Building Blocks Toy Store

Chicago, United States

4.8

Closed now

20 reviews

Accepts Credit Cards

Contacts

QR code, vCard

Telephone:
+1 773-235-1888
Website:
www.buildingblockstoys.com
Address:
2130 W Division St, Chicago, IL, 60622
b/t Hoyne Ave & Damen Ave
West Town, Wicker Park
Nearby public transportation stops & stations:
0.5 miDamen
0.7 miDivision
0.8 miAshland & LeMoyne
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Bussiness info

Accepts Credit Cards
Yes
Parking
Street
Bike Parking
Yes
Wheelchair Accessible
Yes

Today

Today 10:00 am – 7:00 pm
Closed now
Local time (Chicago) 19:32 Friday, 29 November 2024

Business hours

Monday 10:00 am – 7:00 pm
Tuesday 10:00 am – 7:00 pm
Wednesday 10:00 am – 7:00 pm
Thursday 10:00 am – 7:00 pm
Friday 10:00 am – 7:00 pm
Saturday 9:30 am – 6:00 pm
Sunday 9:30 am – 5:00 pm

Description

Specialties

We have toys, books, games, puzzles, crafts, science kits, trains, trucks, dolls and lots of fun for ages 0 – 99! You can explore and play or we can help you select the perfect gift. Gift wrapping is complimentary and shipping is available.

History

Established in 1996.

The Lakeview shop was opened in 1996 and with it’s success came our second baby in Wicker Park. That shop opened in 2008. We are proud to be an active part of our community by donating to over 80 schools and organizations annually. We staff outstanding local members of our community including a mom returning to work after 18 years and a person who served in our military.

Meet the Business Owner

Katherine M.

Business Owner

I am the proud owner of Building Blocks Toy Store (Lakeview, 1996 & Wicker Park, 2008), I started the business because I wanted to offer fun, interactive, educational, and quality toys for consciencious parents & caregivers – games, crafts, science kits, books, dolls, trains, etc. The fun business is… FUN, and it’s my passion. In Jan 2010, I was fortunate to expand my family with the birth of my son, so now I have someone to share all my toys with! Thank you for supporting a locally-​owned mom’s business. I appreciate your business. My staff and I work hard to service your family.

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20 reviews of Building Blocks Toy Store

