Rotofugi Designer Toy Store & Gallery
Categories: Toy Stores, Art Galleries [Edit]
Neighborhood: Ukrainian Village1953 W Chicago Ave
(between Damen Ave & Winchester Ave)
Chicago, IL 60622 (312) 491-9501
Customized DIY Plushform exhibit at the Rotofugi…
Announced 7 days ago
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 12:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m.
Fri-Sat 12:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m.
Sun 12:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m. - Price Range: $$
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Street
- Good for Kids: Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
68 Reviews for Rotofugi Designer Toy Store & Gallery
One of Rotofugi Designer Toy Store & Gallery's Favorite Reviews
i haven't been able to visit their physical store being that i'm in southern california and they are in chicago...lol
but i would love to! if i'm ever in the area, i'll be sure to stop, no doubt. if i had some extra cash to throw around, i'd book a trip to chicago to specifically check out this store. this is how much roto rocks!
for about 2 years, i've checked out their shows online and been able to purchase over the internet or over the phone. either way, customer service is always top notch. if i have a question, someone competent (rare in other shops of their same genre these days) will have an answer or get me an answer. answers via email are quick too.
their online selection is great. i especially love that i don't have to pay california state tax AND they don't sucker me for pricey shipping. they also do a streamline version of their site during online releases. its fantastic. thank you for being pro-active!!!
YAY ROTOFUGI!!!!!
big big thanks, rain (from vinylrequiem/kr/skullbrain)
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Chances are if you go to rotofugi more than twice a week, you'll run into me there. From the great art gallery to the hilarious vinyl figures (that they have in constant rotation) it's pretty hard to get bored here. Every week it seems like there is a new series that I have got to have. The staff is incredibly nice and polite.
The place to be if you're a vinyl toy collector. Great products. Great people. Fair on price. Laid back atmosphere. The gallery shows are cool. Love them all. Will never spend a dollar anywhere else for my toys.
i love this store can't leave without picking up some goodies, great selection, great staff, friendly ,they always keep you updated, and overall personable!
Can't believe i haven't reviewed Rotofugi! One of my favorite stops for little gifts for my cousins and friends. They have a ton of cool, reasonably priced, small gifts in addition to collectors items for the serious toy shopper. I like random, weird stuff, and they have a lot of it. bravo!
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Ultra Uber cool store....I was told about this place by a friend I was visiting on my recent trip to Chitown...I had to check it out...WOW lots of stuff I would've liked to have taken home but had no room in my bags...I picked up a shirt, a Danny Chan action figure and a pair of limited edition snorty and friends souvenir for my friend and I. Definitely recommend a visit if you are in Ukranian Village...go see their gallery next door...nice artwork to complement the hip merchandise. I'm a definite fan and will be a repeat customer if only via the internet at this point since I don't know when I'll make it back to Chicago.
one day you will die && you will wake up to spend the rest of eternity in ROTOFUGI! they have all my favorite collections of bullshit here. the staff is ALWAYS friendly---and trust me, I go here all the time. their website is pretty awesome too!
shoot these guys an email if you have any questions about their merch. they will totally respond that day!!HOLLA
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One of the best conversations I've ever had w/ a store propeitor:
Me (talking to a friend) "ooh they have Shawnimals here! There's a Shawnimal thats in the shape of a turd"
Store guy: "We're all out of turds. His name is actually 'lonely dollop'. but...yeah, he's a turd."
Where else can you have a conversation like that?
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I'm not a collector of toys. Yet I keep finding reasons to go to Rotofugi and buy things. From mini ninjas to cool t-shirts that say "I like monsters" this place is pretty sweet. The staff is very nice and down to earth - they have no problem answering questions or just shooting the breeze with you. So go on by to a great local business and enjoy the strange things you will find on their shelves, like smorkin' bacon. Endless entertainment!
i love this place. fun place to find something unique, and often showcasing a local artist. the people who work in there are always so friendly and non-pretentious.
C'mon, a place that gives adults permission to indulge in hardcore geek-ery? Like many writing reviews here, I am not a collector. BUT, I love this place. I come here when I'm trying to find a unique gift for a friend with a sideways sense of humor. Random, random stuff here but above all a NEAT place.
Everyone that works here is ridiculously nice and helpful, trained to be patient with all the noobs. I've gotten a few items here, and had great feedback from friends especially on the Gloomy Bear series.
