Keeping an old craft alive and revitalizing it for the modern day, the Toy Box is both storefront and workshop for its owner Cheronda Scott as she works diligently on her doll house miniatures and their oodles of accessories. The Toy Box is found right in the heart of Cocoa Village at 419 Brevard Ave., providing a unique destination and attraction for residents, hobbyists, and tourists alike.
Cheronda has been making miniatures for 25 years. She purchased the location and name of the historic Toy Box store, spurred by the passion for her craft. “Miniatures can be a way to tell a story, preserve memories and spend time with loved ones,” said Scott. For the last year at the Toy Box, Cheronda has provided a space to showcase her current projects and sell all the unique accoutrements for miniature decorators: miniature food, furniture, clothing, and more, most of which she makes by hand.
As one of only two doll house miniature stores in Florida, Cheronda is working to create a nexus for miniature collectors and hobbyists from across the state, creating a place not only to purchase these supplies, but providing a place for them to meet and gather. Cheronda explained, “since owning the Toy Box, I see more of the sentiment behind the craft now and my passion for it has grown. I am motivated to continue this business because creativity is an outlet. A healthy one. It also brings people together and is entertaining to watch.”
Cheronda is the recipient of one of Cocoa’s recent Upstart Cocoa Small Business Forgivable Loan awards and has recently begun the IGNITE 360® Business Mentoring Program, a regimen and opportunity funded as part of the forgivable loan program. Cheronda seeks to use the forgivable loan to expand her production capabilities and create more opportunities to reach the community, being especially interested in pioneering a program for children who would thrive off the creative enrichment that doll house miniatures provide.
The Toy Box is open 10AM to 4 PM, Wednesday through Sunday. While also operating the Toy Box physically in Cocoa Village, Cheronda also maintains a digital storefront on Etsy.