Kate Pettit never dreamed her theater experience would lead her to Toyland. As owner of Rhinoceros Toys in Jenkintown, Pettit has brought to life her vivid imagination for stories and talent for play to the center stage of her career. After close to three years with Rhinoceros Toys, Pettit has created not only a successful business for herself, but a lively learning community for children and their families. 

On vacation days, kids come over to play games in the store and Pettit has even set up a game library. Her summer Lego club has become a major hit. Children from 3 to 14 are divided into age groups with each group deciding on a building project. The final products are displayed in the store window for a week. 

“The kids are so excited to see their work displayed,” Pettit said. “And the older children eagerly help the younger kids with their Lego projects.”    

Before her adventure into toys, Pettit worked with her sister, mother and grandmother designing and making custom bridal gowns. Their original designs and fine craftsmanship attracted so many customers that Pettit found herself working endless hours that left little family time for this mother of five daughters.

After one of her usual hectic and chaotic work days, her husband took Pettit by the arm and orchestrated a night out at the movies.

The rest is history.

“Before the show, we went into the candle shop in Ambler and I was surprised to see all these fabulous toys by Melissa and Doug, a leading manufacturer and designer of educational toys,” Pettit said. “I called my husband to the back of the store and told him, ‘This is it, I am doing toys.’ The very next day, I called [the] Melissa and Doug Company and asked them to set me up right away.” 

She promptly shut down the bridal store and transformed the space into Rhinoceros Toys with her sister and mother joining her in the new venture.

When asked what Pettit enjoys most about owning a toy store she responds without qualification.

“What don’t I enjoy?” she said. “I go to toy fairs in New York to test out new toys and I meet all the designers, creators and inventors giving them my recommendations. But the best part is that I get to play games all day!”

Pettit’s creative mind was stimulated early in life when she and her sister along with their friends put on shows in the Jenkintown neighborhood, writing their own scripts, making all the costumes and selling tickets.  She embraced dance and theater and it led Pettit to becoming a professional actor.  She studied theater in London and at Michigan State for a short time but ended up coming back home to major in a more practical subject, finance, at La Salle University. Still, Pettit didn’t give up on the stage.  Following college, she worked for seven years as a professional actor at the Theatre International Exchange housed at the Walnut Theater in Center City. 

Like any traditional acting troupe, travel was part of the deal. But as circumstances and human cycle would have it, each time the troupe was scheduled for an engagement abroad, Petit was pregnant and unable to participate.

“By the third child, I realized that the professional life of an actor doesn’t work with children,” said Petit.

 She then opted to stay at home to be a full time mother, adding two more little papooses to her tribe.   

As if being a proprietor of a toy store isn’t enough excitement, Pettit took her business talents further and started the Jenkintown Farmer’s Market last summer. The Jenkintown Farmer’s Market opened this season April 20 with more vendors on board beginning May 25. 

If you are thinking about a career in retail, Pettit has some words of wisdom to share.

“You need to know that not only is it important to manage the daily operations, but it’s important to react to what the customers are looking for,” Pettit said. “Decide what you want to do and stick behind your product 100 percent.”

Not ready to rest on her laurels, Pettit is planning a game festival this summer. 

“My dream is to tent the Jenkintown square for three days, Thursday to Saturday, inviting camps and preschools for the afternoon,” Pettit said. “ Going from table to table, children will learn how to play new games”.