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Tiddle E Winks Vintage 5 & Dime
Categories: Shopping Hobby Shops Shopping Fashion Used, Vintage & Consignment Hobby Shops, Used, Vintage & Consignment [Edit]
115 E Napa StSonoma, CA 95476
(707) 939-6933
- Price Range:
-
$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
31 reviews for Tiddle E Winks Vintage 5 & Dime
Review Highlights
"if you really like great old school candy."
(in 21 reviews)
"And the owner Heidi is very friendly."
(in 3 reviews)
"...stuff like wonder woman and sock monkey tin lunch boxes."
(in 3 reviews)
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31 reviews in English
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Review from Eric B.
12/24/2011
This is the Best Stocking Stuffer Store Ever!
So said Gayle as she happily filled up her basket for various members of our extended Family. We first came in near closing time on Friday, returned to our Guest House to lay them all out, and then returned on Saturday to pick up the Angel Monkey she wanted, and to further supplement the collection. It's a fun and colourful store, with lots of temptation, and which features a wide variety of stuff tucked in many places throughout. It's a fun and well-organized place to explore and I discovered something new with each visit.
I picked up a few things myself, the best item being a magnetic button that said - Chai (in Hebrew Letters) Maintenance. There's also a mezuzah on the store door, so I enjoyed the little bit of Holiday Ruach that was spread around the sales floor. Tiddle E Winks also carries an extensive selection of vintage (but fresh) candy, including the Twin Bing - An Iowa favourite. -
Review from Tracey W.
Santa Cruz, CA
9/6/2011
This was our first stop in Sonoma on our whirlwind three day trip through wine country. Even with a million things on our agenda, we stayed here a long time. I turned back into a five year old at the penny candy store. They even had English candy I grew up with. I had to wait for relatives in England to send it every Christmas back then.
When the owner of the store found out my boyfriend has never played tiddlywinks as a child, she set the board up right on the counter and he played until he scored. I could have spent hours more there, but there were places to go and wine to taste, so we moved on. It was my favorite store on our whole vacation. -
Review from J H.
Sonoma, CA
1/15/2012
Love Tiddle E Winks! Before we moved to Sonoma, we found Tiddle E Winks and thought it was so cute! Now that we live here we take all our visitors to this store. My parents, who aren't big candy people, were thrilled to find some taffy from their childhood here. I've gotten presents for my nieces and nephews here and they've all been big hits! This is a great store to come to find a little gift for the older and younger....and in between crowd!
Just make sure you have cash. :) -
Review from Kevin J.
San Francisco, CA
8/8/2011 1 Check-in Here
What a fun store. Powell's eat your heart out. Tiddle E Winks is on the up and up. From candy to vintage toys, this store has a bit of just enough to bring you back to your childhood. In another 20 years or so kids wont even know what half the stuff in this store is all about but hopefully the owners can do their best to keep a part of the fun history alive.
Make sure to grab all that you can because the prices are reasonable for candies you don't see often.Comment from Heidi G. of Tiddle E Winks Vintage 5 & Dime 8/8/2011
Thanks, Kevin! Trying to keep that history alive, one day at… More » -
Review from Steven M.
San Rafael, CA
8/7/2011
What a blast Tiddle E. Winks is to visit - by far and away the best store in the Sonoma Square area (just a half block of the main square).
If you were born in the 1950's or 1960's run don't walk to this fabulous store - you will have fun fun fun like the girl in the old Beach Boys song. If you want your kids or grand kids to understand that you grew-up in a wonderful time period bring them along - they will have a blast.
The owner of the store is terrific and has true passion for her store and it shows. The result: This shop is way beyond cute - it has soul. I have been to other nostalgia stores but the selection at Tiddle E. Winks is off the charts.Comment from Heidi G. of Tiddle E Winks Vintage 5 & Dime 8/8/2011
Thanks, Steve! It was great talking to you and sharing a… More » -
Review from Raina S.
8/10/2010
I love this cute little shop! It's just off the Sonoma square, so be sure to seek it out if you're looking for old fashioned candy, toys or other retro stuff. There are many items I've found here that I have never seen anywhere else.
This is one of my daughter's favorite stores. We stop here every time we're in Sonoma (which I wish was more often). -
Review from Kent P.
Vallejo, CA
7/20/2011
The store is charming one might even say delightful. It is a journey back into one's childhood.
However we have repeatedly gotten stale out of date candy there. And judging from their response to our concerns they really don't care.
And the staff is grouchy and grumpy.
Look in the windows but avoid this overpriced purveyor of stale goods.Comment from Heidi G. of Tiddle E Winks Vintage 5 & Dime 7/20/2011
Yikes! I must say I am surprised and sorry about problems… More » -
Review from Susanne B.