No more words, just go.
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I love toys, and I love Rotofugi.
I don't get to go there as often as I like since its sort of a trek for ME to get there without a car, which I don't have. (But lucky for anyone who cant make it in person they also have a great, easy to order from website! )
The best store for Kidrobot/Urban Vinyl/Plush/Art/and the like in Chicago, or maybe anywhere. (Although, I do love A.Okay which is much closer to me)
They have a vast selection of toys - easy to find, and rare, and they also have a great Art gallery and host lots of fun events and gallery openings. The employees/owners are always nice and helpful!
I don't really know what else to say, except if you haven't taken a trip to Rotofugi yet, do yourself a favor and go! And pick up a few Dunny's or Uglydolls for me while you're there ;)
Shortly before Christmas, I jaunted across tundra and through gauntlets, searching up and down Michigan Ave and State Street, FAO Schwartz and suburban malls, book stores and boutiques... for an UGLYDOLL for my girlfriend for Christmas.
For a long time, no luck. I traveled many miles and wore through many shoes. I fought nymphs and demons, and saw the true face of God. I felt the lash upon my shoulders and an acerbic throbbing through my legs.
Not even Toys R Us had this item that I thought to be common.
Then, I found Rotofugi. They had a MASSIVE, almost INTIMIDATINGLY SCARY selection of Ugly Dolls; small and large, the classic or the limited edition Ice Lodge... in edition to Gloomy Bear, Domo, and all the random what-have-ya that geeks in my life love. Plus, the prices were about the same as if you specially ordered them off the Intarwebz.
What sucked, though, is after traveling miles and miles, from Schaumberg to the Mag Mile, Rotofugi turned out to be 6 blocks from my apartment. Shiver me eef-in' timbers.
I will be heading there for V-day coming up, for sure.
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I. love. toys.
I'd rather have a new dunny than dinner, so having Rotofugi in the neighborhood makes me a very, very, happy girl.
I am compulsive blind box buyer so if anyone ever wants to trade...find me.
I like to walk to this store, and compulsively buy random things. Like today for instance... I am now the proud owner of a 2 foot tall ugly doll! I am starting to think this little guy is my new cuddle partner, I haven't told this to my boyfriend yet, but napping with monsters isn't as scary as it sounds!
Oh, and I went through a phase of collecting the 'things that hurt' zippers pulls!!! It took me like $30 dollars, but I finally got a set of brass knuckles! I am set to make the tackiest charm braclet ever!
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Bought some cute things from Rotofugi today for gifts for friends, and I really liked being in the store. It's laid out well so you can see everything they have for that week, and the guy behind the counter was really friendly and nice.
But they don't open until noon on Saturday? What the heck? I was out there at 10:30 trying to get some shopping done and had to come back later. Oh wells.
I also didn't give it 5 stars because I am still skeptical about this whole "toy as art" thing and how expensive some of the pieces can be. Luckily there are plenty of cheap toys that you can buy without feeling like you're missing out.
ALL HAIL SON OF MOUSTACHIO!
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I went in looking for the new Zoomies and there they were, no hunting around or anything. I knew there was no way I was going to be able to go into here and only get a couple Zoomies. I had a arm full by the time I made it around the store.. good thing it wasn't bigger. The size of Rotofugi did surprise me, pictured it larger in my mind. Great store and I'll be going back for sure, no need to order online from KidRobot anymore.
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I bought my first Dunny from a comic book store and decided to check out this whole designer toy scene. Little did I know we had the THE BEST shop right here in Chicago.
Whitney and Kirby are collectors so they know what matters. Service at the store is top notch. If you have any questions, they are met with a smile and you are never talked down to. It's fun for the whole family.
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Toys galore! I love toys! Vinyl toys, glow-in-the-dark toys, stuffed animals- I love 'em all. I was pleasantly surprised to see they had a whole shelf dedicated to Gloomy Bear, rawrrr. The guy manning the station was super nice too and he pulled out a huge plastic bag of colorful Gloomy Bear keychains when he saw me browsing the shelf. They also had a lot of Buff Monster stuff and Dunnys and Munnys and so on. The shops I usually go to (Kid Robot, Giant Robot, Munky King, etc) have a lot of great stuff, but Rotofugi has more packed into one spot. I love it!
