Business & Tech

Gold Sales to Help Toy Boat Stay in Biz

The iconic Corona del Mar toy store is asking for community support to help pay for its increased rent.

Over the summer the community pulled together to help keep Corona del Mar's beloved Toy Boat! Toy Boat! Toy Boat!'s from sinking, but, with a rent increase on the horizon, the store needs more help.

On Thursday, Jan. 24 Toy Boat will be hosting a Cash for Gold Fundraiser to help pay off a pile of debt and a rent hike. Lori Curtin, the store's owner, says people can sell their unwanted or broken gold for cash. Customers will keep 100 percent of their payout and LA Gold Parties will donate 10 percent back to Toy Boat.

"January is the slowest month of the year, and we are still trying to play catch up, even though we got a lot of support," Curtin said. "This fundraiser is a way to help without asking people to open up their pocketbooks."

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The community's beloved toy store, which has been in CDM for more than 50 years, fell on hard times in July, a victim of the prolonged recession. Faced with tough economic times, Toy Boat was approached by KFI AM 640, which hosted a Cash Mob. The event brought in hundreds of customers and led to the sale of more than 600 toys and countless donations, which helped Toy Boat keep their doors open through the holidays.

But today the toy store still finds itself in a financial bind.

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"I am extremely grateful for all the help we have received, but it’s a similar spot that we were in last July," Curtin, who owns the store with her husband, Mike, said. "Our landlord didn't raise the rent back then, but he, for sure, is raising it this month."

Lori Curtin says she has been working part-time at LA Gold Parties in order to help make ends meet and says the company is reputable.

"They will beat anybody's price," she said.

The Cash for Gold Fundraiser will be held at the toy store on Jan. 24 from 5 to 8 p.m. Toy Boat is located at 3331 East Coast Highway in CDM and can be reached at 949-673-3791 or on Facebook here.


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