Fairfield, CA
7/20/2011
We discovered Tiddle E Winks this spring after it was recommended by a friend. I immediately fell in love with the place.
I visited with five of my children, ages 8 to 16. They were in heaven! I love coming to a place that is genuinely friendly to children. I gave each of my kids one of the small bags that the shop offers free of charge and set a small budget for them, and they spent at least 30 minutes picking out small pieces of candy and counting up their purchases. So much fun! I think this shop offers something in everyone's price range. I don't think it's overpriced, especially given the fact that the items are unique and of high quality. I spotted many old games I played as a child and had fun pointing them out to my kids, we even bought a few for them to try. I love their selection of German candies since I grew up in Germany. I also love their selections of little magnets and pins and lunch boxes.
We were excited to come back this summer to show the store to my oldest daughter and she immediately fell in love with a knitted puppy hat but decided that it was just too expensive for her as a starving college student to afford. When the owner saw how much she liked it, she told her it would go on sale soon, and she could have it for the sale price now. She gave it to her for half price. My daughter was so excited.
I highly recommend this adorable store! Plus the candy is so delicious--there is always something to discover. This time my kids discovered strawberry-vanilla flavored Tootsie pops that tasted like strawberry cheesecake. We will be back!Comment from Heidi G. of Tiddle E Winks Vintage 5 & Dime 7/20/2011
Thanks for your review...glad everyone had so much fun! And… More » -
Review from Steve M.
7/25/2009
This is our Living room
http://static1.px.yelp...
This is our Kitchen:
http://static3.px.yelp...
This is our newest Favorite Store: Tiddle E Winks:
http://static2.px.yelp...
So while we're walking 'slightly off square' in Sonoma, we happened upon Tiddle E Winks Vintage 5 and Dime.
The conversation between the red headed owner Heidi, and my red headed wife Heidi went something like this:
RHOH (RedHeaded Owner Heidi): Where are you from?
RHWH (RedHeaded Wife Heidi): Michigan
RHOH: Me too! What part?
RHWH: Detroit area?
RHOH: ME too! Where?
RHWH: Southfield
RHOH: ME too! Which High School?
RHWH: Southfield H.S.
RHOH: I went to Southfield Lathrop!
RHWH: Oh, we were the rival school!
Then it trails off from there. So 2 red heads, both named Heidi, both from the same area in Michigan, both into retro, vintage stuff. This would be the type of store we would own if we ever had the guts to open one.
We left with a retro sign for the front door.
Came back the next day with our friends and left with another sign, some retro candy, and an entry into the Signed Ad Boy book contest:
http://static4.px.yelp...
A couple hours later, I get a call from RHOH and she tells me I won the book!!!!
Going to pick it up this morning-YEAH!
I LOVE this store!!
I'm a winner!!!!!
http://static3.px.yelp...Listed in: From San Francisco to Sonoma
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Review from Anele S.
Columbus, OH
5/15/2011
Cute store but man are they overpriced! We have a lot of nostalgia stores in my area so that wasn't the main appeal, it just looked like a cute place to break up the shopping but was disappointed with overcharging for candy I can get at Target for half the price.
Comment from Heidi G. of Tiddle E Winks Vintage 5 & Dime 5/17/2011
You're right! Target does carry a handful of nostalgia… More » -
Review from Rinky N.
East Bay
11/13/2007
FIZZIES! FIZZIES! FIZZIES! FIZZIES!
Be still my heart. I had to blink back the tears when I saw the Fizzies display on the shelf. For you whippersnappers who don't know about Fizzies. Fizzies are tablets that come in different flavors that you plop into a glass of water......and as you watch with delight/horror/amazement/etc. The tablet bubbles itself into a fizzy drink.
http://www.fizzies.com/
You feel like you have stepped into a time capsule and have arrived at your childhood candy shop. Just when you thought all those candies you loved or wanted to get (but your mom forbade them) are gone forever......they are all here waiting for you!
Button candy (I'll have to tell Masa in LA about this)
Wax bottles of colored "juice" aka semi-toxic liquid
Dozens of candy bars from the past.
Retro greeting cards!
Lots and lots more!
One of the best parts of my visit here was watching the other customers. All the Baby Boomers were crying tears of joy. The younger customers were awed by the selection.
A small store with an EXCELLENT selection of retro candy run by a friendly woman who I'm sure gets the candy by traveling back in her time machine! -
Review from jen d.
San Francisco, CA
4/14/2009
Great selection of hard-to-find candy - including britsh Cadbury (Mars bar), retro stuff (idaho spud, valomilk), french chew taffy, chocolate twizzlers, and those ice cube chocolate squares I haven't seen since I was a kid (I *loved* those things).