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I adore Rotofugi!! Their selection is amazing, the location is ideal, and the staff is always knowledgeable and kind. One time, I went there to buy my friend a birthday present, and the owner was nice enough to wrap it all for me with tons of tissue. I was very pleased.
Rotofugi is the best place to buy vinyl from, whitney and kirby are by far the best store owners ive ever had the pleasure of talking to. Buying online from them has always been a pleasure with great packaging and super quick shipping times.
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For my birthday, my roommate got me a Wee Ninja cuddly toy and a matching badge from Rotofugi. He is very stealthy yet lovable. He used to stand guard on my dashboard and then as soon as I brought him in the house, theiving bastards broke into my car. Horseshit.
And though my Wee Ninja is content to be solitary, I have been meaning to get him a companion for some time so I need to get back here. Prices and manageable and the store itself is bright and cheery. You'll enjoy yourself.
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Rotofugi = FuN!
They could have a broader print and tee shirt selection, but that's because I am a tee shirt fiend... Free exhibit openings at their next door gallery that include complimentary drinks, music, and artist signings make this place a go-to for your vinyl-plush-sticker-button-cute toy needs. And a thumbs up for supporting the local artist scene.
(also...it's Rotofugi with a soft "g")
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Rad people, amazing product offering, and plenty of bitchin' exclusives?
Yeah. That's a winner.
This store is unique filled with designer toys-some cuddly and some unusually flat out weird. My hubby and his friend is a big fan of this store and I happened to tag along. There's a couch in the middle and the store is well-lit. You can usually find parking here unless there's a special event going on there. To me, it's like a toy artsy gallery kind of deal and it's fun just browsing. He goes there for the dunny dolls or even the ugly dolls. The price varies for each doll and it depends on the number of productions made.
Cheers!
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One of the best art doll store I've seen. They have a huge selection of Kozik dolls and then you go to the corner and see prints from legends like tim biskut or baseman. The display behind the counter is often changing and the people who work there seem content like they've reached nirvana surrounded by toys 24/7. They also support local artists.
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Great store and excellent collection for those of us who collects urban / vinyl toys. There's also a fair selection of plush as well. The owners Whitney and Kirby are as friendly as they can be with helping you find items that have been released or soon-to-be-released. A definite visit to satisfy your toy craving! It would be nice to have more stores like this in Chicago, especially for toy releases that are sold out quickly.
I LOVE THIS STORE. I come in here and I'm in trouble.
I always see something I want and more.
More more more!
I like the artists who do special design toys. Those are cool.
I admit to shaking the boxes though most every time to find out the secret toys that are in the blind boxes.
Yeah I guess I get frustrated with those blind boxes sometimes, but, that makes it all the more fun! And then if I don't get what I want, it gives me an excuse to start a collection and buy more!
These toys make great gifts too. It's special between my friends and I to exchange them as gifts.
This place is awesome.
This place allows you to be a kid again. A toy store for more mature kids. :)
I saw one in New York too. Wonder if there are any closer to me? Gotta look that up now that I moved.
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A friend of mine from high school is getting married this weekend and I couldn't bring myself to get he and his future wife towels or any other sort of mundane "we asked for this at Target" kind of practical gift. That simply wouldn't do for the man who once gave me a Thank You card for "keeping his knees from melting" that one time.
The friendly fella behind the counter at Rotofugi was so helpful. I walked in, told him I wanted to get a fun, funny wedding gift so he took me to the newest additions to their vinyl collection:
Adios (Death) and his girlfriend Ciao Ciao.
I began to ask what they "did" when I realized they didn't.
Me: so these are like sculpture art toys you don't play with?
Fella behind counter: yeah, exactly, actually.
Guy who walks in w/ "BFF" T-shirts: Man, when am I gonna be a millionaire!?
I hope the newlyweds like their unconventional cute little sculpture toys. Even if they don't, I didn't have to drive to target, AND I finally got to go in to Rotofugi.
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for reasons that i cannot necessarily disclose...i needed an ugly doll. now, my favorite is ice bat, but since i don't want to bite certain people's style, i didn't want to get one. BUT they had ninja ice bat. awesome. he's having a nice sleep in my bed right now.
and they had everything you can imagine there! i love it and can't wait to "need" to go again.
rotufugi rules.
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Chicago's answer to MunkyKing / KidRobot- a store specializing in quirky toys and "urban vinyl" collectibles. Even if you are not into crazy cool clutter, there are great gifts here that you can be pretty sure no one else will think of.
