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Date: 6/2/2021
EAST LONGMEADOW – The owner and founder of RedFive Toys and Collectibles took a leap of faith after battling cancer to open a toy store that he hopes will make people smile and create unforgettable experiences.
The store’s name “RedFive” is the same name as the call sign Luke Skywalker was given during the famous Death Star attack run in Star Wars episode IV, “A New Hope.” Founder and Owner of RedFive Toys and Collectibles, Brian Rushby, noted that he would embark on his journey and embrace his destiny just like Luke Skywalker had done.
Rushby battled cancer in 2019, and soon reevaluated his priorities moving forward, deciding to launch his own toy store. “Owning my own store was something that I always dreamed of, so my family and I decided to relocate back home from Seattle and put my 20-plus years with Nordstrom to use,” he said.
Rushby said he wanted to recreate the toy store experience he had as a child of the 70s and 80s. “I remember the joy it gave me to find that certain action figure I was hunting for. And then heading out and letting my imagination go wild,” he said. “I'm hoping we can inspire kids to do the same. Go outside, have fun and use their imagination instead of being chained to a device.”
New and vintage toys can be found within the store, which focuses mainly on sci-fi, superheroes and toys that originated in the 1980s. All available toys and collectibles can be viewed on their website at https://www.redfivetoysandcollectibles.com. Some newly arrived toys and collectibles are Hasbro Marvel X-Men Legends and a variety of vinyl collectibles called Funko’s.
Rushby explained how the products are retrieved, “We have many wholesale accounts, so we are able to bring in the newest stuff first, which is always great for the collector community,” he said.
According to Rushby, opening a business during a pandemic may have not been the ideal time, but was the right time for him and his family. “The world needs more places to feel good about and to get a rush of memories,” he said.
Rushby added, “ the goal is to serve the community the best way we can, by listening to our customers’ needs and supplying them with a high level of customer service.”
The store’s hours of operation are Monday to Friday: 9 a.m to 5 p.m. RedFive Toys and Collectibles is located at 57 Maple St. in East Longmeadow.