Who remembers the Commodore 64, MSX, The A-Team and Masters of the Universe? Many adults can feel like a child again when they think about this. Eric Toonen (56) from Waalre is fond of this kind of stuff. He has a shop where vintage toys and computers are for sale. “I have a store full of childhood memories,” says Eric. “People come from all over Europe, so that’s nice. I’m quite proud of that.”
The ‘collectible store’ started a year and a half ago. The display cases are full of toys from the seventies, eighties and nineties. A unique picture because you hardly see this anywhere. Young visitors sometimes have no idea what they are seeing. “Sometimes they bring their father or mother along to explain it.”
This includes toys from Transformers, Diaclones, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, GI Joe, Ghostbusters, Star Wars, Power Rangers, Biker Mice from Mars, ThunderCats, Robocop and Knight Rider. Eric himself especially loved Fisher Technik as a child.
“People often buy back their childhood memories. They buy what they used to have, but they also often buy what they didn’t get before. They saw that with friends. Now they can finally buy it.”
The store also has many old computers. “If they can run Windows, they are way too new.” For example, there is a P2000 from the early eighties. “That has always been known in the region, from Philips. For example, I also have the very first portable computer ever made, the Osborne 1. That is a portable computer, you certainly don’t have to put it on your lap, it is much too heavy for that. I also have very old Apples. We put a lot of love and attention into it.”
The well-known Commodore 64 is also represented. “This is still very popular. Many people mainly used it to play games.” Then it is a small step to the game consoles that are also in his store. “Like the Atari 2600. People often remember that.”
“People often walk into the store and don’t know in advance what to expect. Then they see the old video games and then you see their eyes light up. ‘Oh, I used to play with that too’. As long as people walk through the store with a smile, then that’s always fine with me.”
“I’ve had people from Portugal and Spain here.”
Eric records a video every week for social media so that customers are aware of new items. He doesn’t send anything. “It’s all second-hand. People should really come and have a look, I think. I have the store because I really want to have a chat. I love talking to other collectors, hearing what their passion is, what they are looking for, what they want.”
Enthusiasts even come especially from Germany, Belgium, but also from England. “I’ve had people from Portugal and Spain here. They say they come for the store and some combine that with a day at Efteling.”
He buys his stuff from his contacts in the collectors’ world. People also come to the store to offer their old toys to Eric.
He is proud of his Star Wars Imperial Shuttle. “This is the only one for sale anywhere in Europe. This is so special. This was quite a large box and also quite expensive at the time. So the fact that we have it here in such a beautiful box is unique. For me it is so cool if I can buy this from someone to put in the store. So I hope it will go to a good collector one day.”
By the way, it doesn’t produce a fat pot. “If you do it to get rich quick, then you certainly shouldn’t do it. But if you do it to meet people and have a fun day every day. That’s what it’s more about for me.”
