The Laughing Place
Kathy Eschler
When did you open The Laughing Place?
We opened in 1997. A friend and I were working at a gift shop that had a toy section, and they wanted to downsize, so we bought out their toy inventory and opened our own store.
What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned over the years?
So many. We’ve had fires and floods and all sorts of things. I’ve learned to take what’s happening with a grain of salt. When economic reports say sales are down, I’m always surprised because my sales are up. And when people say sales are up, I just think, “Oh no, my business is down.” So just take what you’re hearing with a grain of salt.
What is the importance of play?
It’s so important for development – mentally and physically. It’s everything. It’s everything to who a kid is and who they will become. It isn’t even really what they play with, but how they play with it. Sometimes, a cardboard box can be the best plaything. I always left my Tupperware cupboard open when my kids were little. They’d take everything out, play with it, climb in, whatever. Anything can be a toy in the hands of a child.
What toys do you expect to be the biggest hit this holiday season?
Smiskis. They’re little glow-in-the-dark figurines with plain eyes and a mouth painted on them. They’ve been sold out for a while, and we finally got them back in stock. They’re fun for all ages. Adults collect them too. We can them, “kid-ults.”
Magna-tiles are also very popular. They keep coming out with new stuff. And again, those are for all ages.
What’s your personal favorite toy in the store right now?
It changes every day. I’ll rediscover something that’s been tucked into a corner and think, “Oh my gosh, this is so cool.” So I have fun with all the toys, and I love all my toys equally.
What advice do you have for parents or gift-givers shopping for kids?
One of the things that always strikes me is when someone will come in, especially grandparents, and they will see something that says 3 and up on the packaging and they think that means it’s just for young kids. But it only says 3 and up for safety reasons, and they totally disqualify a toy because of the age it says on the packaging. There are many things that say 3 and up that an 8, 9, 10, or 12-year-old would like. It’s hard to get people to understand that. Being age-appropriate is important, but we try to explain to people that the age on the packaging is for safety reasons, not for enjoyment.
Another similar thing is how some packaging has girls on it and some packaging has boys on it, but toys are for everyone. A game is a game, and don’t let the packaging deter you from gifting something to a girl or boy because of what the packaging looks like.
What is the importance of supporting local businesses, especially during the holiday season?
We do get a lot of local support. It’s important to keep your money local. Keep your tax dollars local.
What do you love most about owning a toy store?
I love toys. Toys are just fun. It’s hard to not have fun here.
Can you share a special moment you’ve experienced as a toy store owner?
We had just reopened after the pandemic. We were all wearing masks. A young woman and a little girl, who was probably four or five years old, came in. The little girl was a little apprehensive – and her mom said it was their first day out of the house, their very first outing since lockdown. It meant so much that their first time leaving the house was to come to my toy store. And that little girl will remember that forever.
Tell us about Owego and what you enjoy most about the community.
Owego has a very vibrant downtown and a Historic Marketplace Association that does lots of events. I grew up here. My husband grew up here. We raised four kids here. Our kids went away to school, but all came back and are raising their kids here. It’s a great place to live. It’s a bit of a renaissance in the past 5 to 8 years. We have new businesses opening and not many closing, so it’s just a good community.
December 2025
