The Dollmakers’ Kattywompus

Such a cute little toy store!!! The owner is a nice old lady who has had this store for ever 20 years! My daughter and I stumbled across this store one morning while walking along old town Monrovia. They have lot’s of learning toys from the brand Melissa & Doug here. They also have an open free play area with toys that kids can try out. My toddler loved this store and enjoyed playing with the toys.

LOVE this store! Great selection of toys for kids of all ages. Everything from nostalgic toys from your childhood to new stuff that kids today will love. Adorable dolls, books, trains, marbles, and even little science experiment kits for you to do with your little ones. They have some purses and backpacks and I managed to find this really awesome star wars back pack for myself. Always super friendly and ready to give recommendations when you need it too! And the best part of all: their mascots tutti and molly! They’re so sweet and welcoming to everyone! Dollmaker’s is one of my favorite shops in old town monrovia!

Theres really no store quite like this one, their always cheerful attitude and the unique toys they offer make for a great getaway from the bland stuff at Target or WalMart. But most impressive is Friday nights when the owner (Cindy) and many friends and relatives gather in front of the store and have a… I dont know quite what to call it, its an old fashioned fiddling, mini-​concert. Of all the stores in «Old Town» Monrovia, none quite gives that name its due as much as this store, its like a blast to the past, like you are walking into the 1950’s and a more innocent time.

The owner is so sweet and helpful, great toys– carries hard to find Melissa and Doug products and great train sets. I love that the owner is not pushy to make a buck.. she truly loves children and having fun. Great place on Myrtle!

I’ve been to this place a few times a couple of years ago and I have to say that after today’s trip I will NOT be returning. What a waste of gas, let’s face it gas aint cheap, especially when you have to drive 45 minutes to get there and 45 back. First of all the name of the store is misleading, they dont make dolls there, they dont even sell collector dolls there anymore. That’s false advertisement, its very similar to having a shop called BRIDAL CAKES and yet you only sell Sausage Meats. The store should be called «Toys for Tots in Monrovia». Many years ago this store had such an huge variety of dolls meant for adult collectors and this is what they specialized in. They used to sell doll wigs, BJD supplies, doll shoes, expensive collector dolls, but somewhere in the last couple of years they changed their concept to become a Toy store, which is fine with me but stop false advertising. You aren’t The DollMakers anymore, you sell My little pony, beanie babies, legos, building blocks and toys for children. The age range of this Toy Store is now somewhere between 3 – 10 years of age, so be warned.

We love this store. My kids love… I love it… they have something for everyone! Cool stuffed toys… creepy dolls… fun ride on toys (not the adult kind)… games… puzzles… nicknacks…
This is not your typical chain toy store. This place reminds me of the way toy stores used to be back in the time of dinosaurs!
My son also enjoys the occasionally activities this store puts on. Just recently they had a «Mermaid Party»! We did cut and paste and made paper mermaids! How cool!
The back of the store is kinda weird. They claim to put on music classes. It looks a little creepy as if some weird kumbaya hippie cult thing is going on. I don’t mind.
I’d give this place 6 stars if I could!

I love coming in here. Not your average toy store. The staff make it a magical place.

Love this story! Definitely worth stopping by and finding something for your child or grandchild :)

This is one amazing store! They have such a wide variety of children’s toys and the staff is so nice! This store specializes in oddities as well. They carry a lot of toys you simply can’t find anywhere else.
My kids also love their train tables that they have especially for the kiddies that stop by. That in itself makes this store so special to me and my family. I can’t wait to go back and I’m sure my kids are dying to go back as well. Perfect pit stop for the children in all of us.

this place is awesome. i take my kid here. i take my friends kids here. i take my friends here. Cindy is SO helpful and will find exactly the right gift for you, even if you have no idea what to get as in «i need a gift for a four year old boy»
The store carries standard toy stuff, but they also have a really great selection of unusual, vintagey-​inspired stuff and just some cool things to play with.
you should definitely check it out.

We absolutely love this store! I purchase all of our toys needed for various birthday parties here. Kids always love the presents we give them. The toys are unique and they carry many things that I played with in the 70’s. I think that is very special. The price range makes picking purchases easy. If you say the present is a gift, they will put it in a nice bag with tissue paper and ribbon. Saves me a lot of time!
Often on Saturdays there are free art parties for the children. My daughter loves to go. The laughter and fun the children have is fantastic. We also take guitar lessons in the back which makes this store even more special to our family.

I’ve been coming to The Dollmaker’s since I was a young girl with my mom and this is one of the best doll store’s in Southern California, bar none. And growing up my mom and I took doll collecting seriously, we scouted out probably ever doll store within a 30 mile radius from Monrovia.
This is a family owned store and they are so friendly! They make you feel right at home. I’ve known Cindy for years and she was and is just the sweetest and the best. I remember going into the store when I was 12 – 13 and she sometimes used to give me a toy to take home before we left. How sweet is that?!
My mother has even sold dolls though the Dollmakers. If she was tired of a certain doll that cost quite a large sum of money, she would take it to the Dollmakers and they would set the dolls up in the store, as pre-​loved dolls and whenever they sold, they did take an interest, but it was worth it for my mom, as selling through Ebay can be quite expensive, plus she didn’t have to worry about shipping.
As my mom got into dollhouse’s, she’s acquired many of her pieces here, as they stock quite a few pieces, plus they special ordered her many items for her dollhouse. They can be quite pricey for some items, but if your looking for something unique and is high quality that will see you through the years, this is the place to go.
Not only do they have dolls and doll house items, they carry a nice selection of toys for children. My little nephews have gotten many stuffed animals and little toys over the years from here. They also carry beautiful copies of books for children, that I’ve been tempted to buy for myself, as an adult. I’ve seen a toy car and piano with a stool sold here. I also bought myself a great little harp with music sheets included! There’s so many unique items that I’ve seen over the years, including animé dolls and things you can’t find just anywhere! They’ll special order quite a few things for you also. They’ve carried many retro style toys, which I’ve never seen anywhere else.
Also, if you go in, you might notice music playing in the back. They do music lessons here, as some of the family members are quite skilled in celtic music. Sometimes just walking in or in front of the store, you’ll be greeted with beautiful celtic music, played by these talented musicians.
Overall an excellent store if your a doll collector, into doll house’s or are looking for a great alternative to Toys R US, with wholesome toys for children of all ages. If your just looking for something unique too, this is definitely worth a stop! :)

