Our Story

In November 1994, two science teachers and parents of a five- and a two-year old, armed with little more than a simple business plan and a healthy dose of optimism - opened Thinker Toys. The first location was in a tiny space at the west end of Multnomah Village. The vision was that it would  become a "destination" for parents and kids, an out-of-the-ordinary, hands-on store with great service, outstanding toys and a fun, upbeat vibe. 

In the ensuing three decades of hard work and good fortune the store has become that destination, garnering several "best of" awards and a loyal following of families across the metro area. Tye & Joan Steinbach have always tried to be part of the solution, welcoming you and your family, hiring your neighbors and hopefully making our community happier and more connected along the way.

In 2024, Tye & Joan made the difficult decision to sell the store to travel and spend more time with their now adult kids. They are forever grateful for the successful retail adventure and the innumerable friendships made along the way.

The decision to sell was made less difficult knowing that Thinker Toys is in great hands - again with a local family. 

Meet Zach and Kelley Blank!

Zach and Kelley weren’t exactly in the market to buy a toy store but when the opportunity presented itself, it was a near instant “YES.” Zach is a lifelong entrepreneur and met Tye and Joan through his last business, Hurry, which was an instant delivery company helping independent retailers (like Thinker Toys) deliver quickly and compete with Amazon.

Coincidentally, when Kelley and Zach purchased the store in early 2024, they were the same age as Tye and Joan were when they opened the store. What’s more, Kelley and Zach started their adventure with kids the same age as Tye and Joan did. It was kismet.

Zach and Kelley are focused on continuing the Thinker Toys legacy of community, learning and fun. Since buying the store they’ve had a third child and plan to hand over the keys to them in another 30 years.