Creative design brings childhood wonder to life at Bamp’s Toy Vault in Plymouth.
By Maria Allen
Photography by Zoe Stoner
From the red and white hot air balloons that float above shoppers’ heads to a cozy library adorned with whimsical wallpaper depicting formal portraits of wild animals, every inch of Bamp’s Toy Vault is designed to spark imagination.
Opened in October of 2025, Bamp’s is the brainchild of Rick Vayo and the team at MEGRYCO, Inc. For more than a decade, Vayo’s team has been breathing new life into downtown Plymouth through a variety of commercial and residential projects. The company is known for restoring landmark buildings and turning them into luxury condos, such as the 1904 Registry of Deeds (The Registry) and former Army barracks (The Residences at The Armory). For the Bamp’s project, the team was charged with reimagining the former Eastern Savings Bank location on Main Street.
Last summer, while pondering options for an empty 4,200-square-foot retail space, Vayo had the idea to create an over-the-top toy store. Inspired by legendary retailers like FAO Schwarz in New York City and Hamleys in London, England, Vayo envisioned creating a store filled with things that would delight children and deliver a memorable experience for families. Being a proud grandfather, Vayo also dreamed of sharing the childhood magic with his grandson, Bear.
In stark contrast to the impersonal nature of online shopping, Vayo was confident Bamp’s would attract shoppers to the downtown. With the holiday shopping season just a few months away, the team knew they had to work fast. Megan Marble, Vayo’s daughter and vice president at MEGRYCO, Inc., oversaw operations and helped come up with design concepts for the space. Local interior designers Jen Tenney and Christine Arcese from Lark + Soul Design in Duxbury were also brought in to help elevate the design. The duo created renderings and sourced everything from paint and wallpaper to lighting and furniture to help make Vayo’s dream a reality.
“Early in the design process, we created renderings of the bank to thoughtfully place every element the Bamp’s team envisioned for a child’s in-store experience,” says Arcese. “The space offered so many unique opportunities to explore—the grand great room with its soaring ceilings, the two original bank vaults, and the boardroom with expansive windows and chandeliers.”
Vintage-style hot air balloons are one of the defining elements that Vayo requested for the store. In addition to enchanting children as they walk through the door, Vayo imagined the balloons “delivering” new toys to the store each night, creating a magical backstory.
After searching unsuccessfully for ready-made props, Arcese and Tenney realized that the only way to achieve the right scale, texture, and authenticity was to build balloons from scratch. Using images of vintage hot air balloons as inspiration, Tenney and Arcese sourced components to craft the balloons, including various sizes of red and white striped spheres, authentic marine fishing net sourced from the bayou, and three different-sized baskets.
“Rick and his team assembled the elements on site, carefully layering and balancing them so they read as vintage-style hot air balloons arriving with their cargo (new toys),” says Tenney.
The toy store was a collaborative effort that involved many people, including retail manager Marianne Folloni and lead buyer Amanda Morey, who were the boots on the ground sourcing fun and educational toys and building elaborate displays.
In the large front windows, colorful toys draw the eyes of passersby. Inside the store, guests can explore numerous themed areas where children can discover at their own pace. One preexisting walk-in bank vault was transformed into a fantastic LEGO headquarters and a smaller vault now serves as an adorable costume “closet.”
There’s also a cozy nook that houses a toddler-sized train table and a wide assortment of Tonka trucks, BRIO train sets, and Hot Wheels, and a long hallway with decorative wall art and bookshelves bursting with all manner of soft stuffies. Amid the displays of board games, puzzles and Barbie dolls, large colorful character statues from popular storybooks and movies are peppered throughout the store–think Spider-Man, Elsa, and Jack Sparrow.
One of the most charming areas of the store is the children’s library (once the bank’s conference room). With its original fireplace and wallpaper featuring formal portraits of animals in ornate gilded frames, the space strikes a balance between whimsy and refinement.
“From the moment we first stepped into that room — even amid demolition and dust — it felt like it had a soul,” says Tenney. “The tall ceilings and soaring windows, along with the fireplace, told a story and immediately conjured images of a long conference table and important bankers deep in meetings. That history lent itself beautifully to the juxtaposition of children now discovering their next favorite bedtime story in the same space.”
“My favorite thing is watching people’s reactions when they first visit the store,” says Marble. “Being here takes me back to my own childhood.”
In an era dominated by screens and one-click shopping, Bamp’s offers something refreshingly tangible. Designed to reward repeat visits, the store reveals itself a little differently each time. “I want visitors to have to explore,” Vayo says. “You shouldn’t see everything all at once.”
Families are encouraged to come in just to explore—whether that means poking around the shelves, settling in with a book, or stopping by Mika’s, the in-store ice cream counter.
“The team felt strongly that the ice cream parlor should be front and center and visible from the street, so we prioritized that space as a focal point of the design,” says Arcese. “The goal was to create a sun-drenched spot within the store where families could pause, indulge, and take in the beauty of the space.”
The fact that Bamp’s is a family business comes through in many personal touches, including the business name. Bamp’s was a nickname Vayo’s grandson gave to him (instead of calling him “Gramps”), and the ice cream shop was named Mika, after Megan Marble’s pet rabbit.
“People sometimes assume a specialty toy store will be out of reach,” says Vayo. “But we wanted a range of price points and an experience where you don’t feel pressure—you can come in, enjoy it, and make memories.”
In a space that was once defined by dollars and cents, Bamp’s Toy Vault now hums with curiosity, color, and joy, proving that a little magic goes a long way.
Visit Bamp’s Toy Vault at 36 Main St., Plymouth or bampstoyvault.com.