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Category: Toy Stores [Edit]
Neighborhood: LakeviewPaulina (Brown)
Mon-Fri. 10:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Sat. 9:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Sun. 9:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
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With the days inching closer and closer to the big day, tons of tasks remain. One of the more fun tasks includes getting gifts for my two year old nephews. I stumbled upon Building Blocks a couple of weeks ago while exploring Lincoln Avenue near Paulina before my knitting class. Building Blocks is a happy discovery as toy stores can be hard to come by outside of the chain stores.
Yesterday, I decided to stop in and search for gifts for those two cute, adorable ringbearers of mine. Yeah, I'm an Aunt, can't you tell! The employee kindly greeted me and asked if I needed any help. I told him who I was shopping for. He's extremely enthuasistic and recommended the coolest toys a two year old could ever want: a rubber remote control car. The employee demonstrated how the product worked and even demonstrated other toys. You could tell that this guy loves children's toys and knew his clientele well!!
I searched around the small store filled with wonderful toy goodness. They had everything from beautiful, wooden toys to finger paints to costumes. Building Blocks is a great independent toy store. Just another wonderful little gem on Lincoln in North Center!
This is a really great independent toy shop. They have SO much merchandise, in some places it is almost a little too packed in. I was immediately greeted at the door by an employee who was very friendly and helpful and knew more about toys than any other full grown man I've met.
It is definitely pricey, but the toys are high quality, so it is worth the occasional visit. Also, as a teacher-in-training I was impressed by the amount of educational toys that they had.
Great source for quality educational toys. While I found that they have toys for all ages, they certainly have a specialty with preschoolers. I found that they carry a lot of wood toys. For those in the know, they carry a lot of Melissa&Doug stuff, which I happen to love. The majority of the items in this store will have years of mileage before breaking, fading or becoming irrelevant -- and any parent knows how rare this is with toys today.
The guy working there was enthusiastic and really seemed to know his stuff. He knew the store well and generally seemed to enjoy working there on a Saturday afternoon.
My only complaint is the dust. I didn't mind the clutter because it gave way to a wide selection. However, it all needs a good daily dusting.
Sweet little store with friendly staff that always helps me find the perfect gifts. Fun to browse - they have toys, games, books and puzzles from old classics to new treasures. Perhaps best of all is the rewarding feeling of supporting a local business. :)
I like board games, ok?
And the dude who works at this place REALLY likes board games. His enthusiasm for Anti-Monopoly, in particular, convinced me to purchase the game. The game is basically Monopoly, but with players alternately playing as regulated competitors and free market capitalists. There are different rules depending on your role, but the game is mathematically weighted so your chances of winning are even. NERDY. But Awesome. Thanks Building Blocks Dude!
I've also picked up a decent Backgammon set at this store, and a Hello Kitty change purse for my friend. There was a sale on Hello Kitty merchandise, ok? The kind woman behind the register offered to gift wrap it, but no need. I've got no problem walking out of a toy store with a pink Hello Kitty change purse.
Support your local business by supporting Building Blocks Toys! Unlike the corporate chains, the owner of Building Blocks lives right here in the city and provides great customer service along with great value. It's one of the places that makes Chicago a nice place to live!
Hands down the best store I've been to. If you need to get away from all the plastic, cheap toys and want to get back to the old fashioned, educational toys this is the place to me. Their board games are my absolute favorite section in the store. One last thing, the staff will practically shop for you! I told the girl there the age of my niece, she gave me options. When you are in a rush, this place gets you in, out, wrapped and to your party. Thank you Building Blocks.
This place is very cool. I was searching for sidewalk chalk that wasn't outrageously priced like at most of the big box stores I've been to, and they had an entire shelf that was decently priced. I also saw a toy there - Calico Critters! - that I thought they had stopped making years ago and was delighted to find in a large quantity there. A lot of their stuff is a bit pricey, but you can find some stuff that's not too expensive, and they have a good variety. The people who worked there were very friendly too.
