GUNNZO

Kendama heaven. every kind of style, brand and size plus vinyl and collectibles.
call ahead for odd hours. on a steep hill in Old Town in a converted home.

Best kendama shop in the SoCal area! They have the biggest selections of kendamas they have Sweets, kendama USA, Krom, and KendamaCo!

Small toy shop specializing in imported games and goods from Japan. They carry the best Kendama toys in all of San Diego (according to my sons) and apparently this place is extremely popular and well-​known despite it’s tucked away location in Old Town SD because ALL kids from around town go here for their Kendama needs. Every time we go here it seems like there’s a Kendama convention because the store is flooded with kids and their Kendamas. Long store short: buy your Kendama needs here!

Super friendly owner and she was very helpful in picking out a good kendama for my son. I had no idea what I was buying but felt good about my choice.
My son ended up loving the color and feel.
Great place to go if you want a huge selection of kendamas!

I’m not sure but I think this is the only place that has a large selection of Kendama’s. The place is easy to miss because it looks more like a house. There are no large signs. Pay attention to the address because that is the only prominent marker.
The parking for the area is on a very steep hill but as I walked up noticed they have two parking spaces just for customers.
Don’t expect a toys-​r-​us environment, it’s more like a quaint little toy shop that prominently displays Kendama’s of all sorts with prices beginning at about 18 dollars all the way to about 60.
The primary difference between these Kendama’s and the cheap stuff at Big 5 is the string. If you’re looking for one for yourself or kid, this is the spot.
I bought one for myself and will go back to buy more.
It’s a little hard to find but it’s worth the hunt.

Lots of cute stuff here! I’m glad there’s something like this in San Diego. I used to frequent Kid Robot pretty much weekly in LA, but have since abandoned that hobby. However I knew exactly the kind of birthday gift I wanted to get for a friend and searched Unilocal and huzzah! GUNNZO found.
I bought a couple awesome gifts for my friend and then like three more for myself. SO WHAT?! I’m a grown-​up! I can buy myself toys if I want to.
I love that they have open box items too. You know, for when you’re feeling less adventurous with your money.
Parking was a pain in the ass, but there was an event happening in Old Town so it’s probably not that bad usually. That hill sucks to walk up, though. OMG. Why.

This place is rad! Small little shop in the residential area of old town. We went to buy my son a kendama and ended up staying there about an hour. They have tons of vinyl! Customer service is great and they have a great story on how they got the name! Fun place to visit while you’re in Old Town

Great kendama store they have roots oozora sweets kendama USA shin Fuji tribute and many more!

Gunnzo is a fantastic example of the heart and soul within the small business community. It’s a welcoming place, kind of like visiting Grandma’s house, only way, way cooler. They carry a great selection of adorable vinyl figures, paint for vinyl and authentic Japanese Kendamas. We didn’t know what kendama was until we came here! It’s an addictive game of patience and skill and it’s far better for kids than looking at a screen for hours. The owners are pleasant and friendly and if you don’t like the vinyl in your box, you may trade for another of the same kind, if they have one. It might be slightly off the beaten path but its worth a trip for a unique dose of culture and fun!

Cute little store filled with vinyl toys, a lot of collectibles, and one of the only stores here in SD carrying KENDAMAS! The lady helping us was really sweet. Located in Old town on a hill. Store front looks like a house.

Great little store with a really good selection of Kidrobot items. I bought a bunch of items and opened some in the store and she was willing to swap one of my duplicates for another item that had already been opened that was actually slightly more rare (It was a ²⁄₂₀ and I traded a ³⁄₂₀). That alone makes me really like the store. But add in the fact that it’s the only really true Kidrobot store in San Diego and you have a place that I have to tell myself to avoid so I wont waste more money on useless Futurama and South Park figures that for some reason I HAVE TO HAVE.

Gunnzo is a store that can easily be overlooked by first-​timers. We initially missed it driving down the street, thinking that we were going to see a commercial building, but it is actually located in the owner’s house, giving it a very DIY feel. It’s very unique with the feeling that you’re entering someone’s house but you are also actually entering their business/​store.
My boyfriend was very pleased with their wide array of toys that were shelved and displayed here. I’m not an expert in this field, so I took his word for it since his taste is particular when it comes to artsy things. I was definitely impressed with the range from Futurama toys to Streetfighter collectibles. Vinyl toys, dunnies, animé… if you have any interest in these, this is definitely your store to check out. It’s also unassuming that this store is located in Old Town across the street from some incredible Victorian homes, but the worker was extremely nice and shy at the same time. You could tell from looking out through their balcony from inside the store that they had a very beautiful view. I found out that the worker was from Kyushu, Japan, so we were able to exchange stories about my experience there and some of the local food that we both equally miss.
The bf ended up purchasing two toys and I thought it was a fun stop on our way back home. Dunny, vinyl toys and toy collectors, please make sure that you include this shop as one of your stops during your San Diego stay.

