Rochester's 'toybrary,' Nana Gogo, to close on Nov. 22

Jeff Kiger, Post-Bulletin, Rochester, Minn.
·2 min read

Oct. 31—ROCHESTER — After 15 months of fun and games Rochester's only 'toybrary' —

Nana Gogo

— is closing its doors and selling off its more than 700 toys.

Owner Pavitra Kumar announced this week that the business at 2300 Superior Drive Northwest will close on Nov. 22.

"Thank you so much for your support! You've given us amazing memories in these 15 short months since the Toybrary opened. I'll deeply cherish every visit, every laugh, every conversation, and each new friendship that we've witnessed bloom at the Toybrary!," she wrote. "Due to heavy financial losses and other unforeseen circumstances, we have made the decision to close. This is the hardest decision I've ever had to make. I hope this is not 'Goodbye,' but simply 'So long.'"

In the run up to the closing, Nana Gogo is selling all of its inventory of more than 700 toys plus kids' furniture and more.

Kumar, the mother of young twins, created Nana Gogo with the goals of reducing waste as well as teaching children how to share and to embrace eco-consciousness. It later added

"escape room" challenges for young children

to Nana Gogo's offerings. It was aimed at children who are between 6-months-old and 5-years-old.

The business name came from the nicknames of her twins, Nana and Gogo.

She opened the business in August 2022, after remodeling the 3,000-square-foot space previously occupied by

Hair Studio 52.

Families purchased memberships to "check out" Nana Gogo's toys. The space was also available to rent for playdates and parties.

"The core of the concept is that this is your chance to say yes to your child for a change. You bring them to a warm, cozy place that's like a friend's house, except it has got a ton more toys to play with," said Kumar in 2022.