LA: Help keep your Miracle Mile Toy Store Open!
Donation protected
Hello to all the treasured customers of Miracle Mile Toy Hall, dear friends and family:
My name is Christina Mullin and I have had the pleasure of being the store manager of this unique and wonderful toy shop on Wilshire Blvd. for many, many years. As you may now know, we are set to close our doors in February, but I am not ready for this chapter to end. I am doing all I can to keep the store open in the same location while fulfilling my long held dream of owning a store myself. I frankly can’t imagine the Miracle Mile neighborhood without this wonderful place. It’s because of this that I am humbly asking for the help of my amazing community to help me keep the doors open.
This past year has been incredibly hard on small businesses and the Toy Hall is no exception. Carrie Harr, the current owner of Miracle Mile Toy Hall, has done a beautiful job over the years in creating a welcoming and iconic space for our community. Now I want to maintain that sense of community and carry the shop forward on my own with a new start as Miracle Mile Toys & Gifts .
As many of you know, Miracle Mile Toy Hall isn’t your average toy store. Not only have we created a curated collection of toys, games and puzzles, but we’ve also built a space that encourages exploration and creativity. The Toy Hall has already inspired so many children AND adults alike, and I truly believe there is limitless potential going forward! I hope you all feel the same and will be able to help in whatever way you can.
A little about me: I have worked in retail since I was 14 years old. Apart from working as shopgirl throughout my life I also spent 10 years as a consumer behavioral researcher in retail environments, traveling the country and the World and observing the way in which consumers shop – from Saks 5th Avenue in Manhattan to tiny corner markets in Honduras and Samsung stores in Seoul, Korea. I then moved to to Los Angeles 15 years ago to follow my dream of working in casting for film & television, which I did for 6 years. After having my daughter in 2010 I went back to retail having missed it and was the manager and buyer for CHAY, a lifestyle shop. Through my time there I was fortunate to meet many amazing LA artisans, including a fine jewelry designer, for whom I managed her website and customer service operations. During that time I also started working with Miracle Mile Toys & Games in 2014 and oversaw the store’s transition to Miracle Mile Toy Hall in 2018 at our current location. It's been an incredible journey, and one thing is clear: I know retail in and out. I know what kids like, what parents like and, most importantly, what my beautiful daughter Zoe likes.
An important piece of my story is that I have lived right in Miracle Mile for the past 15 years in the same charming 2 bedroom apartment that is located half a block from the toy store. My family loves this neighborhood, and we believe it truly is a gem in the heart of LA. This is not just me wanting to help a neighborhood toy store to continue, but my neighborhood toy store.
Sadly, the pandemic has been particularly hard on Miracle Mile, and we fear greatly that if small businesses like ours don't stay open, we could potentially see a steep decline that the neighborhood may not recover from for years to come. We are asking for help to keep that from happening.
In terms of why I need to raise these funds, I just don't see a way to do this without your help. Because of the pandemic, foot traffic has diminished exponentially and as a result, our business has taken a demonstrable hit. Your support would help to navigate through the first couple months helping cover overhead costs, including rent and restocking, designing a new logo and changing our sign and branding. It will also help us to continue to carry the beautiful, curated items that MMTH is known for as well as adding in some gorgeous new brands that we have been eager to carry. Funding will also help me create a website that can invite a broader audience to experience what we have to offer.
Plain and simple, I need the extra help. Any amount big or small will be incredibly appreciated and used with great care. I know this year has been hard on everyone, and I understand that it is a hard time to donate for many. If you can't donate please know that I understand, but if you have an idea of how you could help even just by sharing this post that would be amazing too!
If you have any questions, ideas to throw around or even an encouraging word, please don't hesitate to contact me. I would love to hear from you.
We all love this neighborhood, this community and this toy store. It's magical. Please give what you can to ensure that the magic continues on as Miracle Mile Toys & Gifts .
Thank you all endlessly,
Christina Mullin
My name is Christina Mullin and I have had the pleasure of being the store manager of this unique and wonderful toy shop on Wilshire Blvd. for many, many years. As you may now know, we are set to close our doors in February, but I am not ready for this chapter to end. I am doing all I can to keep the store open in the same location while fulfilling my long held dream of owning a store myself. I frankly can’t imagine the Miracle Mile neighborhood without this wonderful place. It’s because of this that I am humbly asking for the help of my amazing community to help me keep the doors open.
This past year has been incredibly hard on small businesses and the Toy Hall is no exception. Carrie Harr, the current owner of Miracle Mile Toy Hall, has done a beautiful job over the years in creating a welcoming and iconic space for our community. Now I want to maintain that sense of community and carry the shop forward on my own with a new start as Miracle Mile Toys & Gifts .
As many of you know, Miracle Mile Toy Hall isn’t your average toy store. Not only have we created a curated collection of toys, games and puzzles, but we’ve also built a space that encourages exploration and creativity. The Toy Hall has already inspired so many children AND adults alike, and I truly believe there is limitless potential going forward! I hope you all feel the same and will be able to help in whatever way you can.
A little about me: I have worked in retail since I was 14 years old. Apart from working as shopgirl throughout my life I also spent 10 years as a consumer behavioral researcher in retail environments, traveling the country and the World and observing the way in which consumers shop – from Saks 5th Avenue in Manhattan to tiny corner markets in Honduras and Samsung stores in Seoul, Korea. I then moved to to Los Angeles 15 years ago to follow my dream of working in casting for film & television, which I did for 6 years. After having my daughter in 2010 I went back to retail having missed it and was the manager and buyer for CHAY, a lifestyle shop. Through my time there I was fortunate to meet many amazing LA artisans, including a fine jewelry designer, for whom I managed her website and customer service operations. During that time I also started working with Miracle Mile Toys & Games in 2014 and oversaw the store’s transition to Miracle Mile Toy Hall in 2018 at our current location. It's been an incredible journey, and one thing is clear: I know retail in and out. I know what kids like, what parents like and, most importantly, what my beautiful daughter Zoe likes.
An important piece of my story is that I have lived right in Miracle Mile for the past 15 years in the same charming 2 bedroom apartment that is located half a block from the toy store. My family loves this neighborhood, and we believe it truly is a gem in the heart of LA. This is not just me wanting to help a neighborhood toy store to continue, but my neighborhood toy store.
Sadly, the pandemic has been particularly hard on Miracle Mile, and we fear greatly that if small businesses like ours don't stay open, we could potentially see a steep decline that the neighborhood may not recover from for years to come. We are asking for help to keep that from happening.
In terms of why I need to raise these funds, I just don't see a way to do this without your help. Because of the pandemic, foot traffic has diminished exponentially and as a result, our business has taken a demonstrable hit. Your support would help to navigate through the first couple months helping cover overhead costs, including rent and restocking, designing a new logo and changing our sign and branding. It will also help us to continue to carry the beautiful, curated items that MMTH is known for as well as adding in some gorgeous new brands that we have been eager to carry. Funding will also help me create a website that can invite a broader audience to experience what we have to offer.
Plain and simple, I need the extra help. Any amount big or small will be incredibly appreciated and used with great care. I know this year has been hard on everyone, and I understand that it is a hard time to donate for many. If you can't donate please know that I understand, but if you have an idea of how you could help even just by sharing this post that would be amazing too!
If you have any questions, ideas to throw around or even an encouraging word, please don't hesitate to contact me. I would love to hear from you.
We all love this neighborhood, this community and this toy store. It's magical. Please give what you can to ensure that the magic continues on as Miracle Mile Toys & Gifts .
Thank you all endlessly,
Christina Mullin
Organizer
Christina Mullin
Organizer
Los Angeles, CA
