Purple Piggy Toys and Gifts is a toy store and gift shop co-founded by Michelle Agapakis and Keith George in 2015. The store, which was previously located in downtown Gettysburg, has recently moved to a 4,000 square foot storefront at The Outlet Shoppes at Gettysburg, where it offers a diverse selection of toys and gifts for birthdays, special occasions, and everyday life.
“All of the other toy store names were taken,” George joked. “Michelle’s favorite color is purple, and her favorite animal is a pig; and the name was born.”
This is our fourth location, and we are so happy with it because it’s better all-around for the community,” said George. “This new location makes it easier on the locals. There’s so much more space and we have free parking, which makes us a lot more accessible than we were.”
“We are a unique way to visit a toy store,” said George, noting that it sells toys that aren’t sold in many other stores. “You can find anything from retro Fisher-Price toys, a classic brand that has been around for more than 90 years, to the fashionable Barbie doll and accompanying play sets.”
Selections depend on the season. In the spring, a greater selection of outdoor toys and gifts is available, while in the fall, the selection is geared towards “school-type” products.
But board games, Barbies, and Hot Wheels usually sell year-round.
Purple Piggy sells many types of educational toys, including STEM games, and stays away from electronics as much as possible.
“The educational toys are very popular because we have many members of our community who are home-schooled, especially younger children. We have science kits, which offer a wide variety of different experiments or challenges, and we have ‘build your own robot’ toys, said George.
“Our target audience is everybody. Kids love us because we’re unique and huge; grandparents love us because we have a great selection of toys and gifts. We don’t do junk, so we are not confined by target audiences or age ranges.”
Purple Piggy is a continuing supporter of the local community. They have helped with food accessibility, and are currently accepting Toys for Tots donations. And they are helping to bring back a New Year’s Eve celebration in Gettysburg.
George is proud that, while there are many toy stores that are being forced to close, Purple Piggy not only remains open, but continues to grow. In fact, George said the store is planning to open new locations.
“It makes me happy when I see the joy that our products bring on people’s faces. I think that as a toy and gift store our number one priority should be making the members of our community happy,” said George. “I love to see the same tourists coming back and finding us year after year at different locations because they love our selection. That is how I measure our success.”
The Purple Piggy is located at 1863 Gettysburg Village Drive, Suite 1010.
My name is Zion Williams. I am from Glenn Dale, Maryland, but attended high school at Sidwell Friends School in Washington DC. I am a current sophomore at Gettysburg College pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Cinema and Media Studies with minors in Writing and Spanish. I am a member of the Gettysburg Men's Soccer Program.
Additionally, I work in the Gettysburg Special Projects Film/Television division, as well as the Gettysburg Athletic Communications Department. I am excited to connect with and learn more about the members of the Gettysburg community.