Even though my GPS told me where to go, I passed right by this place because I thought it was a house. There were steps that lead past the little front yard and up to the entrance. The door was open and as I stepped in, toys were everywhere. They were hanging from the walls, filled shelves and tables. In addition to blind boxes, there were also books and a few pens/​markers for purchase.
The woman who rang me up was friendly and told me about a toy exchange party that was happening that evening (with Ben & Jerry’s ice cream). She told me to come if I had time. If not for the exchange, come for the free ice cream. She was incredibly sweet and nice.
Neat place. Just look for the OPEN sign in the front and GUNNZO man sticker on the window.

Great selection of Kidrobot. Owner is fantastic. Emailed back within a few hours on a holiday weekend, and was very helpful and friendly in person as well. I love supporting small local businesses who get it right, and this is definitely one of them.
Location is in Old Town, easy to find and lots of street parking.

Awesome designer/​vinyl toy shop in old town San Diego. It’s on a residential street and is the coolest place ever!

This place is amazing!!! Definately coming back– Chica is the sweetest person and VERY helpful! A must go to place in SD

This place really does deserve all the 5 star ratings it gets! The owner is a lady named Chika who is somewhat unpredictable it seems about her store hours. There’s no hours of operation mainly because she really doesn’t seem to have any official ones.
We arrived around 11:30am hoping to catch this place to checkout some of the figurines and from the short distance we saw the «Closed» sign. I was so disappointed! But we were stubborn and walked up to the door just to take a peak at this hidden treasure of a store. When we neared the front door we noticed a sign that was up that said «Will be right back. please call XXX-​XXX-​XXXX» The reason I have those X’s is not because it’s a secret, but simply because I can’t recall the numbers right now and simply don’t want to look it up!
So we called the number. At first no answer so we decided to go to lunch and come back. After we came back the sign was still up! We were really ready to just give up as we had to walk up a steep hill twice at this point to find this place in the residential areas right after the hotel with the Acapulco sign. So I gave the number a call again and she picked up! Turns out she went to the bank to do some stuff and it just ran a bit late. For some reason that reason gave the store more charm. It really felt like a mom and pop shop with cool figurines.
So anyways, after entering the store, it was a small little place with a great selection of kidrobot figurines. They even have some that were already opened and they hang them in a neat plastic bag on a metal line against the wall. You can simply choose to buy those that aren’t blind boxes for a certain price, or if you’re like me and love the surprise. Just purchase the individual blind boxes.
She was so nice to us! We were shaking the boxes and had let her know exactly which figurine we were trying to go for, and she actually told us the clues she knew «They’re supposed to be a bit heavier» is what she said when we had mentioned which figurine of the set we had wanted. After standing there for a good 10 minutes just shaking and examining which box we wanted, she asked if we wanted to open it there in the store and took out a pair of scissors for us to make it easier. I don’t know what toy store does this! She was just as happy as we were to open up our boxes to find out what we got. She always has about 2 figurines that are already opened to show you what might be inside the blind boxes. And because they’re already opened, she offers for you to trade them either of the figurines on display if you don’t like what you get! She is so beyond nice that I still can’t believe that this store exists.
I would love to go to one of her kidrobot release parties to do an exchange!
Parking seems to be streets only. She has a driveway that looks like is meant just for her and whoever lives in that household. As mentioned in other reviews, this is basically a house. Aside from the stuff inside the windows, you really can’t tell that it’s a store. So just look out for it. It seems to be street parking only.
Definitely recommended!

This place is a gem hidden deep inside of Old Town. If you are a toy collector/​enthusiast I highly suggest you check this place out. Toys, toys and more toys, what else could anyone else really want? The woman who runs the place is super nice and always willing to go that extra mile to help you out with any questions that are toy related. I’m sad I found it right before leaving San Diego and heading back home but if i’m ever here again you can find me at Gunnzo!

Review’s a couple of months late, but still — SD is SO lucky to have a place like this! There was a show the night I was leaving, but I managed to get a couple of the awesome Post Apocalypse Dunnies! The owner and staff are super friendly and helpful. I’m going to be stopping in every time I’m in town.

Okay, so off of San Diego Ave, turning right a couple of times, you climb an epically steep hill. If you’re parking, turn your wheels to the side, just like the driving rulebook taught you. One door down from the Hacienda Hotel is an unassuming building that looks more like a residence than a business. But on the window is the friendly GUNNZO sign. And inside, is a small but great space full of vinyl toys of many shapes and sizes.
Independently owned and operated by Chika, a staggeringly nice lady with a robust knowledge on the subject, GUNNZO is a store aimed directly at the heart of the designer toy enthusiast. From the quality selection to the occasional special event, this store is worth a look.
As of this review, the first thing you notice when you walk in is a set of baskets full of previously opened blind boxes. Priced by rarity and marked to indicate what’s inside each box, this is a great place to look if you prefer to know what you’re getting before putting your money down. Just on the other side of that, you have a selection of larger limited edition toys. Beyond that, a selection of blind box toys that made my eyes water. She also sells cases of blind box sets in case you want to pick up your toys in bulk.
Besides the service, the selection, and the overall fun energy of the place, one of the cool things about GUNNZO is how local it is. Displayed prominently behind the register and high on the surrounding shelves, is a wide array of toys designed or decorated by local artists. Some are contributed after in-​store contests. Others are just on display for the sake of supporting local art.
GUNNZO’s definitely worth a look, but it’s not always open, so make sure you call first.