Learning Express Toy Store, featuring specialty toys that encourage learning, will open at Two North Shore on Sept. 12. Mayor Ron Littlefield will join store owners Mary Beth and Cam Conklin and Gerald Jensen, president of Siskin Children's Institute, for a ribbon cutting at 9:30 a.m.
The Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce is assisting with the festivities which will take place at the store's location in Suite 103 at 313 Manufacturers Road, next to Greenlife Grocery.
During the ribbon cutting the Conklins will announce the proceeds raised for Siskin's from a fundraiser the previous evening and will present Jensen with an oversized check.
The fundraiser is a "Sneak Peek" that will take place Sept. 11 to benefit Siskin's special needs children and their parents. The event will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. in the Learning Express Toy Store. Fifty-percent of the benefit proceeds -- in the form of merchandise -- will be donated to support Siskin Early Learning Centers.
Grand opening events throughout the weekend include raffles for shopping sprees, hourly give-aways, face painting, arts and crafts and appearances by Elmo and Dora the Explorer.
"We are thrilled to be opening our business in Chattanooga," said Mrs. Conklin. "Our shelves are stocked with hundreds of quality toys that foster learning. To me, toys are more than something to occupy a child's time: they provide an outlet for creative thinking and learning. I invite families to come out and see what Learning Express is all about."
Beyond the selection of toys and gifts, Learning Express also offers product exclusives -- a novel "birthday box" registry and perks such as free personalization, free gift wrapping and a consumer VIP program. Also exclusive to Learning Express is the ExpressCodesTM program which provides parents with information on how each toy will help their children reach important developmental milestones.
"At Learning Express, our priority is our customers," Mrs. Conklin said. "Our goal is to greet our customers by name, provide outstanding service and an exceptional shopping experience not found anywhere else."
The store will offer customers a fun and friendly shopping environment and an assortment of innovative toys designed to foster learning from infancy to adolescence. Items include puzzles, arts and crafts kits, and nature and science kits. The store will also host a wide range of activities and events each month for the family.
"My goal is to be a destination for fun and an educational partner and resource for parents and grandparents," Mrs. Conklin said.
Learning Express Toys will be open Monday through Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Sunday from noon to 5 p.m.
For more information on Learning Express of Chattanooga, contact Mary Beth Conklin at 423 643-TOYS (8697).