New fantastical boutique offers unusual, handcrafted toys and interactive activities to inspire children of all ages to dream, believe, wonder, explore and play.

The Grand America Hotel, a landmark in Salt Lake City, will officially open the doors to “JouJou,” its long-awaited toy boutique, on Friday, November 25, 2011. As the newest addition to “The Shops at the Grand,” JouJou inspires imagination through play with unique toys and games within innovative experiential play centers.

JouJou, the French word for ‘toy’ was designed to offer top quality toys, games, books, and vintage-inspired candy. With a colorful, cleverly crafted, engaging play space, JouJou is unrivaled by any other toy store in the region. JouJou appeals to the child in all of us.

“We originally wanted to create a store environment for children of all ages to unleash their imaginations and to find toys and games that inspire the creativity that resides in us all,” said Bruce T. Fery, Executive Vice President of Grand America Hotels and Resorts. “JouJou ended up inspiring us. It’s an extraordinary place.”

The concept behind JouJou has a modern slant but is crafted in a classic setting. “The design team did extensive research and combined elements from a variety of Parisian toy stores and classic toys,” explained Brent Watts, Executive Creative Director at StruckAxiom, the creative agency who designed JouJou.

“The Grand is a generational hotel where visitors of all ages can enjoy the many features the hotel offers,” commented Mr. Fery. “JouJou is the spot where children and adults can find enjoyment – it’s the connective story between the generations.”

JouJou’s Extraordinary Elements:

Magical Honey Tree. Capture your very own whimsical fairy from flight around the large tree sculpture.

Monsterpiece Theatre. A wall of ten friendly, computer-generated monster portraits actually interact with the guests.

Enchanted Forest. See an original 7-foot tall Dragon seem to take flight in the store.

Robot Republic. Stand beneath an 8-foot tall robot while you customize your own robot and watch it come to life.

JouJou Library. Offers a variety of artful and imaginative children’s books and vintage novels, surrounded by a unique Paper Fountain that showers the guest.

Wings of Flight. Twelve originally crafted antique balloons from Germany and France float throughout the JouJou store.

Candy Organ. Pick your favorite scrumptious candy as you dance to the tunes by walking on a lighted interactive floor.

Auto Alley. Find your favorite special-edition model car and toys.

Princess Proper. Play dress up and select European princess costumes, figurines and dolls underneath a towering 6-foot high castle sculpture.

GameLore. Experience a variety of classic special-edition, re-issued vintage games and current unique products of play.

Animal Island. Find stuffed animals from all generations and locations nestled on our custom island.

Hotel Profile: Grand America Hotel