The folks that work here are alright, usually busy talking to each other, but very helpful if you ask for it. I do agree that they have WAY too much stuff crammed into every tiny crevice in this shoebox sized store, it's also kind've dark which makes me feel like I'm trapped in my grandmother's attic with strange toys and dust. Alot of their toys can be found else where for cheaper and there's not enough room to breathe to let your child search for something. I love the tub toys selection and the dress up section as well, very nice and definitely not found everywhere.
This is a really awesome toy store. It tilts away from infants and more towards older toddlers, but there isn't a toy in the place that wouldn't challenge and delight a child. Anyone with no clue about children looking for a gift for that niece/nephew/child of difficult parents who would sneer at the latest Transformer-type thing should head over here, especially since we're not talking about some horrible place that only sells lame, boring educational toys that exist to make adults feel good about themselves--- you can get everything from pirate ships to trains to musical instruments.
Ok, I don't have children and don't play with toys. However, my sister sent me on a hunt to get these vintage blocks that she was using as a center piece for our other sister's baby shower. Let me say...great selection and reasonable prices, but was most pleased with the GREAT service. They have a lot and could have been wasting my time searching for these blocks. But no, the staff knew exactly what I was looking for and got it for me. Was very pleased overall.
This place is really nice because it doesn't have it's shelves filled with the same cheap plastic over hyped and over advertised crap every other toy store has. There are alot of really good learning toys , wooden and stuffed toys, and nicer high end trains and other neat goodies. This was my go to place for my sons Thomas the Tank Engine habit , when he was so inclined. They are really nice there and have all sorts of exclusive mailing list specials and events. Their friendliness gets them big points and the environment is really warm and inviting.
Building Blocks is a really cool toy store. I'm a nanny so sometimes I treat Sydney to a trip there and we'll walk out with something really unique and fun. They always have a variety of brands, toys, puzzles, dress up stuff etc. and it's all quality too. They have every Thomas & Friends toy imaginable, and they even have a Thomas table set up with all the works so that the kids could play. They even have some neat arts and crafts things that I like to look at myself. I always find something there!
I love this toystore! Puppets, creative toys and toys that I give my adult friends. It's inexpensive. The only downside is that sometimes when I go in there it looks like a parking lot of baby-strollers and it's a small place. I don't think kids should be allowed in toy stores, but I guess it's a free country.
Very cute toy store. They have so many toys for being such a small place. The staff is always friendly and willing to help you with any questions you may have.
This is such a cool store. It's fun looking on the outside, and the inside makes you feel like a five year old again! Whether you're looking for something different and cute for your child, a gift for a friend or something new for yourself, you will love the selection here. The people are very nice and helpful. If "growing up" means giving up toys, then I will NEVER GROW UP :)
Best toy store in the city. In one swoop, I was able to get toys for a 7, 5, and two and a half year old. Good products, fun & smart toys and staff-- always ready to lend a hand, and not afraid to let you wander without pestering you. They keep the store absolutely packed, which is great-- but you have to be willing to step over a few shipping boxes as you worm your way through the store. I always find something special here-- can't wait to go back!
Really great toy store. Personal help each time visited. You can be helpless, and they'll guide you to age appropriate toys or games, and wrap them for you! Beats the big boxes, hands down.
I was looking for some gifts for my nephew for his 5th birthday and my niece for her 3rd. I wanted to get them something creative and would make him use their imagination. I knew he liked dinosaurs, cars, trucks those kinds of things. She loved dress up, pink and purple and the such. I knew I had a search on my hands. I kept driving by this place so I decided to check it out. Wow. I am in pure bliss in this store. Small but stocked from floor to ceiling with creative imaginative items. His favorite was a hand puppet of a dragon that would roar and have its eyes glow when you pressed the button. He brought to the table when it was cake time, which really is a big deal. I got her a few things, including fairy wings and four pairs of dress up shoes in a variety of sparkly pink and purple colors. She loved them. Wore them all around the house. Needless to say I was a pretty popular uncle. If you are looking for some good, solid, creative fun toys look no further.
Building Blocks is different than a typical toy store. You can clearly see the difference between a store well managed and a one that is not. The staff are extremely helpful, friendly and attentive.
Neighborhood: Lincoln Square
Category: Toy Stores
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Category: Toy Stores
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Category: Toy Stores
Chicago, IL
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