Plus other cool stuff like wonder woman and sock monkey tin lunch boxes. -
Review from Ann C.
Sonoma, CA
11/5/2010
All the other reviewers have nailed it: this shop is just plain FUN. Filled with nostalgia, your youth will be well-represented in the various games, candies, toys and tschotchkes on display. For Christmas one year I bought each of my family members souvenir glasses from the states of their birth: Massachusetts for my husband, Arizona for my dad, etc. They were charmed to the core!
The inventory is a bit pricey so bring your credit card and be prepared to throw financial caution to the winds. But, mostly, bring your capacity to be childlike once more -- this is a trip down memory lane that's worth the investment! -
Review from Olma M.
Burlingame, CA
12/18/2007
EEEEE! I felt like a little kid walking in through the doorway - I would've skipped my way around the narrow store if not for the fact that I felt compelled to stop and touch everything!
It all starts so innocently with a little freezer case full of ice cream bars, walls covered with vintage toys, games, books, ceramics, signs and then... just a few feet away...
Walls lined with rows and rows of candy!
Latest shopping highlights:
- Vintage sign, reading "Drink Coffee. Do stupid things faster and with more energy" (I'm pretty sure I have to come back for this);
- Pillbox, reading "Mother's Little Helper - Better Living through Chemistry;"
- The following conversation:
Owner: So, what's Billy's budget today?
Billy's older friend/sibling: fifty cents.
Owner: OK, so today, he can get these candies...
Ahhh (sigh). Overhearing this reminded me of elementary school days when a single Jolly Rancher green apple hard candy was only five cents, and sold in singles!
Five stars for the crispy, cool layout, awesome vintage signs and pennants, fun, cheery customer service and unique shopping opportunity. I will definitely visit Tiddle E. Winks every time I'm in the area. -
Review from Berna T.
12/14/2008
I walked into this place and thought....
If I were five years old again, I'd be running around this place grabbing fistfuls of candy and a metal Hello Kitty lunchbox and screaming at the top of my lungs, "MOM, CAN YOU BUY ME THIS PLEASE???? PLEEEEEEAAAASE?!?!?! PLEASE CAN YOU CAN YOU CAN YOU BUY ME THIS?"
She would probably wrestle it all from my grip and let me choose one piece of candy, and I'd cry the whole time, "I HATE YOU, YOU'RE SO MEAN!!!!"
Good times.
Awesome selection of candy favorites from my childhood. And damn right, I'm buying myself a Hello Kitty lunchbox full of Now-N-Laters. Suck on that. -
Review from Heidi M.
7/24/2009
So did I just die and go to Heidi Heaven???? Are you kidding - I was like a kid in a candy store - No pun intended:-)
We stumbled in here on our Sonoma trip and have been back twice already!
You want vintage candy? check,
Adorable vintage map t-shirts, pillows, tea towels, glasses? check!
The cutest kids plates in the world? (I mean come on friends - get pregnant so that I can buy you this stuff!) check!
Ok, so maybe I'm a bit biased because the store is owned by a Heidi from Detroit (what are the chances) but this is seriously the store I would own in an alternate universe.
Dont' miss this gem on your next trip to Sonoma!! -
Review from crystal r.
San Francisco, CA
Updated - 6/27/2010
This store has great selection of candy that I haven't seen since the late 70's/ early 80's. Also an incredible selection of retro-inspired American map textiles (drinking glasses and linens) for every state. The displays are tasteful and the prices are reasonable. Nice place to shop for a gift.
Wish I could give it 5 stars.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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6/25/2010
While visiting Sonoma yesterday, I happened upon this adorable shop. I went inside and began… Read more »
Comment from Heidi G. of Tiddle E Winks Vintage 5 & Dime 6/25/2010
Crystal, I'm sorry doesn't even begin to cover it. I am the… More » -
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Review from diana s.
Berkeley, CA
7/10/2007
This place is FREAKING AWESOME. Lots of great candies, bags, signs, strange little knick knacks. SO AWESOME.
AND, they stock Cadbury products made in ENGLAND, NOT the crappy stuff manufactured by Hersey!
I might have to make more trips to Sonoma, now that I know about Tiddle E Winks! -
Review from Bill J.
Sonoma, CA
9/10/2008
This place is great! My family and I moved up from Fairfax to Sonoma over the summer, where we had gotten used to plenty of "intersting"shopping.
Tiddle E Winks definitely scratches the vintage itch for us. Incredible selection of candy, vintage reproduction toys and other assorted novelties.
And the owner Heidi is very friendly. She always says hi to me when I walk in :) -
Review from Sheana D.
Sonoma, CA
2/26/2008
This store is amazing!
The owner Heidi has a great imagination.
