Long Island Lifestyle, Dining, Nightlife, Arts and Entertainment
Village Connection Magazine
Danielle Kraese has been a Huntington resident since back in the days when nobody could beat The Wiz. She graduated from the University at Albany with a degree in Journalism and has since enjoyed learning more about her lively hometown through writing about it. More of her work can be seen at: www.daniellekraese.com.
Village Connections - Danielle Kraese
‘Cow Over the Moon’ Creates a World of Toys for Children and Adults Alike
It’s no easy feat to find a place where children and their parents can happily coexist under the same ceiling. But nestled right in the middle of Main Street, Cow Over the Moon purposefully pairs toys and sports memorabilia together to create a shop that has something to offer almost everyone.
As shoppers wander further into the store that seems to stretch back infinitely, the merchandise gradually transitions from children’s playthings to famed player memorabilia. But the shop has seen much evolution since its inception in 2003.
“When I opened the store, mostly we were antiques and sports memorabilia, which were two of my loves,” said owner Joel Dennett, who had been in the refrigeration and air conditioning business for 25 years before deciding to venture out in a new direction.
A resident of Melville, Dennett had always wanted to open his own business in Huntington’s bustling village, which he and his wife would often frequent together.
This past May, Dennett relocated and expanded Cow Over the Moon to absorb a long-existing toy store nearby that was closing its doors. He and his wife had often discussed the idea of incorporating toys into his mix of merchandise, but it was all about waiting for the right opportunity to materialize.
“We were always hashing out ideas about what we could do a little differently and this just came about,” he said.
Now in addition to sports-related relics, shoppers are met with a towering mountain of hand puppets, a bountiful barrel of ride-on stick horses, and endless aisles of every game imaginable.
“It’s fun when kids come in—to them this is wonderland,” said Dennett. “It’s always nice to watch the magic in their eyes.”
Little ones can find solace in the sighting of familiar friends along the store’s shelves, whether it’s Barbie, Thomas the Train, Dora the Explorer, or any of the colorful characters from Sesame Street. Meanwhile, parents will come across recognizable brands, like Fisher-Price, Mattel, Hasbro, and LEGO, as well as some more obscure names. The volume of variety almost guarantees that there will be an item to catch the eye of any child.
“It’s lots of fun to find mothers and fathers and grandparents that toy that’s going to make them a hit when they present it to their kids,” he said.
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According to Dennett, the store’s supply of child-geared trinkets caters to kids from birth to about 15 years old. But where toys leave off, sports often takes over, making this a shop that’s difficult to outgrow.
Deep in the depths of the store’s backend is where the athletics aspect really comes into play; whether the shopper’s sport of choice is baseball, basketball, hockey, or football. Here, visitors will stumble upon authentic autographed balls and bats, framed photographs, vintage player cards, and a swarm of collectible statues—all from famous players both past and present.
“Authenticity is a very big thing for us,” said Dennett. “Anything we sell has to be authentic—we do not take chances, we do not assume an autograph is correct.”
In additional to the array of offerings in this hybrid haven, the extra bonus of free gift-wrapping on purchases makes the experience of holiday shopping feel a little less daunting. Upon the prospect of having to leave, the same phrase may be heard falling from the lips of children and adults alike: “Five more minutes, please?”
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