We were lucky to catch up with Dee & John Davis recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Dee & John thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you tell us about a time where you or your team really helped a customer get an amazing result?

“Sometimes it’s not just a toy—it’s a key to someone’s childhood, a spark of joy, or the beginning of a beautiful friendship.”

Success, for us, looks like a Saturday afternoon where a dad and his daughter find the exact Ninja Turtle figure he played with as a kid—or when a shy fan meets a childhood hero at one of our signings and walks away grinning ear to ear. It’s in those everyday magic moments that this “job” feels like a dream.

There are so many stories we could share about customer success, but two in particular remind us why we do what we do, and why people and nostalgia are central to Sarge & Red’s.
One that’s close to our hearts is about a young man named Ryan*. (not his real name) He and his gregarious dad first came into the shop looking for vintage video games. The older the better, he said. Ryan captured our attention with his sweet smile and rad taste in entertainment. Ryan is a retro video game superfan, and he was having trouble finding the older titles and systems he loved. So we made it our mission to help—digging through collections, the warehouse, even parting with pieces from our personal collection. We managed to find a few key titles he was looking for – including Q-Bert for the NES!
Ryan’s dad wanted to share with us a cool project he did recently; he created his own miniature arcade machines, tiny, detailed replicas of his favorite games. When he brought them in to show us, we were blown away. Helping Ryan find joy and inspiration in his passion wasn’t just a transaction—it was a transformation. Today, his visits are always a highlight, and we feel honored to be part of his story.

Then there’s Bill—a totally different kind of chance meeting. After his grandmother passed away, he was left with the overwhelming task of clearing out her home. It was packed to the brim—what may be called a “hoarder house.” He knew there were toys buried somewhere in the chaos, and he trusted us to find them. He gave us the keys and let us go to work.
Over the next few weeks, we carefully combed through every room, closet, and drawer. We unearthed incredible toy treasures—including Star Wars figures still inside their Kmart and Toys “R” Us bags with the receipts! We found Avon items, old Styrofoam McDonald’s containers (which were cleaned out), tons of clown stuff but we also found family photos, keepsakes, and mementos. Those we set aside for Bill and his sister to reclaim. What could have been a heartbreaking clean-out turned into something beautiful. Bill was able to sell the toys to us, clear the house, and prepare it for sale, and get some sentimental items out—turning what felt like an impossible task into a win. The experience even became a YouTube series called ‘The 80’s House’ that brought joy and inspirations to viewers who followed along as we uncovered forgotten pieces of pop culture history.

These stories couldn’t be more different—a kid discovering joy through video games, and a man honoring his family’s legacy through toys—but they both reflect what Sarge & Red’s is all about.
We’re not just here to buy and sell. We’re here to cultivate the nostalgia, to connect, and to bring people together—one memory at a time.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

We’re Sarge & Red’s Toys and Collectibles—a small-town shop with a big heart, where childhood memories line the walls, and every toy has a story. Our shop is located in Utica, Michigan, but over the years, we’ve become a destination for collectors, families, and nostalgia-lovers from across the Midwest and beyond. If you’ve ever held a Ninja Turtle in one hand and a Slurpee in the other, or if the sound of a Game Boy booting up gives you chills—you’ll feel right at home here.

We’re a husband and wife duo – truly a family business and we chose our nicknames for the shop because WE are the shop; it’s not “just a toy store… it’s an experience!” Our journey started in the most unexpected of ways: we were raising funds to grow our family through adoption. Some of John’s childhood friends donated a duffle bag of Magic: The Gathering cards to help. We listed them online and realized pretty quickly—we loved doing this. That little spark led to more collecting, more reselling, and eventually, the creation of Sarge & Red’s. What began as a way to fund our dream of becoming parents grew into a full-time passion rooted in retro toys, pop culture, and meaningful connection.

Today, we specialize in vintage and modern toys, action figures, trading cards, nostalgic memorabilia, and more—from Star Wars to He-Man, Barbie to Hot Wheels, and everything in between. We buy, sell, and trade collectibles, and we’re known for being fair, knowledgeable, and just a little bit nerdy (in the best way). But more than that, we offer something people aren’t always expecting when they walk in: a sense of belonging.

