SEE THE GENERATIONAL
CLIENTELE, AND IT’S REALLY NICE.
>> Jason: HOW ABOUT HELPING TO
CHOOSE AGE-APPROPRIATE TOYS AND
KITS?
>> OUR STAFF IS KNOWLEDGEABLE
AND WE HELP FIND THINGS LIKE
THAT.
A LOT OF PEOPLE COMING IN TO BUY
GIFTS FOR BIRTHDAYS OR
GRANDPARENTS COMING TO HELP THE
CHILDREN STAY BUSY.
WE’RE HAPPY TO HELP THEM WITH
AGE GROUPS OR EVEN THINGS THAT
WILL HELP THEM WITH THE LEARNING
RIGHT NOW, WITH PEOPLE DOING
HOME SCHOOLING.
A LOT OF TIMES, PARENTS ARE NEW
AT THIS AND WE GUIDE THEM AND
LET THEM KNOW FOR THAT AGE
GROUP, WHAT ARE THINGS THAT
COULD HELP THE KIDS LEARN, AND
MAKE IT FUN.
>> Jason: WHEN I WAS A KID AND I
WENT TO THE HOBBY SHOP, IT WAS
MIDDLE KITS, LIONEL TRAINS AND
TESTER ROCKETS.
NOW I IMAGINE YOU HAVE DRONES
AND AIRCRAFTS THAT FLY,
HELICOPTERS, BOATS, EVERYTHING
UNDER THE SUN.
>> WE STILL HAVE THE ROCKETS AND
THE MODEL KITS.
WE HAVE SOME REMOTE CONTROL
ITEMS.
WE DON’T HAVE FLYING OBJECTS,
BUT WE HAVE A LOT OF THE CARS.
WE HAVE HOT WHEELS AND WE HAVE A
LOT OF PRETEND PLAY FOR KIDS,
TOO.
THERE’S A WHOLE LINE.
>> Jason: WHERE DO WE FIND YOU ON SOCIAL MEDIA OR YOUR WEBSITE?
ON SOCIAL MEDIA OR YOUR WEBSITE?
THIS IS YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO TELL
THEM WHERE TO FIND YOU.
>> WHISTLE-STOP.COM.
AND WE DO FREE GIFT WRAP.
SO IF YOU NEED ANY GIFTS, WE’RE
HAPPY TO HELP YOU OUT.
>> Jason: IT’S A PLEASURE