By Carol Fisher-Linn
Jillian Kurgan is a young, ambitious woman who was happily working for Kim Carlson, owner of Lakewood’s Pea Pod and Juniper and Pea Pod and Juniper Too when Carlson decided to go back to having just one location and concentrate on flower arrangements and gifts. Recognizing a great opportunity to have their younger son with mom more regularly, Jillian and Alex Kurgan when offered the opportunity to purchase Pea Pod and Juniper Too, jumped at the chance. Grand opening of the new store, now called Button’s Toys and Treats at 50 Chautauqua Avenue, Lakewood, NY took place this past weekend in a unique log-cabin style building. The historical building is large, mainly servicing apartments above with Button’s Toys and Treats on the ground floor next to Colquahouns Ice Cream store.
In speaking with Ms. Kurgan, Jamestown native and JCC grad, full-time young mother and part-time Morgan and Saddlebred show horse trainer (Dell Performance Horses) who is, incidentally, also a real-estate agent on the side, one discovers she is, in a word, a dynamo. This young woman fills a room with excited energy and zest for life as is quickly evident in conversation with her. The store brings her full circle in a way. She loves spending time with her kiddoes and can do that with the 1-year-old Sutton (“Sutton Button”) by bringing him to the store with her on the days she is there. He loves it. And why wouldn’t he? Named after him, it’s a child’s wonderland. Willie Wonka and Walt Disney have nothing on the Kurgan family when it comes to fun. Located near the local playground on the waterfront, play continues in Button’s Toys and Treats with a train set up for adventures and shelves filled with the stuff that children’s dreams are made of. Of course, there is a bit of catering to the older set with her rows and rows of glass containers filled with vintage candies sold by the piece or the pound. Remember root beer barrels, colorful filled wax bottles that you chewed like gum after you emptied them, Mary Janes or gob-stopper hot jawbreakers? Hope you’ve never broken a tooth trying to bite down on one! Chances are, you will find some of these at the store.
Originally owned by the Bares family, Ms. Kurgan plans to maintain that vintage olde-tyme store atmosphere from days gone by with many sensory hand-made items like Pebble brand, fair trade, made in Bangladesh crochet animals and toys, which support fair trade and empowers women across the globe. Craftsperson-made wooden toys, button toys, beads, puzzles, plastic-free Montessori inspired activities and wool animals (made by Oma! Oma! Oma!) that are fun and encourage learning and child development like toys that develop finger dexterity using zippers and buttons. Of course, there are books. Every child needs a doctor and dentist kit and plushie button toys (ok, a few adults may want one for themselves). Round out your purchases with pin on buttons, light boxes, sound emitting toys and, with a bow to the present – eco-friendly plastics. Who knew that the creators of Burt’s Bees have also developed eco-safe art supplies from Elseware? You know where you’ll find them! And don’t forget to look at the dolls and games by HABA USA! The idea of sustainability is a driving force for the Kergans whose aim is to offer toys that can be handed down rather than be thrown into the trash heap or landfill.
OK, so kids love slime. Peachbbies Slime meets their high standards and can be found on their shelves. Need a gift for a brand new baby? They feature a mother-owned business based in Miami, Florida named Ali+Oli which include BPA-free, food-grade silicone safe spoons and toys for baby.
Girls will be girls and they love enchanted fantasy hair. Find Kynlee’s Enchanted locks (made in Warren, PA) clip-on hair tie extensions to add some sass and sparkle to any hairdo. What girl doesn’t want a little bit of light-up fairy hair, or flowing locks like Rapunzel?
I personally like the idea of putting flowers and butterflies in them for spring.
You’ll find treats and soda in glass returnable bottles, chocolates and all things imaginable that kids and environmentally conscious parents will love. Oh, yes, and a cotton candy machine will often be outdoors when the weather permits. This is not a store. This is an event. Plan to visit and allow plenty of time to see everything the Kurgan’s offer. Welcome to Lakewood, Kurgan family: Alex, Jill, Sutton and Finley Kurgan.