A nice note from the owner of Fidgets, who moved last year with her daughter to Atlanta, Georgia, got me thinking about Fidgets and how much things have changed around here.

Thanks so much for the kind words about Fidgets- I am the owner of
the former fidgets and have moved on to the Atlanta, GA area- I do
miss my customers and my store- but my daughter and I have gone through
this past winter without the blizzards of New York — hope to see
you all again when i pass through Park Slope.

Back in the days before the Bugaboo, and all the other designer baby products, gear, and what’ll-they-think-of-next products- there was Fidgits, meeting the more simple needs of Park Slope parents in the 1990’s.

Back then, it was all about black and white IQ enhancing toys and Fidgets always had those mobiles in stock.

Fidgets was a Park Slope original. It opened back in the days before people actually spent money in Park Slope. At least that’s what the merchants used to say in 1991. Park Slopers spend money in Manhattan. They don’t like to part with their cash here.

Grumble. Grumble. And it was probably kind of true.

But all that has changed now. There is MONEY to be made her and people are parting with it. Manhattan be damed.

So, Fidgets was a pioneer on Seventh Avenue, selling cool, comfy, and tasteful clothing for kids. Lisa, the owner, knew what the parents wanted. She totally GOT IT: Organic cotton. Low key style. A little funky. Not ostentatious. Comfortable. Easy. Fun.

Afterall, this was Park Slope not Soho or the Upper East Side.

My cousin used to make a pilgrammage to Fidgits every time she visited me (from the Upper West Side) to buy leggings and then corderoy pants and striped shirts for her son. Fidgets always had the BEST clothing for boys on a street that is a desert for clothing for boys.

Where else could you go to buy boy’s clothes? Other than the Gap. And that’s in Manhattan and who wants to go there?

Fidgets started out in the Fratelli Raviolli space – that tiny, tiny, space. But Lisa made it work and it looked colorful and playful, inviting and fun.  Then she moved next door when – what store was in that space before Fidgets – moved out.

A nice, easy to navigate shop, it came in real handy when OSFO needed tights, winter fleece hats, sun hats, mittens, gloves. There was always something we needed – and Lisa had lots of secret plastic boxes filled with exactly what we needed.

Speaking of thing we needed, I think we bought our first Groovy Girls there. Fidgets was way ahead of the curve when it came to Groovy Dolls.

And gifts? And gifts. How many baby shower and new baby gifts did I buy at Fidgets

Oh the fun of shopping for that newest, youngest thing. And picking out Teen Spirit’s cords and striped shirts, OSFO’s groovy skirts, cute blouses, bathing suits.

Simple, classic, cool.

Thanks Fidgets for dressing my kids. So, nu, are you opening a shop in Atlanta?