After 28 years of providing giggles and fun, BeeBee Horowitz is closing the lid on The Toy Box for herself and giving someone else the chance to open it. This is the last summer The Toy Box will be owned and operated by the longtime Vineyard Haven businesswoman.

The toy store at the Tisbury Marketplace has always been a delight to enter for both kids and kids at heart, with surprises looming around every corner. Ms. Horowitz said she hopes to find new owners who will continue with the toy business.

“I’ve stayed here this long because it’s so fun,” she said. “Maybe there’s something else I want to do. I have to let it go.”

Selling the shop is a personal and emotional choice, she said.

“It’s been good to me,” she said, looking around at the colorful stacks of educational games, toys, puzzles and gag gifts. “I raised my kids with having this store, but I have to grab change, grab opportunity.”

Charlie Kaufman of Cleveland, Ohio has been visiting the Toy Box for all of his 10 years. “Can you try to make it not go,” he asked Ms. Horowitz on a recent summer day at the store. “Can you make it bigger?”

Ms. Horowitz said she has had inquiries from several prospective buyers. She plans to keep the store open until just before Christmas, and then hopefully transfer over to a new owner. She said her familiar, friendly staff: Judy Jahries, Marcia MacGillivray and Ann Knight will help her wind down the business. The three women have all worked in the shop for more than a decade; Mrs. MacGillivray has been there for 23 years.

“We’re just doing it all ourselves,” said Ms. Horowitz. “A little more exhausting, but hey, it’s our last summer, I want to be here.”

As a community establishment, the store was a nice way to define herself on the Vineyard, Ms. Horowitz said. She enjoys setting up displays in the shop, making the most of tight spaces and especially loves the 18-month-old corner. Though a lot of her favorite toys are no longer in production, there is still something special about the business. “Kids and toys, there’s no better combination,” she said.

And while selling the business will be hard sale is hard, Ms. Horowitz is excited to go home and be a kid again herself.

“I can’t wait to take home coloring books, crayons and jigsaw puzzles,” she said. “And paper dolls.”

Interested buyers can call Ms. Horowitz 508-693-8182.