Toypalooza show heads to larger venue at Monroeville Convention Center

Nostalgia is a powerful emotion. In the arts and entertainment industry, it leads to all kinds of things from film sequels and reboots to band reunions to the relaunch of once-beloved products.

For D&E Collectibles owner Bobby Eisel, it has led to the steady growth of Toypalooza, the annual vendor show he promotes. This year, Toypalooza will be expanding and taking place at the Monroeville Convention Center on Sept. 20.

“We started in 2018 at the electrician’s union building on Hot Metal Street,” Eisel said. “Our most recent show was at the AHN Sports Complex at Cool Springs in Bethel Park. We’ve bounced around a little bit as we grew, and we’ve been trying to get into Monroeville for a couple years now.”

While Toypalooza’s hundreds of vendors run the gamut from vintage to modern, the focus is squarely on the 1980s toy industry, Eisel said.

“The hierarchy kind of starts with ‘Star Wars,’ ‘G.I. Joe,’ ‘Transformers’ and ‘Masters of the Universe,’ kind of the main lines of action-figure toys from the ’80s,” he said. “Those are always at the top of the selling list.”

Eisel himself has a fondness for Nintendo products from that era.

“Most of it is games I played when I was a child,” he said. “But anything from back then really gives that nostalgic feeling I love. At the show, though, I’m mostly focused on ensuring everyone has a good time and the vendors make money. I don’t get much time to go and hunt around.”

And while merchandise is the main focus, show organizers hire a face painter and airbrush tattoo artist who offer their services at no charge, and there are giveaways throughout the event.

“We also have Star Wars costume groups that come and take free photos with kids,” Eisel said. “We’ll have the Steel City Ghostbusters who’ll be hanging out in cosplay, and a Star Trek group as well.”

Over the years, the show has grown to nearly 400 tables and 50,000 square feet.

Advance ticket sales are $15 and those who purchase advance tickets will get early admission to the show at 9:30 a.m. Pay-at-the-door admission ($15) begins at 10 a.m. General admission ($10) begins at 11 a.m.

Purchase advance tickets at Toypaloozashow.com.