By Kelli Samson
Remember that day last winter when we heard that Wind Up Here was closing? Thurston County families were totally devastated. But then we all saw the sign go up in the papered windows, that cheerful sign announcing that the good folks of Compass Rose had picked up the pieces of our broken hearts and were prepared to put them back together.
I knew then that they would do us one better. Compass Rose has been an icon of style, whimsy, and function in Olympia (and, as of 2013, Tacoma) for decades now. It’s shangri-la for my girlfriends and I.
As it turns out, their new toy store, Captain Little, has got that same appeal. And not just for the little tykes. My family and I decided to visit for the first time the day after their Grand Opening last month. Let me illustrate this for you: I have two little girls (ages five and nine) who have a bad case of the “I Wants,” and one husband (who is a kid on the inside) who has never stopped loving board games. But you know what? I was the last one of us out of the store that day. Me. The mom.
There are so many things to see inside what I am officially declaring it “The Best Toy Store in the World.” There are books. All of the best books. And the books you never knew were the best books. There’s a huge selection of all the supplies you could ever need for packing lunches. There are games. There are baby things. There are lovely greeting cards and crafts. There are fancy things and simple favorites.
“We really wanted to work with companies that cater to independent toy stores,” explains Alana Carr, an Olympia native and co-owner of Captain Little. “We want our toys to focus on imaginative play.”
Captain Little is located on the bustling corner of Washington Street and Fifth Avenue in the historic Martin Building (1904). Renovator Dan Martin, grandson of the original builder, exposed the original concrete floors, along with the original Fir columns.
Prior to the Martin Building’s existence, this corner was the home of Doane’s Oyster House, which was named after its owner, Captain Woodbury Doane. Carr landed on the name Captain Little as a nod to the history of the spot.
Carr and Compass Rose owner Paul Shepherd serendipitously met at the coffee shop he owns in Oaxaca while she was living in Mexico after college. He offered her temporary employment at Compass Rose while she figured out her next step, and the rest is history.
When Shepherd learned of the closing of Wind Up Here earlier this year, he surprised even himself with his idea of giving us a new toy store in its place. He shared the idea with Carr, made her a partner in the venture, and she sprinkled her magic and creativity all over it. They quickly hired long-time Wind Up Here employee Michael Tempke to help fill them in on what it takes to run a toy store.
Carr’s philosophy that guided every decision in the creation of Captain Little was, “Don’t age out of the toy store! I wanted to be certain that wouldn’t happen to our customers.” That’s why there is literally something for anyone inside its walls.
Opening day on August 16 proved that our community is ready to support this new venture. Shepherd describes the day: “For a time, the mayor actually contemplated calling the fire marshal to help control the crowd. But how do you control a crowd of excited, playing, screaming children? In the end we decided: you don’t. You just let them play.”
The Olympia Film Society has partnered with Captain Little for the next few months on their Saturday family matinees. The neighboring businesses saw a way to work together to bring families back downtown, showing everything from Jim Henson to Miyazaki films.
What’s next for this fabulous toy store? More community events.
Captain Little will soon implement a regular story time. The holiday shopping season is also coming up, and this will be a perfect opportunity for us to show our new gem some love by giving them our business.
“We really hope to draw families back to downtown Olympia. I feel so grateful for all the support our community is giving us,” says Carr.
And, so, lovers of all things Olympia, don’t be sad for what we lost last year. Rejoice and be proud that we are lucky enough to have the world’s best toy store right at the bottom of the hill. Not only that, but they give away free stickers of that cute little mouse.
All’s well that ends well.
Captain Little
121 5th Ave. SE in downtown Olympia
360-352-5441
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