AUSTIN, Texas – A popular Austin toy store is expanding to a new location.

Toy Joy is opening its second store at the Concorde Centre in the Hyde Park neighborhood, which will be twice the size of the downtown location. The expansion is to celebrate the toy store’s 30th anniversary.

The staff is hoping to have things ready to go for early Christmas shoppers. The exact opening day has not been announced as the staff scrambles to put the finishing touches on the store.

“I’m so excited to bring alive this large new Toy Joy store and get to know the wonderful families and other residents in this area,” said store manager Libby Cook.  “We see this as such a wonderful area to be a part of for many years to come. We’re already eyeing Mueller Lake Park for weekend kite flying, Rody pony races, KUTX concerts, and other good fun!”

The new location will be geared toward families and students in north, west and east Austin who don’t go downtown frequently.

“This new location offers loads of free parking right out front and has us in great company with some of our other favorite indie Austin businesses,” said Robby Pettinato, partner and principal toy curator. “Toy Joy was founded three decades ago near the other side of Hyde Park, on Guadalupe Street, so this is sort of a homecoming for us - back to the neighborhood where it all began.”