No registration required
Place rating: 4
Chicago, IL
I really like this place. They are always friendly and so nice every time I go in here. They have a wide selection of toys for boys and girls of all ages. They split it out into ages which makes it easy for me to walk in, go to the section I need, and pick something out. And they will wrap it for you? Nice! It feels good to support local business in a great neighborhood.
Everyone should support this place.
Place rating: 5
Chicago, IL
Love love love. Great service, exceptionally curated selection, and free gift wrap. What’s not to love.
Place rating: 5
Chicago, IL
This store is amazing. If the toy you are looking for is not found in this store, you probably isn’t that great for your child. The selections are educational, high quality and lots of fun. You don’t need to know what you are looking for to find a great gift for a birthday party or something wonderful for your child. The owner is really hard working and very generous with the neighborhood. I can get behind supporting local business with the high quality and spirit found within this store!
Place rating: 5
Chicago, IL
While we do not have children we have several friends with young children and this place is our go to. The place is packed floor to ceiling with toys and games for all ages. This isn’t Toys’R’Us or Target, these are quality toys. We consistenly get the favorite gifts for whatever occassion.
If you’re not sure what to get ask one of the staff. Give them gender and age and they will pick something out that’s great. Very knowldgeable and friendly. I know around holiday time they do gift wrapping.
Absolutely top notch. Support your local toy store.
Place rating: 4
Chicago, IL
Building Blocks is packed with awesome toys for all ages… even a few toys (Fisher Price record player and phone!) that I loved as a child that I can’t wait to buy for my lil one when she is a bit older. I do think it’s probably a bit more pricey than a big chain store, but I would prefer to support a local store so I splurged on a set of blocks and a ball for my daughter.
I’m not sure if I visited before the saleswomen had their coffees, but I didn’t get the warm, fuzzy & energetic feeling from them that most other Unilocalers raved about. Sure, they said hello but that was about it. After the hellos, they were bustling around the store (which only had 2 customers, including me) organizing toys, answer the phone or in the backroom.
Place rating: 5
Chicago, IL
I love this place great variety and different toys, stuff you can’t find anywhere else. The staff is amazing they were so incredibly patient with me and my kids… we didn’t want to leave and we’ll be back for sure!!!
Place rating: 5
Chicago, IL
This place is amazing and if you’re shopping for toys for little ones then look no further. Anyone reviewing Building Blocks with anything less than 5 stars should have their head examined. What is a 5 star toy store to you anyway???
Everyone else has pretty much already said it all. Awesome selection of well priced items, phenomenal staff, VERY fast and free wrapping and just an overall fun place to shop!
Bought 6 items, paid and wrapped in about 30 minutes! I’m betting I could spend that in line alone at any of the major chains 2 days before Christmas.
Place rating: 5
Chicago, IL
I don’t have any kids of my own so when I wanted to send a little something to a friend’s daughter, I knew that the folks over at Building Blocks would know exactly what to recommend and I was right. Cassandra helped me and gave me a bunch of options and since I was out of town, she even gift wrapped the items, included a card and, wait for it, offered to deliver them! I don’t think service could possibly get better than that. :D
Place rating: 5
Chicago, IL
Building Blocks Toy Store is one of the best local toy stores in the country. Not only do they stock an amazing selection of toys, but they also have some of the most knowledgeable and friendly staff I’ve ever come across. I usually go in there with a list of birthday presents and presents for my kids to buy. I simply tell the salesperson the age, gender and price range, and then let them show me the best toys available that fit my needs. I always get something great that is also in my budget. Plus, they gift wrap for FREE!
I recently went there to buy some toys appropriate for airplanes and restaurants. We took our 3 and 4 year old girls on an 8 hour plane ride earlier this month. Their staff picked out a great array of small toys that were perfect for planes and restaurants. Hours of entertainment were had. My husband and I (as well as the other passengers on the plane) thank you for your great suggestions!
Place rating: 5
Chicago, IL
Lovely neighborhood toy store. The staff is excellent and helpful which is necessary since the place is packed to the rafters with toys. Prices They stock a lot of interesting toys which aren’t otherwise that easy to find — especially at a big box retailer.
Place rating: 5
Chicago, IL
Walking in for the first time with a couple of busy 4 year old boys, I was so pleased to see a sales person approach to ask if needed help. Asked for ideas for 2 gifts around the $ 50 mark, 6 year old girl and 7 year old boy. The sales person asked a few questions, and walked back with such perfect gifts I didn’t bother to look further. Very impressive!
AND — they gift wrap! Great toy store — will definitely go back.
Place rating: 5
Chicago, IL
Great toy store. Its all been said.
They have toys for all girls and boys, they will wrap your presents for you. They have scratch & sniff pizza birthday cards. They are very nice people who will joke with me about taking in the holographic pony ruler to an architects office. Get you some toys up in hurr!
Place rating: 5
Chicago, IL
Wall to wall toys, games, puzzles… wall to wall fun! They have jam packed this store with an amazing selection of kid’s toys. I stopped in to browse for some toys for Bubs and easily found some gifts for Bub’s cousins. And they ship too!
What I love most about this store is the variety of toys. And none of the big box TV character driven toys either. These are quality toys for imaginative, creative and as another reviewer posted, whimsical fun. And the prices are reasonable considering these are well made and not what you’d necessarily find in the big commercial stores.
There are some personalized options too – I got a decorated door hanger for Bub’s room and they added his name – no additional charge – and only a wait time of 10 minutes. I also chose some nice wooden board books that he always wants to play with now. The folks behind this store really know their stuff! Friendly and chatty, they were really nice to talk to. They shared my enthusiasm over some of the toys I found – Bozo Buckets – YES! the preschool playphone – awesome! Easily on my go-​to list for Bubs and his friends.
