Puzzle Zoo

If you’re looking for a last second gift, or a unique item, and are willing to pay a bit extra for it, ok. Otherwise they have a lot of standard items that are marked up way too high. Narrow to get through, so strollers and wheelchairs are probably a bit tough to navigate with.
By the way, I declined a plastic bag from one of the employees. He tried to be helpful and let me know that I wasn’t being charged for it. I told him it was because I didn’t want another plastic bag to be put out into circulation. Don’t assume people don’t want bags just because of potential cost.

Love PZ for my nephew who always has to have the latest & greatest. They have a variety of toys, games, figurines etc. They’re always super friendly & asking to help.

I used to love coming to this place before I had kids. Now they would rather run customers out of the store so they can demo an electric skateboard in between aisles. In a store where you can barely fit down the aisles as it is. Lousy customer service especially if you need to shoo other customers away.
I was genuinely interested in buying something for my son and daughter who was in another area of the store, but when I mentioned I don’t necessarily need to buy this. I was told that’s my perogative. You know what your right and that’s when I set the item down and left the store. There’s too many options to buy elsewhere to put up with that nonsense.
Congrats on your electric skateboard sale today!

They have an awesome selection of toys and collectables however they are a bit pricey. For non specialty items you could go to target and them cheaper. Definitely a fun store to look around in. They also have deals on certain items through social media for Pop figures and Legos.

Overpriced toys… the employees didn’t even know where the nearest restrooms were and they were 5 stores down. They told us to go to the Starbucks which was 2 stores away from the restrooms. And this was from the store manager!!! I’m a mother with kids in your store buying toys for my kids and we need help can you BE more helpful? One employee wanted to let us use the restroom there but she said hold on let me ask my manager, that didn’t go well, anyways. We bought our toys and got outta there.
This was at Santa Monica Promenade so 2 stores down is far!!! Like across the street, waiting for street light and all!

The store is real small and somewhat crowded, but it is narrow and long. There’s a lot of rare and exclusive toys that you would normally not be able to find elsewhere, so that is really cool. But it is pricey. A simple Peppa Pig figurine set of 4 was $ 16.99, whereas at my local Toys R Us that toy is $ 9. It wasn’t rare or anything of that sort, just really pricey. However, this review is for a specific incident I had this past Friday.
I went in with my toddler daughters and husband, looking for something nice for my daughters. The store is really neat and fun for kids and we were all having a great time. Until I we made it to the back of the store and my youngest daughter had left a small mint box on the floor. I hadn’t seen it since I was too busy occupied with my other daughter. However, I did notice an employee pestering us around. He first asked me if I had brought a certain toy that was left there. I told him no and he looked at me as if I were lying and doubted my reply. Then literally a minute later he asked me about the mints my daughter had left on the floor, to which I replied «Yeah I think my toddler left them there, sorry about that». Then he stood there, picked them up and gave them to me and rudely told me to put them back where she got them from! The nerve of this guy! First of all, I am not an employee. I don’t work there, that’s not my job. Second of all, I wouldn’t have minded had he been a little nicer to me. Third, his whole attitude in general was so unfriendly. He did follow us around the store for a little bit and made us feel uncomfortable. Oh, and five minutes after this incident, my daughters had moved on to another section of the store where my youngest had sat on the floor and began to take toys out of their place and put them on the floor. Then he came and stood there just watching her! Excuse me but that’s not okay! That’s what I was there for, to watch her and clean up after her. No need for this guy to rudely stand there and give us the stink eye! I regret not asking for his name because I would REALLY like to put it in here right about now. He is a Caucasian male, about 5’6. All of this took place Friday night (⁷⁄₂₄).
My family and I really like coming into this store every single time we visit Third Street. I think it’s a great store for little ones and adults, but these type of employees make us not want to return. I don’t like to be pestered, followed, stared at, have my children feeling uncomfortable because some stranger is standing there watching them. After all, it is a TOY store… You would think being a «toy» store, this employee would be used to having children in there and leaving toys behind all the time and knowing how to handle a situation like this. Very displeased at the whole situation.

This place used to be big and have cornucopia of toys and collectibles. It’s a shell of what was. For the hard to shop for gift purchase this was a main stay go to type of place.
They have other locations with better selections. The memorabilia that they used to have is unfortunately no more. Yet they still have unique items available so if you are on the 3^rd Street Promenade pop on in.

I went to Puzzle Zoo to try to find a gift for my nephew. One of the staff members there was very nice and helped me find a wooden magnet block puzzle that was good for my nephew and also for his uncle so that they could do the puzzle together. It was quite crowded and loud in the store (small store), but the staff member who helped me was nice and I appreciated that. This store has a fairly nice selection of toys and puzzles, so it’s worth looking at if you live in the area.

They’ve got all the toys you need here. Literally everything you can think of exists. Everything’s a little crammed together because space is limited here, but it’s still a good spot.

