'Try and Buy' toy store in Pleasantville closing for good

PLEASANTVILLE, N.Y. (WABC) -- It's a sign of the times. This holiday season will be the last for a toy store in Westchester County.

There are discount signs outside and a lengthy line inside.

This after "Try and Buy", a family owned toy store in Pleasantville, New York, announced it will close its doors after 41 years.

"Everyone shops online and does all that, and it's sad because you lose places like this," said Allison Steinbauer, a customer.

Store owners Barry and Linda Schwartz say that's the reality they're facing.

"We put our heart and soul into this. Our sales are down to 2005 levels and our costs are at 2015 levels," Barry said.

The couple bought the then struggling store in 1993.

"I juggle and dance, I do a little bit of gymnastics and my wife said to me 'You should be in the toy business,'" Barry said.

Hard work and TLC transformed "Try and Buy" into a go-to place for toys.

"You get to try all the toys out, you get to look at them, it's not like other stores where it's like covered in plastic. You get to touch it and see what it does," said Gianna Casarella, a 5th grader.

"They have educational toys, there's not an interest a child could have whether it's magic or creativity that it doesn't please," said Maralyn Carr, a customer.

The owners say "Try and Buy" became try and then buy online, causing them to lose business.

"I feel sad because I really like this store," said Avery Dahan, 6 years old.

"As soon as she could walk, she loved coming here and trying out all they toys," said Helene Dahan, a mother.

But now it is the end of an era.

"I am a microcosm of what's going on out there," Barry said. "Shop small, treasure your town, treasure the small business here, most of these people put their life savings in, they put their heart and soul in."

The Schwartz's sure did. Their Christmas Eve closure will open a new chapter for them: retirement that they say came too early.