WILLIAMSVILLE, N.Y. — As little Emma Carlson roams around Clayton’s Toys in Williamsville, she points out her favorite Disney princesses.

Her smile shows how excited she is to be there and that excitement is exactly what store owner Kellie Klos hopes to provide for kids.

“It’s so magical and great, there is no better place to be,” she said about working there.

Clayton’s Toys has been a staple in the Western New York community for a long time — 105 years to be exact.

Looking at old pictures, Klos points out a former owner.

“That’s Ms. Clayton. She is the one who named it. Before that, it was owned by a single mother and it was a doll house with accessories and she was an employee and took it over and she renamed it Clayton’s,” said Klos.

Klos started working at the store in college and then bought the business a few years back with her co-owner Terra McElligott.

Right now, not surprisingly, is their busiest time of year.

But when parts of Erie County moved into an orange zone, they weren’t sure what would happen next.

“We weren’t sure if we would go red or not,” said Klos. “Thankfully we didn’t, so it was ordering questions. Whether we needed product or didn’t.”

However, this isn’t the first time the store’s future was uncertain. A previous location burned down, but the community rallied around the business.

“And an unfortunate circumstance turned into something wonderful and they opened another store along Elmwood and then they lost the lease and ended up out here,” she said.

So overcoming obstacles is what they do and the pandemic was no different.

This year, they started selling toys online, created a COVID-19-safe shopping environment, and again, the community rallied behind them.

“I have to say Western New York has supported us in such a huge way, it’s been a great season,” she said.

With the support, they know they’ll be here for another 100 years and counting.

Clayton's Toys is open seven days a week. Hours vary.