Family Opened Dream Toy Store. After Hurricane Helene, They're Fighting to Stay Open, But Hopeful (Exclusive)

12/24/2024 05:00 PM

Thanks to a $5,000 grant, Hendersonville Toy Company is now stocked with the most popular toys of the season and sales are starting to pick up

Lyndsey and Tony Simpson's toy company was having a growth spurt this year until Sept. 27, the day Hurricane Helene came barreling down on western North Carolina, causing widespread power outages while flooding washed away some roads in the area and downed trees blocked roads and damaged rooftops and cars.

The family lost power at their Hendersonville home for nearly two weeks, were unable to leave home for two days due to felled trees and Tony's Jeep was totaled. The situation in their city was so dire, the county issued an 8pm curfew that lasted two weeks to maintain safety and allow emergency responders to work. 

"For the first several days, no one could get in or out," Lyndsey tells PEOPLE.

And even though the toys and games at Hendersonville Toy Company weren't damaged, the business, which lost power and WIFI in the aftermath of the storm, was shuttered for weeks.

When they finally reopened — after the Simpsons reckoned with whether it was okay to open the store at all while people were still largely focused on essentials — toy shopping seemed to be the last thing on everyone's agenda.

Related: College Student Once Got Christmas Wishes Fulfilled Thanks to 'Angel' Donors. Now She's Paying It Forward (Exclusive)

While Hendersonville's downtown is now open, many roads nearby are still closed — and sales at most local businesses, including the toy company, are nowhere near where they were last year.

"I think the loss of tourism in the area is a factor, but I also think our regular customers are in a time warp since the storm — I know we have been," says Lyndsey. "Between basically losing the whole month of October to recovery and then Thanksgiving being a week late, we've had several folks come in this week wide-eyed because they thought they had more time and they don't."

The thought of closing shop has crossed her mind, but Lyndsey says she's fought it.

"It's too important for us to continue to build the community that we're trying to build in Hendersonville," she says of the town she and her husband found online in 2016 and moved to sight unseen with their son Cole, now 12.

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

As for how they entered the toy business, Lyndsey says that two years ago, the couple sprang into action after learning the local toy store was closing.  

"They had arts and crafts and stuffed animals and building things and action figures and LEGO - they had everything," Lyndsey says. "But it was really about the feeling that you got whenever you went shopping. It felt like you were going into your friend's store and (your friend) was helping you. And that was the feeling that we wanted to keep going for the families in Hendersonville."

They first tried to buy it, and when they didn't work out they opened their own toy business out of their house and sold toys at pop-up shops.

"Historically our area has been a retirement community, which is great, but we need more young families to move to Hendersonville to be able to sustain the community," she says, and that requires a toy store.

Tired of moving the toys every weekend from their living room to the shops, they jumped when offered space in the front of Gateaux Cakes and Pastries downtown.

Now they specialize in sustainably-made games, and Lyndsey says she enjoys helping kids, parents, and grandparents find games they can play together, and games that appeal to adults alone.

Related: Deacon Says His Dazzling Christmas Light Display Has Led to 82 Marriage Proposals and Even a 'Miracle' (Exclusive)

After the hurricane, they received a $5,000 grant American Express and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation offered to keep area small businesses afloat. "It's a real game changer to be able to get access to true relief like this," Lyndsey says, noting that the money helps them not worry about whether sales will be sufficient to afford loan payments.

Now the downtown store is fully stocked with the most popular toys of the season, and the company set up a pop-up shop at a local equestrian center offering temporary space to local businesses hurt by the hurricane — and sales are picking up somewhat.

"At this point, a lot of people are wanting to have things as back to normal as they can be and it's nice to have something to celebrate," Tony says. "There's also a big push to shop local after the storm, which I think has helped us out. People realize that a lot of these businesses are one problem away from not existing anymore."

Lyndsey, who remains hopeful the business will continue to recover next year, says that in the meantime it's important to remember families are still struggling. Parents lost jobs, homes, vehicles, and property, and some didn't think to buy flood insurance.

Usually the toy shop donates toys and clothes for specific kids in need, but this year, with the toy store on less firm footing, Lyndsey asked shoppers to buy toys and put them in a donation box. The outpouring of support has been heartwarming — the boxes are overstuffed.

It's not a completely normal Christmas, though it is Christmas. Hendersonville's nighttime parade went on as planned on Dec. 7 with floats and lights brightening the downtown, but Tony missed it because Home Depot, where he works as a supervisor, was slammed. "A lot of people are starting to get insurance money and a lot of people are rebuilding," he says. "Normally at this time of year — other than Christmas (-related inventory) — everything slows down and we get a little bit of a break, but not this year."

"Folks in the community are really craving that community Christmas spirit," Lyndsey adds. "Since the storm, we've all just been moving so fast."