Marbles: The Brain Store, a one-of-a-kind specialty retailer with a smart collection of games, puzzles, books and software designed to strengthen the brain, today announced the closing of an additional round of funding from private investors. Marbles will use the proceeds to continue expansion of its store base, develop new proprietary products under the Marbles brand name and grow its ecommerce platform, according to Lindsay Gaskins, CEO. Founded in 2008, Marbles ended 2011 with 18 store locations and, with this new funding in place, is on pace to have approximately 30 stores in nine states open by the 2012 holiday shopping season.

Marbles: The Brain Store works with experts in the field of brain health and wellness for product selection and divides its stores into sections focused on specific areas of the brain: Coordination, Critical Thinking, Memory, Visual Perception and Word Skills. Customers include parents, educators, students and seniors. Sales associates, known as BrainCoaches, encourage shoppers to test products in a fun, interactive retail environment with demo stations placed throughout each store.

Marbles currently maintains nearly two dozen U.S. locations in the Midwest and on the East Coast; the company is opening five stores in California this summer with additional locations planned for Maryland, Delaware and Washington State later this year.

"This generous commitment will help us accelerate our growth and broaden our retail presence as we continue on our mission to create a national brand," said Lindsay Gaskins, CEO.

Cuneo & Co., a private venture firm, led this round of growth financing. Gavin Cuneo, Partner of Cuneo & Co., has joined Marbles' board.

"Marbles has developed a one-of-a-kind brain fitness store concept with a unique merchandising strategy," said Cuneo. "The management team has generated some very exciting business results to date and we are extremely optimistic about the company's prospects."

For more information, including a full product assortment and store locations, please visit www.marblesthebrainstore.com.