5 stars easily.
Place rating: 4
Chicago, IL
I was here a few weeks ago with my fiancée to buy a last minute gift for his niece. Since we were in the area we decided to walk here and check it out. He mentioned he wasn’t that impressed because the store looked cluttered. My opinion did differ however, and in fact I think this place is quite a little gem in the neighborhood. Despite its small size which gives the impression of being quite cramped this place is loaded with toys both whimsical, but also educational. I was also impressed that the staff was not only helpful in locating just the type of toy we were looking for they knew enough of the way they arrange the store to find it despite the tight quarters. I also liked the fact they offered complimentary gift wrapping. Sure beats having to buy an extra gift bag to throw it in (and the options were pretty cute and not cheap looking).
If I lived in this neighborhood this would be my go to place. Beats going to a department store because you can get a crafty gift and it would be age appropriate and educational to boot :)
Place rating: 5
Chicago, IL
Everyone else has already echoed what I would write in this review. I only have a few children in my life but every chance I get I try to buy from this great little store.
Rave rave rave. Knowledgeable staff. Rave. Gift wrapping. Rave rave. Community asset.
Check it out, especially if you’re in the neighborhood and have little ones in your life.
Place rating: 4
Chicago, IL
This is my go to when I need a birthday gift for a children’s party.
When you enter the store the staff is very attentive and knowledgeable. They always ask if they can help you find something. When you tell them the age and sex of the child you are looking to buy for, they walk around the store and show you a variety of toys in different price ranges that a child of that age and sex would enjoy. Once you have found a gift, they do a great job gift wrapping for you. They make the whole gift buying experience totally simple!
Additionally, the staff is very friendly. Sometimes when my son and I are out for a walk we stop in here just to play with the train set. This doesn’t bother them at all. In fact, they are very welcoming to this.
We love having building blocks in the hood!
Place rating: 5
San Francisco, CA
Paid a visit to this location back in June and was absolutely amazed with the staff and store. The staff is extremely knowledgeable and you can tell that they enjoy what they do. There is a vast selection of product for all ages and plenty of demos to sample. Once you walk in you feel like a kid again. I saw toys that reminded me of my childhood, toys that you would never think would be toys, and eco-​friendly, educational toys.
The plus to this store is that they hold community events that are fun for the whole family. Big ups to them for being involved with the community!
The best part of the experience was because of the staff that showed me around the store and answered all the questions I had. I’ve been to many toy stores where you get the grumpy people that make you wonder why they’re even working at a store that is built on the foundation of fun.
They also have another location in Lakeview that I hope to check out next time I’m back in the area. I think the Lakeview one was their first location.
A must visit!
Place rating: 5
Chicago, IL
I recently had a chance to stop in this cute little store on Division. I had been in there once before several years ago and this was the first time in a long time that I had been inside. There is definitely something for everyone here! I was shopping for 3 different birthdays for young children — 1 year, 6 years and 9 years old. I thought I would have to go to separate stores or worse, Target.
I was so pleasantly surprised. I told the staff who I was shopping for and they immediately pulled together some gift ideas that were well beyond what I could have come up with! I even saw some things from my old childhood coming back to grace the shelves of sores. I got a real sense of nostalgia here. It felt good.
The owner is also an avid supporter of our neighborhood school, and always giving back to the community. I’m so glad that the stores survives their horrible flood a few years ago. I will be back as often as I can to support this important staple to the community.
Place rating: 5
Chicago, IL
I love a good toy store, brings you back to childhood. Now that I have a little niece I have a reason to go to these stores again. What fun.
Lego’s, dolls, puzzles and games… What does this place not have. For the past few years I have picked up plenty of fun toys for her here.
With a staff who seems to have all sorts of great ideas never fear if you are at a loss for what to get they will point you in the right direction. It is so full of toys you can get lost in there for a while or have them help you with your search.
Place rating: 5
Chicago, IL
I spotted Building Blocks as I was pulling into Wicker Wash on Division Street and I knew I had to check it out. As the mother of a three year old, I really despise going to Target and Toys R Us to find toys.
However, going to those places is inevitable. It was getting closer and closer to Christmas and I had already been to Target to get the Dora, Disney Princess and Barbie stuff that she was BEGGING for. However, I really wanted to get her a few bragging right items – meaning unique toys that all the other kids in preschool wouldn’t have and I figured Building Blocks might have what I was looking for.
And I hit the jackpot! Since she really loves horses, I found a really nice stable with two stalls and 4 beautiful horses. I also found a breakfast set which came with dishes, a battery operated coffeemaker and pop-​up toaster. What I consider the gems were the pre-​reading books by Scholastic titled My First Bob Books. My little one can already count to 30, recognize most letters of the alphabet and write two of the letters in her name and I am convinced these books will have her reading by the summer. I haven ‘t seen or even heard of these books before. What is great about the inventory is that a lot of these toys are learning oriented, which I really appreciate.
The shop owners are very friendly, helpful and bend over backwards to make recommendations based on what you’re looking for – not random recommendations that will only benefit their cash register if the customer bites.
The best part of all this is that Building Blocks is 5 minutes away from my house. I’ll be back again and again.