In the days of feature films like Barbie and Super Mario Bros. emerging, our favorite childhood toys are once again finding their way into our lives. Toys, action figures, and trading cards are among the most nostalgia-inducing items in existence: they have the power to resurrect imagination and transport us straight back to simpler times.
One Franklin store is helping spark nostalgia for toy collectors and the next generation of big imaginations: Franklin Toy Works is a locally owned and operated destination inside Cool Springs Galleria.
“We’re an all-encompassing collectible company,” shares owner Daniel Couser. “We started off mainly with toys, and now we’ve gotten into a lot of different things.”
Daniel shares that Franklin Toy Works is one of the largest dealers in the area for Pokemon and Funko Pop!, and the store also houses a collection of sports cars, comic books, action figures, and vintage toys. If that alone didn’t define it as a dream destination for kids (ok, and parents, too), you’ll also find candy, novelty goods, and children’s books on the shelves.
An early entrepreneur, Daniel grew up collecting trading cards, and soon, he started creating bundles of mystery packs to sell to his friends at school. Little did he know, the seeds were being sewn back then. His early career paths dipped into mortgage brokering, retail work, and even ROTC. His first brick-and-mortar toy store was opened in Cool Springs following the pandemic. After some success there, a space opened up in the mall, and Daniel took the leap.
“Overall, malls are doing well depending on where they are, and Cool Springs Galleria is one of those that is successful,” Daniel shared, noting that it’s a destination for many locals and visitors alike. “‘Destination’ is the key. A friend of mine uses the saying, ‘They don’t bring Disney to you, you go to Disney.’ This is what we’re aiming for, to have people travel to see us.”
In just a few short years, Franklin Toy Works has become just that: a destination. Customers flock from all over to browse antique toys and browse the latest and greatest collection of curated goods. Expansion is on the horizon for the brand–all with a goal to host parties and events like Pokemon swaps, gaming tournaments, and more. Plus, with the help of his wife, Mattie, a female-focused pop culture apparel division is in the works.
Franklin Toy Works is in good company at Cool Springs Galleria, as the mall has a surprising number of local businesses from boutiques to shoe stores, an outdoor accessories store, and even restaurants.
“People are tired of chains,” Daniel adds. “They can’t pivot, and they can’t move very fast.” He adds that with boots on the ground daily, he can switch out inventory, drop prices, change displays, and prioritize best-sellers in an instant without having to go up a chain for permission, all of which benefits the experience of the shopper.
“We want people to come and stay and hang out,” Daniel shares. “It’s a safe space where people that have these interests can come and enjoy it.”
While consumers looking to add to their own collections is certainly a draw for the brand, Franklin Toy Works is also a major purchaser for anyone wishing to part ways with collectibles, contributing to the premium stock of antique toys you’ll find in-store.
“We pay cash all day, everyday, any day, and we have one of the highest payouts around,” Daniel notes.
If you’re looking to tap into your own inner child, foster a passion for collectibles budding within a little one, or help find a new home for a pre-owned item, Franklin Toy Works is a locally owned, locally loved destination for it all. FranklinToyWorksReviews.com