At a toy store on the west side of The Original Farmers Market at Third and Fairfax, smiling faces greet shoppers as they enter the store which is filled with countless model cars, stuffed animals and board games for sale.

Kip’s Toyland, located at the west side of The Original Farmers Market, is Los Angeles’ oldest toy store. (photo by Gregory Cornfield)

The classic toy store, Kip’s Toyland – a place to bring children to buy a new doll or Slinky – will celebrate a milestone anniversary on Oct. 11. Kip’s has been that same classic toy store for 70 years. Los Angeles’ oldest toy store has been open for business six days a week since 1945.

The store’s founder, Irvin “Kip” Kipper, was a pilot and prisoner of war during World War II. After seeing some of the darkest sides of mankind, Kip decided he should find a way to bring joy to people’s lives.

When he returned to Los Angeles, Kip bought a store that sold flags on the southeast corner of Third Street and Fairfax Avenue, where a Whole Foods grocery store stands now. When the war ended, the United States’ rationing rules on rubber did too, and Kip was able to start selling balloons. Don Kipper, Kip’s son, started working at his dad’s store when he was nine years old, in 1955, tying strings on the balloons.

“In 1945, there weren’t as many toys as there are now. There were Slinkys, chess and checkers. As soon as balloons became available, people couldn’t wait to get them,” Don said. “There was a line around the store to get balloons. That’s how he started in the toy business.”

As the business grew, Kip added more toys to the inventory, and moved to the Original Farmers Market in 1956, where it was one of the first places where customers could find Madame Alexander dolls, Don remembered.

Don said his father worked at the store six days a week and bought merchandise for the store on the seventh.

Kip, 99, is retired now. He still visits the store weekly, but Don Kipper and Kip’s granddaughter, Lily Kipper now run the store.

Lily said it’s an honor to carry on the legacy of her grandfather’s work.

“We are custodians of the flame, just keeping it burning,” Don Kipper added.

Lily Kipper started managing the store in 2011 after graduating college.

“But as a little kid, I always tried to help and stock shelves,” she said. “I spent a lot of time on the weekends just visiting because my grandparents were always here. I mean they worked six days a week … and I was a kid, so going to a toy store was still pretty great.”

Don and Lily Kipper are confident that the store will continue to be successful because they stay true to Kip’s original values and themes that led to the store’s longevity.

“More than anything, we try to provide a good selection of merchandise – things that are very current and things that are also classic and vintage,” Don said. “But most importantly, we’re going to take good care of our customers and give them good service.

Don Kipper said the relationships his family have built have led to third and fourth generation customers. People who visited the store decades ago, now bring their grandchildren and great-grandchildren to the shop.

Lily attributes their success to the line of classic toys that has remained consistent through the decades.

“We don’t sell video games or anything that plugs in,” she said. “It’s all classics – nothing like Xbox or PlayStations. Even though I’m part of that generation, I understand why that’s never been an option. That’s sort of what makes us special, we’re not just like any other toy store. When you come in, there are puzzles and board games and real games and not just something that plugs in.”

Most importantly though, the Kippers said they love what they do.

“It doesn’t feel like work,” Lily said. “I hang out with my dad and our staff is awesome. A lot of them have been here for a really long time. One of our staff members has a tattoo of the Kip’s logo. They love our store and we love them. It’s mutual and everyone is happy to be here.”

Keeping the same strategy wasn’t easy when competitors and electronic fads grew in popularity. Kip’s Toyland has outlasted big box toy stores, as well as the rise of video games.

“When The Grove was developed around 2000, our store was moved to where we are presently, and less than 100 yards from us was a brand new, enormous FAO Schwartz toy store,” Don said. “It was very daunting to be in the shadow of that.”

The Kippers continued their same strategy, and now FAO Schwartz is gone.

“There are always challenges that present themselves in anyone’s life,” Don said. “The testament and the strength of a business or as a family is how you respond and meet that challenge.”

The Kippers said they never let it bother them when customers come in with mobile apps and price-compare with services like Amazon.

“During the holiday season or for a last minute birthday gift or what have you, customers know they can come here, we’ll have what they’re looking for. We’ll gift wrap it for them and they’re out of here in 20 minutes,” Don said. “We continue to do a simple thing very well. We’re going to keep doing what we’ve been doing.”

The anniversary celebration will be held Oct. 11 at noon on the plaza in front of Kip’s Toyland. There will be giveaways and special guest appearances.

As the third generation manager at Kip’s, Lily is looking ahead beyond 70 years. She plans to keep the store in the family, as well as its classic theme.

“Otherwise it wouldn’t be Kip’s,” she said.