Such a shock that the retail store is closing it's physical location. I suppose the rent on Melrose is extreme. Thanks for great shows and toys! Hope you'll manage a few pop up shows in some back alley over the years to come.
Damn, that sucks! I know I'm fairly new to the game but in the last 2-3 years they have put on some really fantastic shows from what I've seen. I'm glad I was able to visit the physical location at least once to meet everyone and pick up some great pieces. Also, really happy to see they'll be continuing to produce toys and maintain an online store. Looks like they'll be going out with a bang with a great show featuring: Izumonster, Joseph Harmon, Kikkake Toy, Martin Ontiveros, Miscreation Toys, Restore, Pico Pico, T9G, and Uamou. You can read a little more on their website.
Bit of a bummer. The shows and staff were always great. Hopefully they keep producing cool toys and putting together the occasional show
So sad to see TAG closing down their doors. I attended several shows there and always had a good time hanging out with fellow collectors. I guess it is time to bring some shows to Lulu
What a fun pic - worth seeing again - thanks for posting Deb. The scene has changed dramatically over the last 10 years, and LA is a microcosm of whats happened across the scene as a whole; Lots of new faces, some older ones sticking around, some that come and go, new collecting practices, friends, flippers, fun and drama. TAG has certainly brought people together - in a similar way that S7 or Lulu do for their cities - many of whom despite being co-located in or near the same sprawling city may not have met in person and developed friendships or whatever, without TAG. TAG has also brought some great shows to LA, even before they moved to the glamorous Melrose location, and in fact some of my favorite shows were at that smaller more intimate location. Everyone who has worked at the store has been rad - artists have come to town who we might otherwise not have met - overall its a big loss for LA. Here's an attempted thank you role call to everyone who's worked at TAG; big thanks to Gino, Aaron, Sean, Fino, Connell, Emanuel, Yoshi, Lisa, Todd and a bunch of others that I apologize for not recalling right this second (I even worked opening night and a couple of other shows myself. Cheers.
shit, whens the last day to see this show? visit the store? i saw pics of the show going on with tons of people and it being called "Famous Last Words" but couldnt put two and two together..was going to stop by the next afternoon but couldnt make it..
This is the last week of TAG's physical location. Pick up your previous purchases or consignment items and stop by for the clearance sale starting Wednesday.
So unbelievably sad to see this place go I got some incredible toys there and the staff was always so kind and helpful.
It is sad news if this is a permanent closure and not some kind of relocation. Are brick & mortar stores really unsustainable in this niche hobby?
It is a permanent closure. Online store and production will continue with possible pop up shops in the future. Its hard to turn a profit on Melrose with the rent being so high and tourists that barely want to buy a 10 dollar blind box, let alone a 90 dollar piece of sofubi.
I've been wanting to go TAG for a long time now, the times I did go they were closed. I finally had a chance to visit the store last month and now they are closing for good. Boo.
Only went once for a PK show when slugbeard was released and it was so much fun. Great store and really friendly staff.
Being located on Melrose made it inherently unsustainable long term, but it was great while it lasted.
Will be missed, but I welcome the online and pop up shops. it was pain getting there at points but always worth it.
Been seeing these posts about "consignment sales" on the Toy Art Gallery instagram for a while now... I suspected it was the owner's private collection (which was confirmed after seeing a glitter Cheestroyer which was gifted to the store) but I just figured they were struggling financially.. which was the excuse given as to why a bunch of artist gacha projects from 2015 were never produced (although a ton of Ron English, Candie bolton, James Groman, Izumonster stuff were pumped out in the meantime...) Referring to selling your own collection as "consignment" just as an excuse to add extra $$$ to the selling price is just plain deceptive and shady as fuck After hearing that the (consignment) personal collection toys are being flipped and some dodgy moves are being made with paying respectable artists that they are collaborating with I figured it's worth making a post about it and calling out the bullshit..