Going to Tiddle E Winks is like visiting Willy Wonka!
I go weekly for salt water taffy fix, not to mention everyone in my family loves the store. My 15 year old daughter and her friends all go in to see Heidi, as she treat the teenagers with respect, which is very kind.
You can find great gifts and treasures for your friends and family.
For Valentines Day, I was able to find cool unique gifts for my Mother, Father, Sister, Daughter and of course myself!
Stop in and ask Heidi about he cute little dog too!
Enjoy!
Sheana -
Review from S R.
Oakland, CA
2/27/2010
If loving this wonderfully charming, retro, cute little store is wrong, I don't want to be right.
I wonder whether the owners will let me go for a spin in their hidden time machine if I ask nicely?Comment from Heidi G. of Tiddle E Winks Vintage 5 & Dime 3/14/2010
Step through our doors anytime...the time machine is ALWAYS… More » -
Review from Adam G.
Moorpark, CA
12/9/2010
This is one of the coolest stores I've ever been to. Loved everything about it. Wish it was close by!
Comment from Heidi G. of Tiddle E Winks Vintage 5 & Dime 12/10/2010
Maybe you could move to Sonoma?... More » -
Review from Heather D.
San Francisco, CA
6/25/2011
They have a fantastic selection of candy! Always enjoy coming in and getting a few sweets.
Comment from Heidi G. of Tiddle E Winks Vintage 5 & Dime 6/25/2011
Thanks for the "sweet" review! More » -
Review from Megan C.
Sonoma, CA
9/21/2009
I just love this little shop and it's even more special with Heidi the owner behind the counter most of the time!
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Review from Gary T.
7/20/2008
I would've given this place 4 stars, but the person working in the store didn't give any sort of acknowledgement when I came in. I expect anyone who works in a candy shop to be extremely happy and excited due to the large amounts of sugar based products easily available. This place has all the old school candy that my grandmother would allow me to gorge myself on when babysitting me, good memories always. Chick-O-Stix, licorice wheels, Now n' Later, scented gum, Necco, Cup O' Gold, Pike's Peak, etc... You get the idea, tons of fun even for adults. They also sell genuine vintage toys from all the different era's. The prices weren't too bad either. More worth visiting than all the other "cheesy" tourist shops in the area, then again it is Sonoma.
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Review from Tracy E.
Martinez, CA
12/4/2006
What a great place!!!!!!! Do you remember the old 5 & dimes? The owner has done a great job in her small space recreating one. There is old time candy (many hard to find items) as well has games, puzzles and nick knacks from the 50's on. She even has Fizzies. I have heard about them but had never seen them till the day I walk into her shop. It's such a fun place. Just a note the Fizzies are made now I guess they have come back on the market to specialty shops.
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Review from lindsey m.
3/3/2009
i absolutely love love love this place. whenever my friend and i are in the mood for candy we stop by Tiddle E Winks. the cozy atmosphere inside is enough to keep you browsing for hours through all the fun vintage novelties and drool-worthy candy choices :)
i would give this tasty lil shop 5 stars however, last time i went in there an older woman was working and wasn't friendly at all---nothing like the owner, she's a doll.
next time i visit Tiddle E Winks i'll be sure to take lots of pictures because the ones posted on here just don't do this charming little sweet shop justice.
oh and if you want to take a look before dropping in, check out the website!
http://www.tiddleewink.../
its ALMOST as cool as the shop itself ;) -
Review from GORDON M.
Belmont, CA
2/17/2010 1 photo
This is a really quaint place with a lot (and I mean a lot) of different types of candies so everyone will find something to their liking There is so much candy that it is hard to pick what you want! There are also reproductions of vintage metal toys from the 1950's and a lot of other misc stuff too. Like the cool soda fountain that serves soda pop etc. The 2 ladies that work there obviously love their job as they are as nice as can be and very helpful too!
Comment from Heidi G. of Tiddle E Winks Vintage 5 & Dime 2/17/2010
Thanks! We loved having you here! More » -
Review from Ima C.
Santa Rosa, CA
9/6/2009
This is a wonderful store located in Sonoma. It contains all the wonderful things of my childhood. Its owner operated and the lady greets everyone and makes them feel very welcome. they sell great lunch boxes to vintage matchbooks, great candy's for anyone over 30 will remember. All those great memories rush back to you of running to the ice cream truck.
Definately one of the best shops in sonoma. Only wish that the rest of sonoma would be like this place. -
Review from Mike C.
Sonoma, CA
8/23/2009
this store is worth a two hour drive...if you really like great old school candy!
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Review from Aly F.
San Francisco, CA
7/11/2009
Best little shop in the area! Every nook and cranny is filled with vintage charm. And the hard-to-find candy... well, that's the main reason to go!
