Currently, there is only one designated toy store in all of Walkable Seattle. Sure, Target has a small toy section and Barnes and Noble and World Market are a good place to grab a few name brand items. With two beloved toy stores closing up shop in the recent past, we are left scrambling to find local non-chain toy options.
Here are five places that we like to shop for toys and other groovy kid-like stuff.
Magic Mouse Toys
603 1st avenue S.
Hours:
Open Daily 10:00am-6:00pm
Magic Mouse Toys is the only designated toy store in Walkable Seattle and it is indeed, magical. We can (and do) spend hours combing through this incredibly well stocked, locally owned toy store. They have packed every nook and cranny of this 6000 square foot, historical space with treasures. Magic Mouse Toys carries just about anything that you can imagine. Their enormous stock ranges from internationally known brands to obscure little finds and everything in between. An added bonus here is a concierge to teach you how to play any of the hundreds of games that they carry in the basement. We spent some quality time with Holden whose energetic enthusiasm was contagious as he patiently walked us through a number of family friendly games, without applying the hard sell. If you find yourself in Pioneer Square make sure you stop in. You may run into us!
Metzker Maps
1511 1st Avenue
Hours:
Monday-Friday 9:00-8:00
Saturday 10-8
Sunday 10-6
I love this store. This may seem like an unlikely place for toys, but this is my favorite spot for party gifts. Before you roll your eyes and assume I am the worst guest at a 4 year old's birthday party, buying gifts at a map store is not as dry as it seems. Metsker Maps has a small but mighty collection of children's toys, puzzles, books, globes and games. Their selection is a good mix of educational items and good old fashioned fun stuff. My kids loves the enormous collection of mini flags and the oversized globes. Where else can you buy sticker maps and find the former flag of Lesotho? They carry a number of kid's picture books, guide books and coloring books about Seattle and the Pacific Northwest. Most kids will find something fun at Metskers and if your children have even the slightest interest in maps, flags or geography, this store will be quite engaging.
Robot Vs. Sloth
1535 1st Avenue
Hours:
10:00am-6:00pm
Closed Wednesdays
Just up the street from Metzger Maps you can find Robot vs. Sloth. I am an obnoxious fan girl of this new shop at Pike Place Market. This place is one of those spots that is perfect for kids but not aimed at them. Your children can spend a lot of time pouring over the sticker collections or art kits or the stuffed animals and you won't be standing around checking your phone waiting for them to finish perusing. In fact, I usually go there without my children. There is so much to love in this shop. Most of the merchandise is created by the owner/artist Lauren Ruddick (LaRu) , with additional areas set aside for other local artists. Robot vs. Sloth gave my daughter a discount for buying stuff with her own allowance. HOW COOL IS THAT? Rumor has it, they will be offering all-ages art classes in their back room this summer. Stay tuned! Robot vs. Sloth is a quirky, artsy, playful and welcome addition to Pike Place Market. It would not be a challenge to give them all of your money.
Seattle Art Museum Gift Shop
1300 1st Avenue
Hours:
Closed Mondays and Tuesdays
Wednesday-Sunday 10:00-5:00
You don't need to pay admission for entrance to the gift shop. Don't get me wrong, I love the SAM but I also love that unlike places like the Aquarium or the Science Center, I can pop into the gift shop any time I want! SAM's shop has something for everyone. The well curated children's section is fairly small but stalked with some really great items. They usually have some interactive toys and open packages so that you can try things out before you buy. Keep in mind, it is a museum gift store. If the thought of your littles wandering into the blown glass section fills you with more anxiety than delight, you may want to make sure they are secured in a stroller or willing to stay close by. SAM is pretty good about keeping the more destructible things separate from the children's section. My kid has always been like a "moth to the flame" with the blown glass.
You can also journey into the children's play area of the SAM free of charge. The play area is often filled with books and blocks and quiet toys and the museum is a great place to explore. Pro-tip: SAM can boast cleanest free bathrooms you will find in downtown Seattle (shhh you didn't hear it from me)
1501 Pike Place #401 Lower Level
Hours:
Monday-Thursday 9:30am-6:00pm
Friday-Sunday 9:30am-6:30pm
Tucked in a corner of the Down Under you will find one of the best destinations for kids at Pike Place Market. I could easily lose my family for hours inside Golden Age Collectibles. Not into collectibles? They have Comic books. Not into Comic Books? They have Role Playing Games. Not into RPG's? They have board games, and card games and stuffed animals and posters and lunchboxes, and figurines and coffee mugs, and all of your pop culture cardboard cut-outs . My point is, there is something for pretty much anybody and everybody at Golden Age Collectibles. Here is a fun fact that I learned on the Seattle Kid's Tour. Golden Age Collectibles is the world's oldest comic book store. It's sobering to think that the world's oldest comic book store it isn't much older than I am.
Just outside the store, there is a large gumball machine, toss in a quarter, watch it roll down, hope for any flavor besides banana and take a short walk to make a contribution to the gum wall.
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