Photos courtesy of Katie Tapper More concerned wi th get t ing the business back to work, Schulz said he did as she suggested, sticking a few toy tractors into the display windows and moving into the building as refurbishments continued. It wasn’t long before visitors began to stop in to inquire about the toys and whether or not they were for sale. With half the building still needing to be remodeled, Schulz was struck by the idea of opening up a seasonal Christmas store, while the other 10 months of the year would be reserved for the offering of more generalized items. Before the idea was implemented, friends reached out about renting that wing of the building for their own business. Schulz obliged, and decided to instead move his still-developing shop to the large building’s finished basement, placing his models and toys in the first 22 feet of glass showcases. Interest from the public continued to grow, with people stopping to ask about purchasing toys or whether Schulz could and would restore old toys. Soon, he enlisted the help of a couple talented people to work in the restoration area, and as customers began to request more definition in their models, the restoration crew members strived to enhance their craft, adding more detail and entering into the custom model world. “One thing led to another, and it just blossomed more and more,” he said. “Now, with Mecum’s deal and a couple others, our following is all over the United States and all over the world.” Customers come from near and far, with some traveling more than 1,000 miles for the annual customer appreciation lunch at the store, and the patrons range from dedicated locals to widely known celebrities. “You treat everybody the same,” he said. “You build hope in a lot of people. They say, ‘Don’t quit, because you’re our candy store, that place we go to for our enjoyment.’ This is their hobby and enjoyment, so they come from all over for this reason.” Schulz said the Le Mars Toy Store has progressed from being a simple toy store with inventory ranging from current model and toy tractors to vintage pieces, to a full toy shop offering customization and restoration services, as well as taking on special, limited-edition model tractor projects for companies and charities, just like it does for Mecum Gone Farmin’. “I’m 70 years old, and years ago, getting a toy was something very special, because my parents didn’t have any money,” Schulz said. “A lot of people come to us with a custom piece that’s an heirloom. It’s something they remember their dad buying or they had themselves, and it goes in a glass showcase and gets passed from generation to generation. We’ve restored cast-iron pieces from back in the 1920s. This is precious stuff that you can’t even really put a value on. We’ve established that thought in our minds that ‘sentimental’ is something very important. “You see that smile on their face. I watched an 80-year-old man come down and cry because we had fixed a toy he had when he was a little child. I don’t know how to describe it. Everybody has a talent of some type; you don’t have to give money. That’s why I try to do my own little part, to extend that helping hand and help those people cure their problems if I can or make their day for them.” While business is good, Schulz said what’s equally important to him is the way it’s allowed him to give back to the MECUM.COM // 91
