In 2013, founder Mariah Roj wandered into a charming toy shop in the French Caribbean that forever changed the way she perceived toys and the role of toys in a child’s life. The kind of toy shop she found herself in had once existed in the States but over time were vanishing. The European toys she saw now seemed to step out of a different time, especially in comparison to the mass-manufactured plastic offerings that line the shelves of toy aisles in American big-box stores. Instead of overt branding, buzzing and batteries, the toys’ magic was sourced from their beauty, quality, and simplicity.

The French toy shop revealed a better way to fill up a child’s universe, a way that wasn’t easily available to her in Cleveland, at least not yet. This encounter was the beginning of the winding path that would lead to S’il Vous Play. As Mariah developed an interest in local, national, and international toy culture, her family grew to include three children, and this gave her extra incentive to search out well-made toys from all over the world.

Every time Mariah passed the historic Cleveland Heights firehouse building in the Cedar-Lee district, she admired its Tudor architecture, and antique flourishes. Over time, the building became a central component of the S’il Vous Play daydream. After the Lee Silsby Compounding Pharmacy moved from that location, the opportunity arose to turn the dream to a reality, but there was one major obstacle: the entirety of the old firehouse was just too big to fill alone. Mariah explored some other locations but nothing gelled. More than a year later, another group agreed to rent part of the firehouse, leaving the first floor “living room” area and entire second floor available. Mariah put in a call and inquired about the new tenant, which turned out to be a preschool and education center! S’il Vous Play found its home that day.

Mariah is thrilled to bring this toy shop to life in Cleveland Heights – the first of its kind – introducing families to brands from across the globe and helping them to choose toys that encourage meaningful play. The shop opened for business on Black Friday of 2021 and instantly became a local favorite!

Each item at S’il Vous Play is carefully selected by Roj and her team based on the values they share: made-to-last characteristics, location of design and manufacturing, ethical labor practices, and sustainability of materials. The goal is to find toys that encourage open-ended and immersive play. With the right toys, children will play longer, cherish deeper, and imagine bigger.

About the Founder:

Mariah is an Ohio native who loves the state’s changing seasons — although autumn is her favorite time of year. She has a bachelor's degree in organizational communications with a concentration in biochemistry, as well as a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Ohio University. She holds an active Registered Nurse license and has over ten years of experience in both retail management and visual merchandising AND mothering.

In her free time, Mariah enjoys traveling, exploring the outdoors, researching functional medicine-based practices, the role of the microbiome, tending to her organic vegetable and herb garden, and painting. She has three incredible children and a blue-eyed Aussiedor dog. Her hands and heart are very full, and she can’t wait to share the magic of S’il Vous Play with you and your family!