Uncle Don's Toys

Uncle Don's Toys, now known as Uncle Don's Hobbies, was a landmark toy store in Palm Springs, California, USA which operated between 1955 and 1990 and which was well known for its celebrity clientele.

The store was founded by model railroading enthusiast Don Du Bose who began his career as a boy in charge of the toy department of his father's Palm Springs dime store. Du Bose would later have the special distinction of being the caretaker of the extensive Lionel train collection of Frank Sinatra.

Uncle Don's Toys, as the only full-line toy store in downtown Palm Springs at that time, attracted both seasonal visitors and celebrity visitors. Du Bose counted Sinatra among his regular customers along with Elvis Presley, Neil Diamond and Red Skelton.

Increasing competition from major retailers coupled with traditionally slow summer sales meant the closure of the store after the 1990 holiday season and relocation to Palm Desert, California, USA off of Fred Waring Drive next to Trader Joe's.

In 2007, the Palm Springs Historical Society gave away samples of Uncle Don's Toys' distinctive wrapping paper, a red-and-white checkerboard depicting a diminutive cowboy atop a stick horse. Du Bose had retained several rolls of the paper which was not only used to wrap purchases but holiday treats as well; according to the Riverside Press-Enterprise, the paper was as memorable as a visit to the store itself.

A direct descendant of the original store operates today as Uncle Don's Hobbies in Palm Desert. The current owner uses both the stick horse device and the slogan, "Since 1955 - Keeping the past in the future." You can visit the store in the Coachella Valley or further information about Uncle Don's Hobbies can be found on the web at www.uncledonshobbies.com.