Blue Crystal Collectables

If you’re a collector of specific toys, and struggle to find what you’re after without bidding on the internet, you should definitely check out Blue Crystal. The name doesn’t really reflect the store at all, but I think that adds to the great surprise lurking within this dinky little shop.
Hidden away in the Plaza Mall markets of Halesowen, you’ll be at your wits end in trying to find this treasurous store, which hoards a secret haven of great old toys (and brings back so many memories for reminiscent customers.)
As a child, I used to collect Star Wars models, and searched high and low for the originals; I never ever found any fully packaged ones, just the models themselves. And of course, here are the packaged originals, shelved in Blue Crystal. An original Jabber the Hut fully boxed for £28, a Han Solo and Pricess Leia set for around the same price, and many many more models that took me by surprise. If I had discovered this store about nine years ago, I’d have been the happiest kid alive!

Indoor shopping malls/​markets on local high streets are the best, you just never know what’s going to be inside and what gems you may find. The shops inside the Plaza Mall are a bit odd as many shop units have two shops in one. Blue Crystal Collectables is no exception. To get to the toy fun you have to first navigate a tiny sewing shop, the juxtaposition of the two together is very odd when it’s a sea of pastels and beige to a back drop of dark horror toy type fun.
A lot of what they have on offer can be seen through the windows on the sides of the booth. If you are a toy geek missing that one toy from 10years ago but don’t want to pay ebay prices then you may well find it here. The stock ranged from old 90’s reboot Captain Scarlett toys to Buffy to Living Dead Dolls and the Masters of Horror toy line. Nothing was excessively priced but you did wonder where they found this diverse range of toys from and what car boots they were going to to stock their shelves. If anyone knows then let me know cause I want to go there now.

This is a curious little shop — which advertises itself as a toy shop, but my eyes spied much more interesting items in the shape of sewing paraphernalia adorning the entranceway!
Yarn, needles, a few craft items are stocked here — but underneath you’ll find a selection of vintage sewing and craft books for sale. I browsed this gleefully whilst my friend went and perved on the collectible toys at the back of the shop, and although I didn’t buy any (I have a mild obsession with vintage craft books — and am trying desperately to wean myself off!) I was tempted by a couple, and may yet pop back in the hopes they’re still there so I can get them as a present for my sew-​a-​holic mother. Good work, weird toy shop!