Ipswich Toy Shop Bought By Independent Boston Store

IPSWICH, MA – Two independent specialty toy stores are becoming one this summer. Local Ipswich favorite, Green Elephant Toys, has found new ownership in Henry Bear’s Park, a Boston toy store noted for its value of developmental play and commitment to the fun and wonder of childhood.

Retiring store owner David Schylling worked hard alongside long time managers Chris Carroll and Shannon Kirkland to create an atmosphere of fun and friendliness at Green Elephant Toys since purchasing the store in 2009, and owner of Henry Bear’s Park Kas Sharma and his team remain committed to those values.

"I was looking to pass the store on to someone who would understand and appreciate the role of our store in the North Shore community," said Schylling. "Someone who would continue the family-friendly culture at the store, not just for our customers, but for all our employees as well. We have been a destination for over 20 years, and now, in Kas, we’ve found the ideal owner to carry that torch forward."

A family owned business itself since 1976, Henry Bear’s Park has been a favorite kid-stop for all things play, serving Boston area families for over four decades. With five current locations in Cambridge, Brookline, Arlington, Dedham, and Providence, they operate with a focus on serving their communities with positive play opportunities through purposeful product selection and a welcoming, hands-on environment.

"We are excited to become a part of such a vibrant community in Ipswich," remarked Sharma. "When we first discovered that the store was available, we instantly saw this as a great opportunity. Green Elephant Toys and Henry Bear’s Park have always shared a common view on the role of play in childhood development and the commitment to providing a carefully chosen selection of playthings to support that play. Green Elephant Toys, in many ways, has been playing the role in Ipswich that we have been serving in metro Boston. With such a strong alignment of our businesses, we see this as a perfect fit for Henry Bear’s Park’s values and mission."

According to Sharma, all of the original Green Elephant Toys staff will be staying, and the space will be renovated this summer before officially changing the store’s name sometime in the fall.

"We are committed to maintaining and building on Green Elephant’s success by continuing the great selection of fun products, exceptional customer service, and a welcoming store environment," said Sharma.

For more information on Henry Bear’s Park, visit their website at henrybearspark.com, or stop in and visit