Toyco and Toys By Rizzi

[C3Nostalgia]

Does anyone know what Toyco was? I know that there were at least 2 locations in the Pittsburgh area:  One in Century III Mall, and one in Monroeville Mall.  All I know is that they were toys stores, but I don't know much else other than both of these locations were later Kay-Bee Toys locations.  Though the Century III location was a Circus World before becoming Kay-Bee.  I don't know much about the Monroeville Mall location.  Did Toyco become Circus World?  Just trying to gather some information.

As for Toys By Rizzi, I have found that it was in Century III Mall, and a few other malls in the US, but I have little-to-no information on it either.  All I know is that the Century III location became Kay-Bee Toys sometime in the mid-late 1980's.



Here is an architectural drawing of the Toyco storefront in Century III.  When I saw this back in July, I noticed that it was dated April of 1979.  Sorry, I don't have a better picture of this.  I think the storefront looks kind of like an Amtrak traincar.


A grand opening ad for the Toyco grand opening in October 1979.


A grand opening ad for the Toys By Rizzi grand opening in October 1979.


I cut the ads from a Century III Mall Grand Opening Supplement found on Google News Archive at http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=KuwNAAAAIBAJ&sjid=zG0DAAAAIBAJ&pg=4356,3458275

Can anyone clear this up for me?  I can't really seem to find anything about either one of these stores.

[Pikapower]

I've never heard of any of these toy stores, so I can't help you out.

[Retail Fan+ (Justin Hill)]

I can not help you either. The only toy store chains I've heard of are Toys "R" Us and Kay-Bee Toy & Hobby/Toy Works.

[Pikapower]

I can not help you either. The only toy store chains I've heard of are Toys "R" Us and Kay-Bee Toy & Hobby/Toy Works.

In addition to KB and Toys "R", I've also heard of the following other toy store chains, Child World/Children's Palace and Lionel Kiddie City