This place is definitely amusing but there is just wayyy to much going on in this store I felt like I had ADD…

2015 Unilocal 100 CHALLENGE — ⁰⁰²⁄₁₀₀
I really enjoy this store! It’s a really long, narrow store that has a TON of different toys ranging from Disney princesses, to Minecraft, to board games, puzzles, stuffed animals, Star Wars, collectible figurines, etc. There’s something for everyone in here.
My coworkers and I really love decorating our office spaces with Funko POP toys, so I always make sure I stop by Puzzle Zoo to check out their ginormous collection of Funko POP toys. This store has the best selection of Funko POP toys I’ve ever seen at a store. I normally get them at Barnes & Noble, but Puzzle Zoo has a MUCH larger collection!
The store is very long and narrow which makes it a little bit hard to navigate through when it gets busy. Not a big problem, just a tight squeeze sometimes.
Overall highly recommend Puzzle Zoo! I always find myself wandering in whenever I am at Third Street Promenade!

Puzzle Zoo is a store that caters to toy collectors and toy enthusiasts. Think of this as a high end version of KB Toy Stores. Has almost every toy that you are looking for. For aviation enthusiasts the Puzzle Zoo is also know for having Herpa models available for purchase without looking to buy online. One step inside and you’ll feel like you’re Alice in Wonderland. Plenty of stuff you won’t be able to find at Toys R Us or your nearest Target. Everything for everyone from children to adults. Sports memorabilia, action figures, puzzles, you name it. Helpful and friendly staff. A bit claustrophobic inside. Some people may not be pleased with toy prices but please remember these are hard to find items and also you are at the Santa Monica Promenade.

A must stop for any collector of collectible collections. You might just stumble upon that one unique or rare item you’ve been looking for. Kind of a cross between a high end toy store and the old Discovery Channel Store (remember those?). Prices are higher than you’d find elsewhere but most of this stuff, you won’t find elsewhere, so there it is.
You’ll find Marvel and DC comic heroes; NBA, NFL, MLB and NHL figures; puzzles galore and games you haven’t seen before; movie characters; stuff for the little kids (we’re all little kids).
If nothing else, just walk through. Go when it’s busy and you’ll do a lot of sideways and shoulder navigating though the narrow store. Excuse me. Excuse me. Excuse me. Actually no one says excuse me anymore (the friendly employees do though).

The toy store of 3^rd Street Santa Monica Promenade worth remembering. Tons of independently crafted toys and games that are challenging, stimulating or require hand-​eye coordination — good for adults and children (Did I say adults? Yes I did). A version of Beer Pong without the beer, just pong. Hourglasses galore. Wind-​up toys that reminded me of Wall-​E without it being based on Wall-​E or anything from the movies. But you still got Elmo and Star Wars toys, and heck, all the awesome Legos creations that cost fifty bucks and up. You get giddy just looking at this stuff. #elevation

the prices are ridiculous
i used to LOVE Puzzle Zoo; so much awesome stuff for my collection
ever since the one in the Valencia Mall closed, it’s a treat to visit the Santa Monica store
but each time the prices are more ridiculous and stupider than before
Star wars Black Series for $ 30??? The Disney Store doesnt even charge that much! All the other retailers and Amazon have Leia, Luke, greedo for under $ 20, yet they still charge $ 30
Breaking Bad figures $ 25? $ 15 outside
Gentle Giant Jumbo Kenner $ 115+?
under $ 90 elsewhere
NECA Prometheus (which have been on clearanxe at Toys R Us for months and STILL not selling) are $ 25+ here while $ 8 at TRU on sale.
sorry Puzzle Zoo, losing my business

The customer service here is awesome! The people here are friendly, knowledgeable of the products, and helpful. Other than puzzles (duh) and board games, they have lots of collectors items from blind box toys, to new and old school action figures. They definitely have lots of Star Wars stuff and a huge display of the popular funko pop figurines.
When I opened my blind box figure and didn’t like it, I was able to exchange it with the one behind the counter hassle free. Since they’re placed in a bag, the employees were able to find the other characters I wanted by feeling it out. Pretty impressive and amazing!
The only cons is that some toys can be pricey and since the place got smaller, the aisles are cramped. Other than that, they have lots of stuff for the young and young at heart.

I love this store!
Not one trip to the 3^rd street promenade goes by without a walk into this fun shop! I’m an absolute freak for puzzles — so the puzzle wall on the right side of the building is like my own personal heaven! I just wish they would have some of the Norman Rockwell classics. It’s a little Ravensburger heavy. But still lovely!
This store will make a child (or your inner child) very happy! It is easily missed becuase it is a very narrow store, but you can find so many fun things inside it.

Very nostalgic, not because of some of the old, original toys in the glass cases toward the back but because of the fact that I used to buy Japanese action figures and Gundam model kits here when I was little. Honestly I still stop in when I’m in Santa Monica to see what’s new.
It’s interesting how some things change but some don’t. What I mean is some childhood favorites are now back in the mainstream and kids are exposed to those same characters (transformers, g.i. joe, etc). I guess it’s mostly due to the reboots in television and movies that made them popular again. I also like a lot of the retro video game related stuff (super mario, street fighter).
P. S. they actually have puzzles here at the Puzzle Zoo.

i love Puzzle Zoo. So many puzzles, games etc.
i use to go to toys-​or-​us to find board games but i enjoy the experience and staff much more here. I don’t feel like I’m going into a children’s store even tho it is very child-​friendly.

Toy store! Must go in!
OMG cute toys/​plushies!
must get …
no! must resist … prices above normal/​steep …
resistance weak … but we are «on vacation»
purchased.
:)