[1] Located in the Farmers Market, the store was the brainchild of Irvin Kipper, a U.S. Air Force bomber pilot who, during World War II, was shot down in his B-17 over Bologna, Italy, on his 26th mission.
[2] Kip first started selling flags, then added balloons, which were a big hit, because rubber was rationed during World War II.
[3] Like many brick-and-mortar stores, Kip's Toyland has had difficulty for years due to more people shopping online.
[3] Unfortunately, with the start of COVID-19 lockdowns in Los Angeles in March 2020, Kip's Toyland experienced even more difficulty.
[3] Due to this reality, Kip's Toyland started selling toys online for the first time.