Old Toys, Big Memories

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Remember Nova Fontana? It was a specialty store from way back that sold toys, books and other stuff. I remember scouring their stores for Dragonlance books, graphic novels, and other hard-to-find Dragonlance stuff. My husband remembers getting excited just walking into Nova Fontana. He used to buy Centurions toys, G.I. Joes, Dino Riders, Transformers; toys that were really popular in the ’80s.

Nova Fontana no longer exists. I remember being disheartened when I saw it close down at the old SM Carpark and at Shoppesville Greenhills. Last weekend though, my husband and I came upon two stores in Shoppesville that had so many old toys and old books. We went absolutely ga-ga. Old RPGs, Dragonlance, the toys he got when he was a kid, an old family computer, old Lisa Frank stuff, old toy planes… what a treasure trove! As it turns out, all the stock there were from Nova Fontana! We learned that the owner of Nova Fontana still had all these old toys and books, and had decided to hold a clearance sale.

Clearance Sale! Designed by my wonderful H.

Some of you may be interested. The sale started a few weeks ago and will continue to go on till all the stuff is gone. The prices are relatively low, the stuff relatively old but still in good condition. This will probably be a haven for collectors. The place is a bit cramped and dusty though so get ready to sweat and sneeze.

So far I’ve scored an old Dragonlance Atlas (for only P99), a 1985 Dragonlance calendar (for only P50), a Marvel Superheroes RPG kit (P99), and my husband got old GI Joe figures, Dino Riders, and an X19 Phantom Stealth Fighter Jet at good prices. There are a lot more things — old paint-by-number kits (I’m not sure about the paint’s quality though!), an old wooden dollhouse, lots of toy planes and jets, old figures and dolls whose names I don’t remember, board games (I saw a Dungeons and Dragons cartoon one for only P50), lots of old fantasy books and RPG, old posters…

It’d be best if you see it for yourself. Be prepared to say the following lines: “Oh my gosh!”, “Hey do you remember this…?”, “I had one like this before!” or “Uuuuuuuuuy!” (said in the tone of one hitting gold unexpectedly). One store is right behind Tropical Hut in Shoppesville, the other store at the area of the old Aristocrat, also of Shoppesville. There are no store signs, just a piece or two of bond paper with the words “Clearance Sale” taped to the glass windows. I’ll be there this weekend, and my husband definitely will be. We’ll probably be there next weekend again, if there are still supplies. Let’s see. And let’s see if we see each other there. :)

Link:
Read Nostalgia Manila’s memories of Nova Fontana. Thanks for helping me spread the word, NM!

0 comment on Old Toys, Big Memories

  1. kat
    April 28, 2007 at 10:53 am (17 years ago)

    wow! i would totally love this store! did they have any transformers?! your dragonlance finds sound so cool (you should take a picture). glad you were able to sift through the treasures.

    p.s. i put clips of my band performing on youtube. i put a few up on a blog (april 26 post), or you can look them up under “plastiq passion”

    Reply
  2. rach
    April 28, 2007 at 5:06 pm (17 years ago)

    I’m sure it’s a haven for collectors. Hope you find lots of treasures when you go there Toni. Take care!

    Reply
  3. sexy mom
    April 29, 2007 at 1:46 am (17 years ago)

    yah, i remember nova fontana. i didn’t even realize it was gone.

    anyway, will let my son JAngelo know about this new store, nice finds–he might be able to get good buys—there were toys he wanted to have when he was a small boy!

    Reply
  4. Daniel
    April 30, 2007 at 6:50 pm (17 years ago)

    that’s too bad to hear. that’s where i bought my first Slinky! and i still have that toy tucked someplace in my room. this store really brings back memories!

    Reply
  5. Lissa
    May 1, 2007 at 12:00 am (17 years ago)

    I didn’t know you were into Dragonlance din. Remember Isabel Baladja (sp?) She got me into Dragonlance and I remember asking my mom to buy me those books at National Bookstore. Ang mahal! I haven’t been reading them lately pero I like the original trilogies that they wrote.

    Reply
  6. tanya
    May 1, 2007 at 1:30 am (17 years ago)

    oh my gosh! nova fontana! that’s where i got my silly putty. AHHHHHHHHHH!

    i miss that place.

    Reply
  7. Azrael
    May 7, 2007 at 11:53 am (17 years ago)

    my gf surfs regularly to your blog., and when she left off, I saw this post!
    holy!! its a treasure place!! thanks for posting some pics of the items
    a friend went there alone and didnt share the info about the clearance sale
    hehehe
    but its okay, he bought me some pocket toys and it was like 1980s for me that day hahahaa

    he told me that gi joes and transformers were sold out..

    but tnx for the pics..now i know which joes and tf are sold that day

    Reply
  8. marlon man
    July 10, 2007 at 1:04 am (17 years ago)

    if you are truly looking for a lot of the vintage stuff like gijoes, centurions, transformers, starwars, visit shoppesville plus on the third floor, above the lotto area. there is a small shop there selling them. but be prepared for the prices.

    Reply
  9. franco
    November 27, 2007 at 2:32 pm (16 years ago)

    I still regret not seeing this sooner… any word if there are any left overs from the sale? I’d love to find some old D&D stuff, plus some vintage calendars like you mentioned, aside from other morsels of ambiguity.

    Reply

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