Phillips Toy Mart is a family owned toy store that has been a Nashville favorite since 1946. We consider ourselves a toy store for kids of ALL ages. Our huge inventory includes arts and crafts, educational toys, puzzles, games, costumes and accessories, train cars and tracks, model cars and planes, dolls, books, stuffed animals, seasonal items, outdoor toys... we could go on and on! All of our toys help develop motor skills, encourage learning, and most of all allow the children in your life to develop their imaginations. Come take a look!
A look back in time.
West End Toyland (on 30th and West End) November 1947
Phillips Toy Mart 8th and Wedgewood
Lizzie Mae and Powell Wallis Phillips
Originally a hardware and variety store that sold a few toys, Phillips Toy Mart, first known as West End Toyland (on 30th and West End next to Smiley’s Restaurant and Candlyland) opened its doors in 1946. The store soon moved to Eighth and Wedgewood and was renamed Phillips’s Distributors.
When WWII ended, Powell Wallis Phillips, a B-25 mechanic in the war, started selling anything that would sell, including toys. Born in 1904, Phillips was an entrepreneur. His first job was working as an ice distributor. Phillips started his first business selling peanuts in The Nashville Arcade. Phillips got into the service station business and even won an award for being the #1 independent service station in Tennessee.
All the while, Phillips was still running the hardware and variety store. As toys were flying off the shelves, Phillips saw the opportunity to specialize in selling toys. One year, near Christmas, Phillips had more inventory than he thought he needed so he rented out the recently closed HG Hills near Belcourt Theatre. Current owner of Phillips Toy Mart, Powell Phillips Jr., still remembers going to see the location. He recalls finding a meat cleaver that had been left behind which he still has to this day. Most of the inventory were toys and this began Phillips Toy Mart.
Looking for a more permanent location, Phillips rented a building on Harding Pike which is the location of Phillips Toy Mart today. He eventually bought the building. Ten years later, Powell Wallis Phillips’ son and daughter, Powell Phillips Jr. and Cynthia Phillips Strinich bought the building attached to the old Phillips Toy Mart. Later the Phillips’ bought even more land behind the store to expand and create more parking and this is the store we know and love today!
Phillips Toy Mart, 8th Ave
Powell Wallis Phillips sitting on a pedal car
Phillips used a pedal car to advertise West End Toyland
Phillips Distributors. Check out the phone number listed.