CLAIRE C. LAURENCE / Arizona Daily Wildcat "Toy Baron" - Self-proclaimed "Toy Baron" and owner of Lulubelle's Toy Boedega Luke Rook takes some time off from work to nap with his store's goods. Lulubelle's, located on the southwest corner of 6th Street and Campbell Avenue, is home to an eclectic array of random toys and collectibles for all ages.

Twenty-seven-year-old Luke Rook doesn't look like the type of guy whose business cards would bill him as "Toy Baron." And with his long hair, peircings and sleeves of tattoos he certainly doesn't look like the type of guy who would own a toy store. Then again, with books on tattoos, Jesus action figures, and an Elvira cutout standing guard at the window, the recently opened Lulubell Toy Bodega isn't your typical toy store.

The unconventional name of the store comes from a childhood nickname bestowed upon Rook by his late father.

"I thought it was a neat little way to pay homage," said Rook.

The shocking pink exterior can be attributed to a personal mantra of Rook.

"I accepted pink into my life a few years ago, and I feel better for it. Basically, any excuse I can use to get pink into the palette of the rest of the world, I'll take it," he said.

Born and raised in Tucson, Rook credits living in Taiwan for his interest in the toys that line the shelves of Lulubell. Rook moved to Taiwan in 1997 to teach English.

"When I was there, they had a huge toy market - in Asia in general. They're really into collecting things, weird toys and stuff like that," said Rook. "Around that time this sort of toy movement became popular. I just started my own collection of stuff, and then when I came back there were some really cool stores in New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco. So whenever I was there I'd go check those out, and I was getting tired of having to go hundreds of miles to get, like, a little toy, you know? So I just thought, screw it."

Rook's path to opening his own business is just as interesting as the store itself. Before becoming "Toy Baron," Rook tried his hand at several other occupations. Aside from his stint teaching English, he was a pizza boy, a telemarketer, a body piercer and a Fascinations employee. There is no question as to whether or not his resume qualifies him to run a grown-up toy store.

Put together like a work of art itself, Lulubell evokes a smile upon entering. A table of books with subjects from body art to collectibles sits in the middle of the room, surrounded by walls lined with figures from the Muppets to a Tim Burton menagerie.

The walls that aren't covered in toys feature artworks painted by Rook's friends that are for sale.

"In the future, I plan on having featured artists and featured themed shows. Along with local work, I've talked to a few of my distributors, and what they'll do is they'll have a toy that they make. They'll have a bunch of blank ones, and they'll have all these artists design them, and they'll have a show that will go around. Since I'm pretty much the only physical store in Arizona, a couple of my distributors are like, 'hey, would you like to have a show come through?'" said Rook. "Basically what I want to do is help bring as much art into Tucson as possible."

Applied mathematics graduate student Kathleen Holm wandered into Lulubell because it was "interesting looking," and found herself delighted by the ambience.

"I was walking around town and I saw Elvira, and I thought 'what the hell is that about?' So I went in. I liked that they had action figures from a lot of genres. It was like goth and punk rock Barbie dolls. They were all pierced. I guess I really liked the laid-back attitude," said Holm.

That "laid-back attitude" can be attributed to Rook and his girlfriend, Jessica Pidd, who run the store together.

"My girlfriend helps out a lot," said Rook. "I try to get her opinion. Her style and my style are kind of similar, but we can really differ on a lot of things. I think that with the two of us ordering stuff, we try and get as broad a cover as possible."

Rook has also added items to his store based on customer requests.

Although he has many plans for the future of Lulubell, right now Rook's goals are fairly simple.

"Right now I'm just trying to get my roses planted out (in front). Trying to get the oleander planted right now. That's my main focus," he said.

Lulubell Toy Bodega is located at 1832 E. 6th St. For store hours and more information call 622-LULU (5858).