Kitchy store with toys from your past instead of what kills the walls of Toys R Us today.
They had a selection of really cute animal umbrellas at a reasonable price. The ladybug was my favorite.

The Dollmakers’ Kattywompus is a wonderful toy store in Old Town Monrovia. They sell all sorts of toys for boys and girls. I also overheard a patron paying for music lessons, so that might be an additional service they offer.
They sell classic books, such as «Where the Wild Things Are» alongside beautifully bound copies of classic books such as «Great Expectations». I noticed a big selection of Melissa & Doug, dolls, toy cars and science kits for kids. There was a section for novelty items like switchblade combs and oversized underwear.
This is a great shop for kids because you can get novelty items, fun toys and educational items all in one store! Several items were 25% off, but books «on sale» were still about $ 15. It’s a bit pricey, but it’s definitely worth the extra buck or two to support a local shop. The customer service is definitely better than what I’ve seen at Toys R Us, so that alone is worth it!

Amazing little toy shop in Monrovia. They have a great selection of new fun toys and old vintagie looking toys. My sister and I always buy one of those toy car things that the kids LOVE. They are so helpful and always willing to take time and walk around the store with you talking about the toys. This is a great place to buy cool toys.

Would you like to make a paper bag turkey?
My response, «Heck yea!» I should have watched my potty mouth since there were about six 5 year olds in the room.
This place is awesome! The owner, Cindy, is super sweet. She hosts bi-​monthly parties where kids can come in to make free arts and crafts. My 30 something boyfriend and I sat down and indulged our inner children. We were elbow deep in glue sticks, crayons, and sparkly stuff. Such a great event to take your kids to.
The store also carries a ton of old school toys and stuffed animals. I guess I know where to host my 30^th birthday now.

I was visiting the store a few weekends ago, and they had a lot of things that brought back memories, and showed me a few items that I haven’t seen out yet. My 2 year old loved the entry area which had a little doll house set up with Critter Country.
Maybe a bit on the pricy end, but the store owner is really helpful, and mentioned that there is story time on Mondays for those who wanted to watch.
I definitely plan to go back there to pick up a few presents for my toddler and friends with kids.

This is a great store with a really delightful lady at the helm! I drove up to get stringing elastic for my BJDs (which I haven’t been able to find locally). I didnt know what size elastic to get so the store owner was happy to help. The store is absolutely adorable, the service reminds me of what you’d see in a movie about the 50s. So many cute old-​timey toys and lots of doll stuff including items for BJDs and doll houses. This one’s worth a visit just for the fun of it! Try to go on a Friday afternoon so you can enjoy the neighbourhood farmers market too.

This is the ULTIMATE place to check out if you need: a rubber band gun, a metal lunchbox (old school style, the lady there swears it can double as a purse!), an ugly doll character, an old fashioned piece of candy and some of those metal jacks that you can stab your feet with when they get lost in the carpet.
I traipsed through here on a shoot this week and was so floored by the selection of retro toys they stock here. (I have needed these things on sets in the past, yes, making a mental note…). The lady who works there was so kind and helpful-I’d definitely check it out if you’re like me, that childless (ON PURPOSE) person who has to visit friends and relatives with children for a birthday, holiday, or shower-​you know when you have to bring that classy, retro expensive toy that no other kid has, so its hipster parents look even more cool. (OMG did I say that out loud?)
Definitely check it out, the whole street is so freakin’ charming you’ll think you popped right into Mayberry! Have fun, but don’t shoot yer eye out!

This is a small but cute store. Full of toys that make you say, «Hey, I remember when I used to play with those!“‘
Their main thing is dolls. You can buy them clothes, houses and furniture. They have a freaky display of doll heads on a shelf so you can pick out the one you want and custom build your own.
Some of the brands I remember seeing are Thomas the Tank, Calico Critters, Melissa and Doug puzzles and wooden food sets, Russ, Gund, WebKinz, Raggedy Ann and Andy dolls, and retro toys such as slinkys, tin wind ups, and a nice variety of marbles. Of course, they sell lots of other kinds of toys but my old woman brain can’t remember anything else.
The ladies working there were so pleasant and nice. They chatted with my child and I for awhile and offered suggestions on what to get my nephew but weren’t pushy or annoying at all.
It is a nice place to browse and in the end we left with a bag of marbles for my child and a wooden car kit for my nephew. We’ll probably be back in a couple of weeks for the mummy excavation kit my daughter fell in love with.
–1 star for being a little bit overcrowded with stuff (but not messy).