While I love the the ease of online shopping, I also really love being able to shop local and support my community. To that end, as we prep for the winter holidays I wanted to share some of the best toy stores in Chicago and the neighboring suburbs. Let’s face it, there’s also WAY more joy to be had in going to a physical toy store than poking around on a website!
I will say that there’s a cluster of toy stores in Chicago on the north and west sides of town. Therefore, if you’re on the hunt for a hard-to-find toy, I would head to the West Loop area in order to be situated to visit multiple stores.
Toy Stores in Chicago
Best Toy Stores in Downtown Chicago
Play Toys & Books is a popular Chicagoland chain with branches in Chicago’s neighborhoods of Logan Square, Lincoln Park, Andersonville, and the West Loop. I am a SUCKER for local gifts, and they offer Chicago CTA Brio Train Cars. Best believe some of those are ending up under our Christmas tree this year!
Building Blocks Toys is another popular chain, with branches in Chicago’s Lincoln Park, Lakeview, and Wicker Park neighborhoods. They offer so many popular brands – Tonies, Jellycat, Squishmallow, Brio, and are well-equipped to offer suggestions based on age.
Timeless Toys, 4749 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago, IL – a popular store in Chicago’s Lincoln Square neighborhood. They offer crafts, Jellycat stuffed animals, STEAM toys, Playmobil, LEGO, and loads more!
Toys Et Cetera, 1502 E 55th St, Chicago, IL – a beautiful store in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Chicago, offering a large selection of toys, free gift wrapping, and acclaimed customer service, ready offer suggestions for any age range. They offer board games, stuffed animals, and educational toys
Rotofugi, 2780 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago, IL – a collector’s toy store, geared toward pop culture and art, and a massive collection of Tokidoki toys. This is a great bet for teens and an audience looking for cool and edgier toys and collectibles! It also has an art gallery showcasing “modern pop, illustration art, and character and toy design.”
Logan Square
Play – one of the 4 branches of this Chicago chain is in Logan Square at 3109 W Logan Blvd.
Toy De Jour, 2532 W Fullerton Ave, Chicago, IL – an expansive vintage toy store. Toy De Jour focuses on collecting and selling vintage toys and occasionally offering estate sales. If you’re hunting for a long-lost toy from your past, Toy De Jour is a great place to start!
Nakama Toys, 2504 N California Ave, Chicago, IL – Nakama Toys is a Japanese toy store in Chicago. They focus on anime collectibles. including model kits and action figures. Nakama is known for their selection of toys from the anime series Gundam. Also they have a great selection of items for the table-top game Warhammer.
Toy Stores in Oak Park
Geppetto’s Toy Box, 730 Lake St, Oak Park, IL – as an Oak Park resident, Geppetto’s is my go-to toy store! It’s a beautiful, clean space with thoughtfully curated toy, board game, and craft selections. Every employee I’ve encountered has been very helpful, particularly with offering suggestions or ordering toys. This busy mom also appreciates that they offer complimentary gift wrapping! Perfect for picking up a last-minute gift for a birthday party! Pro tip: couple your trip to this store with a snack at nearby Courageous Bakery!
Pumpkin Moon, 1028 North Blvd, Oak Park, IL – a novelty shop filled with collectible toys. They offer Squishmallows, Funko Pops and so much more. This is an excellent shop for finding Christmas stocking stuffers! Also, Pumpkin Moon has a sister shop right around the corner on Marion St called Scratch n’ Sniff, a gift shop more geared toward grownups.
Elmhurst Toy Stores
Crush Collectibles – as the name suggests, dedicated to collectible toys; actions figures, Funko Pops, LEGO and more! Looking for vintage collectibles? Crush has you covered.
Toy Stores in Naperville
Anderson’s Toyshop, 111 W Jefferson Ave, Naperville, IL – An awesome toy store focusing on board games, Playmobil, stuffed animals, STEAM toy options, LEGO, jellycat, Melissa & Doug, and Pokémon cards! Ask about their membership program, United Readers of Anderson’s, which offers nice sales at various times of year as well! Anderson’s has an expansive selection of toys for kids of all ages and is my go-to toy store in Naperville.
Oswald’s Pharmacy, 88 West Gartner Road, Naperville, IL – A pharmacy? I know it looks like I mistyped, but YES, Oswald’s Pharmacy in Naperville offers a variety of goods, including a generous selection of toys and games. They proudly state that they are Naperville’s oldest toy store – since 1875! Toys offered include favorites from LEGO, Brio, Melissa & Doug, and Playmobil. Looking for a vintage toy store? Oswald’s has you covered with favorites like Lincoln Logs,
Schaumburg
Alex Toys, 1209 E Golf Rd, Schaumburg, IL – this new toy store in Schaumburg offers lots of favorite brands in an expansive space. You can find LEGO, Funko Pops, NERF and more at this shop, which people say is like a thoughtfully curated Toys R Us.
Purple Me Green, E111A Woodfield Mall Dr. Schaumburg, IL – an educational toy store at the Woodfield Mall in Schaumburg, focusing on science toys, science experiment kits, and nature gifts. Purple Me Green also offers a variety of options for birthday parties at their space.
Toys R’ Us, 1 Woodfield Mall, Schaumburg, IL – A nostalgic favorite, you can find this pop-up shop inside the Macy’s at the Woodfield Mall.
These toy stores in Chicago will have your holiday presents for your little ones covered – but have you considered gifts for the grownups or grandparents? I’d love to help your family get some gorgeous artwork this holiday season. If you’re intrigued by the idea of giving beautiful family portraits, prints, and albums, reach out!
Kristen Hazelton is an award-winning Oak Park, IL (West Chicagoland) and Livermore, CA (San Francisco East Bay Area) graduating senior, and family photographer. She occasionally photographs in San Diego, CA, Tucson, AZ, and Seattle, WA. You can inquire about your own photoshoot here!
