Markets merge in Lake Grove to create Time Warp Relic superstore

They’ve built the ultimate vintage toy store, right here on Long Island

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Two vintage and collectibles markets have combined forces on Middle Country Road like Voltron in Lake Grove.

Retro Relics and Time Warp Toys are now Time Warp Relic Warehouse.

Located at 2860 Middle Country Rd., Time Warp Relic Warehouse is a veritable superstore for action figures, trading cards, comics, classic video games and more.

For our Gen X and late Millennial buyers, think He-Man, Transformers, Metroid and Super Mario Bros.

And plenty of Pokémon cards.

The Time Warp owners bill the huge space, which houses over 30 vendors, as ‘the Mecca of toys on Long Island.”

“You could never have a bad day walking around a toy store,” said co-owner James Mangiacapre.

Scroll down to keep reading, and for the ultimate photo tour.

So they launched their own market at the mall called Time Warp Toys in 2017. But soon after, it appeared the mall’s days were numbered; the SunVet owners were no longer renewing leases.

The Time Warp team pivoted and opened in Lake Grove in 2019, where business actually exploded during the COVID-19 lockdowns, they said. From there, they opened a sister space called Retro Relics antiques shop in 2021.

The two stores became one in August.

And business is booming.

“It’s hard to explain,” said co-owner Charles Cavalcante, on the popularity of collectibles. “No matter the economy, it doesn’t matter; people still want their G.I. Joe figure. It doesn’t matter what’s going on in people’s lives, they still want that Transformer.

“Nostalgia is a powerful thing.”

Want to feel that too?

Simply scroll down and take a photo tour with Greater Long Island or visit Time Warp Relic Warehouse at 2860 Middle Country Road in the Lidl shopping plaza, located at the corner of Hawkins Avenue. The phone number is 631-468-8615.

— all photos by Nick Esposito/Greater Long Island