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Statesman Journal’s ‘What’s that?’ function shares building information
To submit a “What’s that?” thought, electronic mail Statesman Journal reporter Whitney Woodworth at [email protected] with the mission location.
Location: 1910 Commercial St. SE
A visit into Subatomic Toys on Commercial Street in south-central Salem can really feel like time-travelling again to childhood.
The retailer is crammed with classic and collectible toys from the Thirties to the early 2000s, together with colourful shows of G.I. Joe motion figures, Transformers, “Simpsons” characters, “Star Wars” units, lunchboxes, Barbies, “My Little Pony” toys and Hot Wheels vehicles.
A big Yoda and Millennium Falcon ship oversee the register space, a Kentucky Fried Chicken-branded lamp – a nod to the placement’s earlier iteration as a rooster restaurant within the Nineteen Seventies – hangs subsequent to a classic monster show, and a Kartoon Movie Korner video sales space always performs “Jonny Quest” cartoons.
Subatomic Toys homeowners Tom Engen and CJ Nelson, together with workplace supervisor Jennifer Crawford, spent a yr amassing a curated assortment of toys with an emphasis on collections from the Nineteen Seventies, Nineteen Eighties and Nineties. Crawford described it as a “museum of fun” and a hub of nostalgia.
The location has, at numerous factors, been an antiques store, a dry cleaners and a KFC. The retailer opened in December 2025 and has already established a daily buyer base.
People are available to purchase, promote or share tales. The sight of a childhood toy on the cabinets can set off a powerful reminiscence for guests, Engen stated. He and Nelson, each longtime collectors and sellers, turned their love for nostalgia and motion figures into Subatomic Toys.
Both are not any strangers to bringing nostalgia to Salem. Nelson opened the longtime bar-arcade The Coin Jam downtown. Engen owned Pop Culture classic toy store on Lancaster within the Nineties and 2000s.
The spot on Commercial Street attracts a gentle stream of auto and foot site visitors. Visitors can drop in any time throughout open hours to promote, and Engen says folks regularly carry in their youngsters to introduce them to toys from their childhood.
For some youngsters, it is their first time being in a toy retailer.
“Toy stores are going away,” Crawford stated, pointing to the closures of locations like Toys “R” Us.
Engen stated Subatomic goals to be each curated and accessible. Toys are grouped into vibrant shows, and the shop sells each uncommon collectibles and extra inexpensive objects like Hot Wheels and $10 motion figures.
“Places like this survive because of the people,” Nelson stated.
If the shop does not carry an merchandise clients are in search of, Subatomic can place it on a want record and notify them if they arrive throughout the toy. Engen stated one among his favourite elements is seeing clients gentle up once they spot a long-lost, favourite toy.
“It makes people happy,” Engen stated. “It brings back memories of happier times… You can’t be unhappy in a toy store.”
Is there one thing beneath building you need to inform us about or discover out extra about? Contact reporter Whitney Woodworth at [email protected]m.
This web page was created programmatically, to learn the article in its unique location you’ll be able to go to the hyperlink bellow:
https://www.statesmanjournal.com/story/news/local/2026/05/08/subatomic-toys-vintage-toy-shop-south-salem/89931701007/
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