Puzzle lovers: This weekend is for you

This paid piece is sponsored by Dawley Farm Village.

Friday is National Puzzle Day.

But it’s still a pandemic, so if every day feels like Puzzle Day, you’re not alone.

Kidtopia Toy Store saw an increased demand for puzzles as people looked for new ways to have fun at home during the coronavirus pandemic. Owner Sheryl Nelson said the store sold many, many puzzles throughout the year.

“They were a hot item all through the 2020 pandemic, and people had a hard time finding them,” Nelson said. “Fortunately, we carry a wide variety of puzzles and had many in stock.”

To celebrate, Kidtopia is offering 20 percent off all puzzles through the weekend.

“What’s great about puzzles is that they can be for anyone — kids, teenagers, adults, grandparents. … Puzzles are just fun,” Nelson said. “Very few people can walk by a puzzle without trying to find a piece.”

Puzzles are the first thing you see walking into Kidtopia’s Dawley Farm Village location right now.

The store has puzzles appropriate for all ages on sale, with wooden puzzles for infants and toddlers up to 1,000-piece puzzles for older kids and adults.

One of the hottest sellers is the Ravensburger brand, which is popular because the pieces are sturdy and the edges resist fraying.

The staff at Kidtopia said the rise in puzzle popularity throughout the pandemic has helped them ride out a time that  has been tough for many retailers.

Nelson shared the example of Celebrate Church, which bought puzzles and coloring books for the congregation.

“It helped us so much when we were in a very uncertain time,” Nelson said. “We were so grateful for that big order.”

Kidtopia is open 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday. The shop in The Bridges at 57th shares the same weekday and Saturday hours, but is open noon to 4 p.m. Sunday.