ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — On a weekday afternoon, as smartphones buzz and computer screens glow at home and schools, the aisles of Sparky’s Toys & Gifts tell a quieter story.
Inside the Haywood Road shop, assistant manager Miles Madonna spends the day surrounded by books, board games, puzzles and hands-on toys — an intentionally unplugged counterpoint to a childhood increasingly shaped by screens and subscriptions.
“At a time when everything feels instant, it’s nice to slow people down,” Miles said. “Play doesn’t need Wi-Fi.”…