Hello! We’re Tom and Marlene England, owners of Dancing Bear Toys and Gifts in Downtown Frederick, Maryland. We opened our independent specialty toy store in 2000 and have been having fun ever since!
Our mission at Dancing Bear is simple: Put some play in everyone’s day! You can read more about our business’s core values here.
We do our best to ensure that Dancing Bear makes a positive difference in the lives of children, families, and our community. Thanks for supporting our family business!
Tom England
Hometown: Williamsburg, VA
Favorite toy then: Rock ‘em, Sock ‘em Robots
Favorite toy now: Lunastix
Games on my play list: YamSlam, Make 5, Sort It Out
Best part of owning a toy store: Getting to ride the Plasma Car
Marlene England
Hometown: Martinsburg, WV
Favorite toy then: Sock monkey
Favorite toy now: Sock monkey
Games on my play list: Pit, Bananagrams, Flinch
Best part of owning a toy store: Watching grown-ups act like kids again
We’ve been married since 1988 and are the proud parents of two teenage boys. Our sons were four and eight years old when we opened Dancing Bear in 2000. Now the oldest is off to college! Time really does fly when you’re having fun.
Dancing Bear’s Core Values:
- We love to have fun. That’s why our store is one of the happiest places in Frederick. Just try to visit the Bear without smiling. It can’t be done!
- We believe in the importance of play. Kids need it, adults need it…everyone wins when you put some play in your day.
- We go above and beyond for our customers. Got a special request? Let us know. Running late for a birthday party? Call ahead and we’ll wrap up a gift and meet you at the curb.
- We support Downtown Frederick. Is there a cooler downtown anywhere? We don’t think so. We are proud to participate in the Downtown Frederick Partnership and the Tourism Council of Frederick County.
- We care—and we share. In addition to supporting numerous local charities that help children in need, we support the Honduras Scholarship Program that helps students in impoverished areas attend school past the sixth grade.
Before the Bear
We love history almost as much as toys! It’s really humbling to think of all the merchants who have come before us at 12 North Market, each one offering different products and services to meet the needs of the local community.
The four-story structure that houses Dancing Bear was built in 1897—but, before that, a three-story building was home to the Schley & Delaplaine, publishers of what is now The Frederick News-Post. In 1884, the first floor was C. A. Castle’s harness and tackle shop. The building is still owned by a member of the Castle family today.
Click here to read more about the history of 12 North Market Street.
Ready to play? Visit the Bear!
Dancing Bear Toys and Gifts
12 North Market Street
Frederick, MD 21701
Hours
Monday – Thursday 10 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Friday – Saturday 10 a.m. – 9 p.m.
The Bear rests on Sundays!
Contact Us
Call 301-631-9300 or e-mail.
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Location
Dancing Bear is in the heart of historic Downtown Frederick, a Great American Main Street with 200-plus independent shops, galleries, and restaurants.