Stepping into Toyboxx Ice Cream is like stepping into a giant toy box — a toy box that also provides a safe neighborhood hangout for kids.
As its name suggests, Toyboxx Ice Cream, 12152 N. Rancho Vistoso Blvd., sells ice cream — including unusual flavors such as prickly pear and green tea — but ice cream is just a part of the business.
More than 3,000 toy figurines of characters from movies, television shows and comic books line the walls. Represented are characters from "Star Wars," "Harry Potter," "The Simpsons," "Lord of the Rings," "Mad Max," "The Flintstones," "X-Men" and "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles," among others.
It's "over 20 years' worth of toys," said owner Jack Simon Jr., 47. He started Toyboxx in March after one of his sons suggested he start up his own ice-cream shop.
The collectible toys and fun foods such as ice cream and hot dogs draw neighborhood kids, who ride their bikes there on Sundays and after school on early dismissal days, Simon said.
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Young kids and teens love the variety of items at ToyBoxx.
"It's got everything — all the cool action figures," said 15-year-old Taryn Todd, a sophomore at Ironwood Ridge High School, 2475 W. Naranja Drive.
It's the "best ice cream/comic book/toy store," said Donald Norris, 15, also a sophomore at Ironwood Ridge High School.
Most of the items in Toyboxx Ice Cream are for sale, though a dozen or so of Simon's most prized items are just there for show.
Average prices include $5 to $10 for action figures and $2 per pack of trading cards. Higher priced statues run from $100 to $500, though some collectibles are $1,000 and up, Simon said.
A safe hangout for kids
Another facet of the business: Parents sometimes drop off their children at Toyboxx while they shop at Safeway, which is in the same shopping center, Simon said.
"Everybody knows it's a safe place," he said.
Providing a safe place where children and teens can hang out helps prevent kids from getting into trouble with drugs and alcohol, said Tori Ferrari, director of Teen Challenge's Springboard Home for Youth in Crisis.
"A lot of times, they may get into that trouble because they have nothing to do after school," she said.
Springboard is a home for girls ages 12 to 17 who are trying to overcome addictions, domestic abuse, neglect and other traumas.
Toyboxx took part in a Springboard benefit earlier this year. Simon "put together a 'Star Wars' day. We had people in full costume (in) a festival environment," Ferrari said.
Simon, who is a father of four sons, said he doesn't mind keeping an eye on neighborhood kids.
"I built this store for kids and to have fun," he said.
Children who come into the store get to spin a prize wheel for a free pack of trading cards or another prize, regardless of whether they buy anything, he said.
Simon plays movies on the store's big-screen television at 7 p.m. The movies he plays "have to have something to do with the store," which means lot of "Star Wars" and Disney movies and his own personal favorite — "Shrek."
Fun for big kids, too
Toyboxx has fun things for big kids, too. Adults who come into the store will notice old favorites such as Betty Boop and Casper, the Friendly Ghost.
For those who like bigger toys, there have been Corvette, Mini Cooper and antique car nights when the parking lot in front of the Oro Valley business was filled with automobiles, while their owners and car fans socialized over ice cream.
"It's a place where we can go and gather, and we can enjoy each other's cars — and the public (can), too," antique car enthusiast Bill Burns said.
Burns planned to gather with other antique car enthusiasts Friday night at Toyboxx.
He said it seems like most antique car gatherings are on the East Side. He's glad that Simon is providing a Northwest Side gathering place, so area car enthusiasts don't have to drive their classic cars all the way across town.
Theme nights at Toyboxx Ice Cream
● For more information on Toyboxx Ice Cream, call 877-8697.
l '50s Night — Wednesday nights, with $1 scoops, '50s music and employees with slicked-back hair.
l Costume night — Saturday nights, when "Every Saturday is Halloween at Toyboxx," owner Jack Simon Jr. said. Anyone who wears a costume gets an ice-cream scoop for $1.
