The logo of the winking man that symbolized service, fair deals, community caring, and hard work for almost 40 years is back up along Yosemite Avenue.
But instead of where it appeared atop the sign for Big Boy Market that anchored the shopping center at Yosemite and Northwoods avenues for two generations, it is now in front of a planned community center four blocks to the west.
Family and center board members gathered Wednesday morning to unveil the Thomas Toy Community Center sign.
“He was a very kinds and good person and good husband,” Edie Toy said of her late husband on Wednesday. “He always cared about people and his family.”
Those are the values that Toy adhered to every day including the nearly 40 years starting in 1955 when he operated what was once Manteca’s largest supermarket that today is the home of the Grocery Outlet.
Family members noted Toy would be pleased that the center — that is dedicated to teens but will be available at other times for other community programs — will provide a safe haven where teens can be teens, learn work skills, and be mentored in hands-on endeavors ranging from carpentry to fishing.
“This will be a place for teens to use without having to feel (out of place),” said Bob Raymus, Toy’s son-in-law during a tour of the former Manteca News building on the southeast corner of Yosemite and Fremont avenues that is being renovated for the center.
The heart of the center is the café. It will have food service in a coffee house setting allowing teens to gather with other teens in a safe and inviting environment. It will have several TV screens and other touches.
It will also feature a media room with production and editing facilities to produce social media for Tik Tok and such.
It will also include mentoring on how to create a personal brand as well as heavy emphasis on the fact what you post will go along with you through your life.
A large room where the newspaper presses once operated is being renovated for a recreation room.
The goal is to have things like old-fashioned pinball machines, foosball, pool and such.
There are plans for a pull down screen for movies as well as an adjoining outdoor patio that is fenced in
The room is designed to be cleared to allow larger gatherings and events.
The upstairs rooms are the “quite area’ where activities such as Pilates, yoga and exercise classes will take place.
The plan is also to offer classes on everything from learning to play guitar to basic skills involving working with one’s hands.
Teens would be members meaning they will need to sign in
The center, targeted to open in 2024, is being designed for teens throughout the entire community.
And judging by the enthusiastic response the organizers have been getting from teens from all three high schools, there is a high expectation this will be “the” gathering place for teens whether they attend Sierra, Manteca, or East Union.
Plans call for the center to be open Monday through Saturday.
The decision to not put the word “teen” in the name was two-fold.
The faith-based organization wants to be able to use the space when it is not used by teens such as school day mornings for other endeavors aimed at helping single moms and similar efforts.
But it was also to make clear that while it is a place for teens, they will be treated seamlessly as being part of the community
The message to Manteca as a whole is also clear — it is about the community working together. It is about teens being part of the greater community.
“By investing in youth,” Executive Director Sara Christensen said last month, “you are investing in the community.”
For more information go to thomastoycc.com.
To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com
