Minitoto Shop Brings Blind Box Treasure Hunt To Local Families
win a surprise goodie at an accessible cost from the 'fun aunt and uncle' of this Eau Claire toys and collectibles business
Whether you have followed along with the viral rise of “blind boxes” or simply long for the pure delight of unboxing a surprise small treasure or toy, collectibles offer a timeless appeal to all age demographics.
Leading this trend locally, Minitoto Collectibles & More (1720 Westgate Rd., Eau Claire) – a new toy retailer in the Valley – began in 2025 with the goal to provide affordable, family-friendly entertainment and give back to the community.
Its co-founders, husband-wife duo Tou Xiong and Darssi Lor, are better known as the “fun aunt and uncle” to the kiddos in their family – the driving force behind their newest entrepreneurial venture.
“The store is our heart, it means a lot to us because we are able to give back to not just our nieces and nephews, but kids within the community,” Lor said. “Their faces light up when they get to buy something and they can afford it.”
The name Minitoto, as Lor said, pays homage to these very same nieces and nephews, who couldn’t say “uncle” when they were younger and instead called her husband, “Toto.”
From Pop Mart blind boxes (mystery packages which contain collectible items like designer toys, mini-figurines or plushies) to Pokémon cards, Minitoto leans into the nostalgic days of trading cards while keeping up with the latest trends.
With the growing popularity of toy-based blind boxes online – and the Chippewa Valley community at its heart – the local business now offer new interactive means to provide even greater access to limited Sonny Angels, mystery dumplings and more: the Minitoto “treasure hunt.”
The Minitoto Collectibles & More Treasure Hunt
Minitoto Collectibles & More will offer clues in the form of riddles and close-up photos, to reveal a location around Eau Claire where a pink token may be hidden.
In a park where rivers meet and wander,
A silent stone invites you to ponder.
With stories etched upon its face,
It stands in time, a steady place.
Many read but do not see,
A secret kept quite cleverly.
Not in the grass nor in a tree,
But closer than you’d think to be.
Behind the words, behind the slate,
Lies something small that waits its fate.
A hidden treasure, tucked just right—
A coin concealed just out of sight.The riddle, written above and shared online this April, revealed a hidden Minitoto token found at Phoenix Park (330 Riverfront Terrace, Eau Claire).
The quest, Lor said, involves searching for pink tokens scattered around downtown Eau Claire and throughout the Chippewa Valley. With the help of hints and clues shared on social media, provided by the co-founders, families who find a coin – and turn it in to Minitoto in person – can exchange it for a free blind box of a $25 value.
“We (are) dropping one coin every week,” Lor said. “It really warms our hearts to see that we have a community out there enjoying family time – especially when (kids) bring the token back in and their smile on their face when they get to choose a free blind box.”
The treasure hunt also expands to gift bundles and “goodie bags” Minitoto brings to vending events, Lor said. This fall, as the toy and collectibles shop approaches one year in operation, the co-owners look ahead to expanded token offerings, blind box passports and new interactive ways to connect with the storefront.
In the meantime, should you stumble upon a bright pink coin nestled in a bush along a nearby walking trail or in downtown Eau Claire, you can thank the Valley’s favorite fun aunt and uncle for your latest collectible.
Visit the Minitoto Collectibles & More Facebook page online to see when new clues are revealed for its weekly blind box treasure hunts. The toy shop, located at 1720 Westgate Rd in Eau Claire, is open Tuesday through Saturday, 12pm-7pm.
