Blue State Blues: San Francisco Shop That Inspired ‘Toy Story’ Closes, Owner Cites Crime
30th January 2024
The San Francisco store that inspired the movie Toy Story will close next month, with the owner citing crime as one reason for its demise.
An attorney representing the Luhn family, which owns Jeffrey’s Toys—told SFGATE that “the perils and violence of the downtown environment, inflation, the decrease in consumer spending, and the demise of retail across the world” led to the family’s decision to close the store.
Matthew Luhn, the store’s co-owner, told the publication in December that the store has experienced people attempting to shoplift and even had someone try to stab one of his employees. Decreased business due to the COVID-19 pandemic impacted sales, as did the rise of online shopping and general high operating costs. Luhn said the store pays $20,000 per month in rent.