NATCHEZ &045; A pleasing combination of color and form greet the visitor to one of Natchez’s newest shops, Dream Street, a toy store at 505 Main St.

Wooden toys and furniture, soft dolls and boxes of games and crafts fill the large room, informally organized to lead shoppers from cluster to cluster.

Shop owner Melanie Miller Downer said her own love for high-quality toys was a big factor in the decision to open Dream Street.

&uot;We moved to Natchez about a year ago from Princeton, New Jersey,&uot; she said. &uot;We noticed there was nowhere to get really nice specialty toys in Natchez.&uot;

Downer and her husband, Jeff, have two children, Caroline, 7, and Miller, 4. As parents, they preferred toys made of natural materials and had other preferences that are exhibited among the items in the store &045; Brio, Erector, Zapf baby dolls, RhythMix musical instruments, Alex arts and crafts, Plan Toys and others, many of which are toys to pass down through the generations, Downer said.

&uot;I have in the store mainly things I like to buy for my children, nieces and nephews,&uot; she said. &uot;These are the brands that I like.&uot;

The emphasis on quality does not mean the toys are pricey, however. Items range from $5 to $80, Downer said. And they cover all the age groups, from babies to older children. Some toys even attract the attention of adults, she said.

&uot;We are very hands-on,&uot; she said. &uot;I encourage children who come in to play and explore the toys.&uot;

In addition to the toys, Downer is beginning to add sturdy, attractive children’s furniture. &uot;I’ve just invested in a lot of children’s furniture and doll furniture,&uot; she said, showing off a small dresser and other pieces.

Not new to the business world, Downer nonetheless is a first-time toy store owner. She thinks the role is a good fit with her background.

&uot;Dream Themes was the name of a former business I had,&uot; she said. &uot;I did mostly stationery, invitations, decorative furniture and murals for children,&uot; she said, explaining her background and education in graphic arts.

At the new store, she continues to offer some of the same kinds of materials, including stationery and calling cards, as well as invitations.

&uot;I have volumes of type fonts and designs,&uot; she said. &uot;The printing is done on site. I believe invitations should be as much fun as the party. And I believe we have something for everyone’s taste.&uot;

Having grown up in the McComb area, Downer was familiar with the Natchez area. Her husband, Jeff, was not, however. They made an excursion to look over the town before deciding to move from the Northeast. &uot;We really were looking for a small town. This was right,&uot; she said.

Downer already has bonded with neighbors at Different Accents and Sun Moon and Stars. The three shops will work together to have the same hours in order to accommodate shoppers. &uot;We’ll have a kind of one-stop shopping on this corner,&uot; she said. &uot;This is a great location.&uot;

Dream Street is open 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from 1 to 5 p.m. on Sunday. The phone number is (601) 446-7151.