Classics remain 'hot' item for the holidays
Puddle Duck Toys and Dolls offers gift options
by JESSICA L. FINCH Associate Editor
Behind the little red door at Puddle Duck Toys and Dolls is an imaginative world

Dorothy Ciesielski, owner of Puddle Duck Toys and Dolls at 5225 Sheridan Drive, organizes a shelf of stuffed animals with granddaughter Pria Singh on Nov. 30. The store features a selection of toys, dolls, books and games. Photo by John Rusac

for all to explore.

Toys are geared to ages ranging from infants to 104, said Dorothy Ciesielski, Puddle Duck owner and president.

Founded in 1984, the store has been in its current location at 5225 Sheridan Drive in Georgetown Plaza since spring of 1986.

It features the signature little red door for the smallest of toy lovers - and those who choose to duck down to use it.

The idea for the little red door came a few years after the store opened.

"Many years ago I was going into the store ... and a little boy, 2 or 3 years old, saw me as I was close to the door, and he screamed, 'I want to open the red door,' but it was hard for him to open," Ciesielski said. "So I thought it would be nice to have a door for kids."

She added that many adults maneuver their way through the small door as they enter the store.

Once inside, they find a store of imaginative, unusual and high quality toys, dolls, games, books and more.

"I think about what children love to play with," said Ciesielski, as her granddaughter played with a table puzzle nearby. "I also sell craft kits, and children love when they can accomplish something."

This holiday season the old classics, such as wooden blocks and doll houses, remain hot items she said.

The love of dolls prompted Ciesielski to start the toy business. The first location in West Seneca was a small doll shop. She moved once before settling in her current Williamsville location.

"We grew three times in size," she said, adding that throughout the years she has worked closely with her son, Jerry.

In addition to the classics, Ciesielski said she carries unusual banks, locally made toys and U.S.-made toys.

"Puddle Duck is the happy toy store," she said, adding that the name came to her one day when she was feeding ducks that were wading in a puddle. "It is an old, traditional toy store with puppets hanging, music playing and busy kids playing."

With such a wide variety of games, books, puzzles and indoor and outdoor toys, Ciesielski still finds a special place in her heart for the doll section, which features porcelain, baby and character dolls. She has a vast knowledge of the doll makers and the dolls' stories.

Puddle Duck also carries a selection of hard-to-find paper doll books.

Within the next year, Ciesielski will be increasing her selection of toys for special needs children, those with physical and mental disabilities.

"I hope to be here for a long time. I have already seen one generation go through; customers I remember as little toddlers are now bringing their children in," she said.

Puddle Duck Toys and Dolls is open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday. For more information, call 632-3277.

e-mail: jfinch@beenews.com