'A tradition for a lot of families': Tiny Tim Shoppe opens this weekend in Mansfield

Zach Tuggle, Mansfield News Journal
·2 min read
Jennifer Kime, CEO of Downtown Mansfield, Inc., said the Tiny Tim Shoppe gives kids the chance to experience the joy of giving.
Jennifer Kime, CEO of Downtown Mansfield, Inc., said the Tiny Tim Shoppe gives kids the chance to experience the joy of giving.

Young shoppers will have a special place in Mansfield to buy their holiday gifts starting this weekend.

The Tiny Tim Shoppe, 128 N. Main St., will be open every Saturday between now and Christmas, according to Jennifer Kime, the CEO of Downtown Mansfield, Inc, which operates the store.

"This is a fun opportunity for kids to get to shop for their parents or grandparents, friends and family," Kime said.

Children ages 12 and under are invited to visit and make purchases. Gifts are available for $15 and less.

The Tiny Christmas Shoppe will be open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. this Saturday, Nov. 25, Dec. 2, Dec. 9 and Dec. 16.

The store will also be open 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Dec. 1, the Friday of the "Christmas Time in the City" event downtown.

Shopping reservations available online

The Tiny Tim Shoppe is operated by volunteers, which necessitates the need for advanced scheduling.

Reservations for children to shop are available through the website shopdineexploreandmore.com/tinytimshoppe.

"I don't know that we've ever turned anyone away, but we do ask for the reservation just so that we're sure we've got enough volunteers to cover everyone who's shopping," Kime said. "We always have to make sure we have enough volunteers to match all the kids that are in here shopping."

A volunteer helps a youngster pick out gifts during last year's Tiny Tim Christmas Shoppe.
A volunteer helps a youngster pick out gifts during last year's Tiny Tim Christmas Shoppe.

Five shopping time slots are available every half hour.

"We limit how many kids are shopping because we don't want it to get too crowded here," Kime said. "We just want to make sure that everyone's got enough space to shop and have an enjoyable experience."

'A tradition for a lot of families'

The Tiny Tim Shoppe has been a Mansfield tradition for nearly 30 years.

"We have grandchildren coming through with grandparents who took their kids through," Kime said. "We have three generations."

The children's store is designed for families of all backgrounds.

"It's really a tradition for a lot of families," Kime said. "It's part of their holiday season."

Volunteers commonly help shoppers as young as 2 select gifts for their loved ones.

"We get families from all over the region, too," Kime said. "It's a unique experience here."

For more information, call Downtown Mansfield at 419-522-0099.

ztuggle@gannett.com

419-564-3508

This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Tiny Tim Shoppe is a place for young shoppers to find holiday gifts