South Coast Plaza welcomes new toy...

South Coast Plaza welcomes new toy store

A new toy store came to South Coast Plaza this week, replacing one

that went out of business.

Puzzle Zoo, an eclectic retailer based in Santa Monica, opened up

on Monday. The store, near the shopping center’s carousel, is the

fourth of its kind in Southern California.

Billing itself as a specialty shop that carries high-end chess

sets, hard-to-find novelties such as the Rubik’s Cube and an array of

dolls, Puzzle Zoo also carries more familiar merchandise such as

Barbie dolls and puzzles.

After Monday’s “soft opening” will be an opening with more fanfare

on Dec. 8. Proceeds from the event will be given to Adoption Guild, a

South County charity.

Puzzle Zoo replaces Toys International in the 4,200-square-foot

space at the heart of the plaza.

Owner Jay Demircift opened the first Puzzle Zoo in Santa Monica in

1993. Other branches are in the Pacific Palisades and Century City.