COLUMBUS, Ohio — A collectible toy store owner is celebrating nine years of his brick-and-mortar storefront. But it’s what’s parked on the street outside that often draws people in.
Jason Williams, owner of Big Fun in Columbus, has always collected things like vintage toys and comics.
“Having a business is a blood infection. You get a taste of the freedom of working for yourself,” he said.
Williams especially likes things that stick out, like his 1983 Volkswagen Vanagon. He spent nearly seven years collecting small figurines, toys and other items and using caulk to permanently glue them to the vehicle’s exterior.
“What started out as kind of a novelty turned into art therapy. So, all the stresses that we go through as human beings, and particularly as Americans, start coming out into the van, so most of the scenes on the van are a narrative story.”
Each item is placed with care and intention. Each sequence has a direction and dialogue that tells a story. A few of the collections depict children being separated at the border, protests, and lobbyists taking money out of the government.
Williams said the artwork is complete and after eight years of owning it, he still loves driving it down the street because it causes an interruption.
“To me, it’s like a unicorn or big foot walking into your neighborhood.”
The van is typically parked on High Street in Columbus outside of Williams’ store. It makes people stop, one by one.
“People stop and look at it and then other people will stop and look at it and gather around and then people start talking to strangers about it and then they start talking to each other. So, it’s like a national park picnic table or public art I suppose, but it’s a magnet for folk.“
The vehicle isn’t just for show. Williams uses it to pick up toys from collectors that are selling him their items. He will then resell those items in his toy store. Williams said those transactions can often be sad for the seller, for example, if their initial owner passed away or needed the money. However, Williams enjoys giving new life to the items and said most toy collectors he works with are happy to see their collections respected and appreciated.
