What’s In Store: Fundemonium moves to Rohnert Park

Fundemonium, a multi-purpose toy, game and hobby store owned by Steve and Jean Elliot, has moved to Rohnert Park after a decade in Petaluma.

“I wanted to create one place that has all the fun stuff in one spot,” said Steve Elliot about his original idea for the store. In its new 14,000-square-foot Rohnert Park location, Elliot feels like he has enough room to satisfy the community of Sonoma County clubs and gamers who call it home.

The new store has space for retail as well as plenty of room to play. Along with an indoor RC track, it features a slot car table, play area for kids, gaming area and even a snack bar.

“In Petaluma, we only had one activity space, and we had to keep turning people away because we had so many things scheduled,” said Elliot.

The store hosts model building clubs, Warhammer tournaments, birthday parties and special events such as a Lego building contest.

“When I was a kid there was a place I used to go to that had planes, RC cars, toys and the like,” said Elliot, 54, of Santa Rosa. “About 12 years ago, my daughter and son had a bunch of different projects like art or rocket building, and we would be running all over town for the different supplies.”

He thought it would be nice to have one store for all of those needs. After convincing his wife Jean, now 51, they opened Fundemonium in July 2004 without much retail experience.

Steve started as a teacher, then became an architect and a computer animator before landing at nearby AutoDesk. Jean was a part-time software consultant while raising their two kids.

“Steve changed careers about every three years,” said Jean Elliot. “I asked him before we opened the store, ‘You’re not going to get bored and want to do something else in three years?’”

Steve Elliot answered, “I wanted to get back to doing something fun and creative, which I really get a chance to do here.”

With children ready to leave the nest, Jean Elliot said she enjoys seeing children’s faces as they explore “Wonderground,” a drop-in play area that is open daily 11 a.m.-5 p.m., $7 for kids 2-10.

Although they compete with Big Box stores, the Elliots believe that they fill an important niche for entry level and intermediate gamers and hobby enthusiasts.

“It’s a place to bring the children, and you get to play and use your imagination rather than plugging into the TV or a computer,” Steve Elliot said.

Fundemonium, 579 Rohnert Park Expressway West is open 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday, 540-0701 or Fundemoniumtoys.com.