We’re not just a store—we’re a part of the community. We host celebrity signings, participate in local pop-ups at theaters and events, and proudly collaborate with other small businesses like LegaSea. We’ve also built strong ties with organizations like Toys for Tots. We’ve been honored to get to know so many amazing people who have shared their stories with us… some even say coming to the shop is like therapy. It’s the kind of full-circle magic that keeps us going.

What sets us apart? Humor and Heart. We believe in the power of nostalgia, the importance of community, and the value of doing things the right way. We’re proud to offer fair prices and real connections—to welcome folks of all ages and backgrounds, whether they’re seasoned collectors or someone who just wants to show their kids what Saturday mornings used to feel like.

If you’re into toys, collectibles, pop culture, or just want a place that feels like a warm hug from your childhood—we’d love to meet you.

Sarge & Red’s: it’s not just a toy store… it’s an experience!

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

We believe our reputation was built the old-fashioned way: by showing up, doing good work, and treating people right. From day one, we’ve focused on honesty, fairness, and treating every customer like a friend—because in many cases, that’s exactly what they become.

We never wanted Sarge & Red’s to feel like a cold, transactional retail experience. We greet every person who walks through our doors. Whether someone walks in with a single action figure or a whole truckload of vintage toys, we take the time to talk, learn the story behind their items, and offer fair, thoughtful prices. People appreciate that. We’re not just here to “buy low and sell high”—we’re here to give items a second life and make sure the people behind them feel respected in the process.

We also make an effort to be present and engaged in our community. From hosting celebrity autograph events to collaborating with local businesses, showing up at pop-ups, and supporting causes like Toys for Tots, we’ve woven ourselves into the fabric of our local scene. That matters, especially in a world where so much is online and impersonal.

Word-of-mouth has also been huge for us. Happy customers tell their friends, and those friends tell theirs. Before long, folks were driving in from all over the Midwest just to visit our little shop. We’ve been blessed with an amazing community that continues to grow—not just because of what we sell, but because of how we make people feel when they walk through the door.

At the end of the day, we think reputation comes down to consistency, kindness, and doing what you say you’re going to do. That’s how we’ve built ours, and that’s what we plan to keep doing. We make it an experience.!

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

Absolutely. In fact, Sarge & Red’s exists because of one of the biggest pivots in our lives. And pivoting takes a leap of faith!

Years ago, my husband John and I were trying to grow our family through adoption after walking a long, difficult path that included infertility treatments and miscarriages. It was one of the most emotional seasons of our lives—and it came with a mountain of expenses we didn’t quite know how to cover. That’s when our community—and a little bit of creative thinking—changed everything.

Some of John’s childhood friends donated a duffle bag of Magic: The Gathering cards, thinking maybe we could sell them to raise a bit of money. We listed them online, and not only did they sell—but it lit a fire. We realized there was real passion and opportunity in buying and reselling collectibles, especially vintage toys and trading cards. At first, it was weekend road trips and late-night packaging sessions at the kitchen table. But the more we did it, the more it grew—and the more joy we found in connecting people with forgotten treasures from their childhoods.

That’s when we pivoted—not just in our careers, but in how we saw our future. What began as a fundraising side hustle became a full-time business built on nostalgia, storytelling, and connection. It came with a cross country move to Michigan – back to where John grew up and be near family. Then a huge leap of faith with a major building rennovation. And eventually, it became Sarge & Red’s Toys and Collectibles—our dream in the form of a store, where memories line the shelves and everyone feels welcome. Best of all… our two kiddos running around the shop along with us.

It wasn’t a planned pivot, and it certainly wasn’t easy—but it was absolutely right. It taught us that sometimes life closes one door so you’ll look around and notice the open one next to it. And what we found behind that open door has been more meaningful than we ever imagined.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://sargeandreds.com/
• Instagram: sarge_and_reds
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Sargeandreds
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/SargeRedsVintageToys

Image Credits

all images were taken or created by Denise or John Davis.