Entry No. 20 — the Kansas City file — filed under: marbles
Moon Marble Company
A whimsical store and museum dedicated entirely to the art, history, and play of marbles, complete with vintage toys and live glass-working demonstrations.
The story
You pull off Front Street into Bonner Springs and find an unassuming building that hoards hundreds of thousands of glass spheres under one roof. Moon Marble Company was built around the obsession of glass artist Bruce Breslow, turning what could have been a simple retail store into a dedicated studio and living archive for an analog pastime most people abandoned decades ago.
The center of the shop houses a working torch station where Breslow and resident glassblowers take solid rods of glass, heat them to thousands of degrees, and twist them into custom handmade marbles, paperweights, and wine stoppers. Every swirled interior ribbon is shaped completely by hand, motion, and gravity while visitors watch from nearby bleachers.
Beyond the live flame glasswork, the retail floor is stocked like an unpaved time capsule. Bins filled with bulk glass marbles line the space alongside traditional wooden toys, vintage games, and specialized glass jewelry—making it one of the few places left where simple physical play is treated as serious craft.
What it's like
You'll feel the radiant heat from the torch station as soon as you step inside and head toward the metal bleachers on the floor. The space is filled with open bins holding thousands of bulk marbles—from standard glass shooters to classic 'Bumble-Bees' and 'Puries'—alongside displays of retro games and hand-blown glass jewelry. They operate Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., but you should call ahead at 913-441-1432 to confirm torch demo schedules before making the trip, then stay to test your haul on their indoor marble table.
The move: Sit on the metal bleachers to watch co-owner Bruce Breslow shape molten glass into a colorful, one-of-a-kind marble, then buy a bag of 'Bumble-Bees' or 'Puries' to play a game on their indoor marble table.
- 📍 Bonner Springs
- 💸 $
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 600 E Front St, Bonner Springs, KS 66012
Hours: Added 2026-07-21 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- Atlas9 — Balance a morning watching hand-spun glass with a trip five miles away to navigate a massive 46,000-square-foot interactive art labyrinth.
- Drastic Measures — Follow up an afternoon at the torch bleachers with low-lit cocktails inside a signless former medical clinic in neighboring Shawnee.
- S.D. Strong Distilling — Keep the focus on hyper-niche local craft by heading north to visit the world's only legal subterranean distillery set 65 feet underground.
Good to know
What are Moon Marble Company's hours?
The shop is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. It is closed on Sundays and Mondays.
Can you watch live glassblowing during your visit?
Yes. Visitors can sit on metal bleachers set up inside the store to watch co-owner Bruce Breslow and other artisans shape molten glass into custom marbles using open flames.
What products are available besides marbles?
In addition to bulk and handmade glass marbles, the shop sells hand-blown paperweights, wine stoppers, glass jewelry, and classic vintage wooden toys and board games.
Is there a place to play marbles inside the shop?
Yes, there is an indoor marble table in the store where you can play a game right after picking out your marbles.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Official site · visitkansascityks.com · kansassampler.org
last checked: 2026-07-21