Oh and stickers. I'm all about stickers.
Together with the comic book store "Vigilante Press" and the record store across the street, this is the hip stuff in Ukrainian Village-- a little oasis of cool.
ALTHOUGH just up Damen is Glad Eye gallery and Sweet Cakes cafe, so there is hope for this place yet!
I remember the first time I went in Rotofugi. I braced myself thinking everything was gonna really expensive. I was pleasantly surprised to find that they had something for every one and every budget. Also they quite often play good music and don't mind shooting the shit. I also like the fact that within like one block I can get some vegan pastries at BHB, a vegan mushroom burger at Atomix and some records or dvd's at Permanent Record. Damn, why wasn't Chicago and Damen as awesome as this when I lived there?
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I LOVE this store! I always find something quirky or cute here whether it's a treat for myself or a gift for a friend.
If I still lived in Chicago I would be spending a lot more money than I already do at this store. This place is a must stop for me every time I'm back in town and I order online occasionally - they're super quick at fulfilling those orders too!
I have always been a fan of modern art, graffiti and fashion; but could never really get into the whole vinyl toy craze.
That was until i stepped foot into Rotofugi. There is something about this place that makes it ok to oogle over, well...toys.
They have everything from uber collectible toys to pillows to zipper pulls. Beware: this is the kind of store that makes it really hard to walk out empty handed. First time I went in I purchased a zipper pull and the next time a stuffed animal.
TIP: Join their mailing list for info on new toy arrivals and gallery openings.
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I'm not the designer toy collector enthusiast and fanatic, however, I am a nick-knacker and for that reason I love trolling around in this place. It's more like a museum than a toy store and they have some really off-the-wall items. For valentine's day, I got a Mr. Mustache from here(yes, he's romantic).
Personally, I'm a fan of the "Uglydolls". They're supposed to be ugly but they're cute as hell and since they're "designer" toys, it makes it ok to own stuffed animals in your mid-late 20's.
They also occasionally have events to showcase a new designer with music and drinks where you actually get to meet the designer.
Very cool place and somewhere worth popping into while out shopping.
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They do not sell toys. They sell pieces of art... not URBAN ART, but ART ART.
Can't make it to Kid Robot in NY/LA? You won't have to go there because they got your stuff right here! I guess you can check the website too.... but it's so much better to see the items up close.
Sure... I guess you can play with them too. I do like the "Hackman" puking guy and the "Things That Hurt" zipper pulls. It makes my tough looking jackets warm and cuddly... like me.
Addition:
Damn you for being open late one night. All I wanted was to get some microwave popcorn form Dominicks. I ended up buying a t-shirt, Gatorade, bananas and the microwave popcorn I originally went out for.
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Again, I'm floored that I have yet to write a review for Rotofugi. It's a short walk from me, but each time I go in, I spend a lot of time looking around. Sometimes I have felt more like i am in a museum than a store because everything is so orderly and pristine. The figures and toys they stock here are great for the nerdy friends I have and I've bought a couple things here for myself as well, including one of Heidi My Paper Crane's donuts that Kid Robot made. Mmhmm. I love it.
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Great store!!! Excellent collection of the latest Toys/ Push/ Vinyl/ lowbrow art in the city.
Much needed for Chicago IMO. They also have excellent art openings with good beer and a DJ.
The people who work their are friendly and helpful, and I wish them much success!
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As many people know, I love bric a brac. This is a great place to get unique, beautiful, and hilarious items for yourself, or for your pals. They have a new gallery space where they have openings and events for local and well known artists, in addition to the retail space. Everything in there is so fun and cute. I like getting the little cell charms or blind boxes as gifts for friends. Now that they have Blythe dolls I will have to chain myself down so that I don't waste all my Christmas money on them.
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A friend of mine first introduced me to Rotofugi and have been back many times since.
Although this store is not a typical toy store for children, it's not such a bad idea if you or your friends have kids. It's a good break from shopping for Dora or Sponge Bob.
For the most part, I come here to find that one unique gift for my friend's kids or someone I think that would appreciate it.
Many times, I've been guilty of walking out the store with a gift for some kid and end up keeping it for myself resulting in a small tiny collection I've built.... It's so hard to resist!
Designer toys, specifically for adults...creative, smart, passionate designs. If you do visit, be prepared that you can spend hours playing.
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