Curious Kidstuff

Great toy shop in the Junction. The selection of quality toys is pretty impressive. The gift wrap service is a plus and only a dollar, which is a dollar well spent when you do your last minute birthday present shopping en route to the party.
Bonus: parking behind the building and two toilets in the bathroom (one for parent and one for toddler when you both have to go!).

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways…
1: This toy store has employees who actually like kids. They are friendly and welcoming. They don’t frown when your kid plays at the train table for an hour and you leave without buying something. They simply smile and thank you for visiting their shop.
2: The buyer for the store does her homework. There are no duds here. Every toy is cool, well-​made, and fun. You could walk in blindfolded, buy any toy off the shelf, and your kid would love it.
3: I know. I know. You’re thinking «Yeah, but Amazon prime is so cheap and convenient». Curious Kidstuff is competitively priced. I’ve never felt I was paying a boutique toy store premium. I’ve even comparison shopped. They are legit. No crazy markups. So I get to buy local and not get gouged. Everyone wins!
4: They happily gift wrap. No eye rolls. You don’t even have to beg. They just offer to gift wrap anything you buy. And they don’t do a mediocre job. The wrap is festive and fun. Even the way they wrap gift certificates is cool.
5: I love going here as much as my son does. Now that’s saying something.

Please see my previous review which stands but I want to add something to the last one. I was in the store today and my daughter desperately needed a diaper change. When I walked into the bathroom, I realized that I had forgotten to mention this in my other review.
Yes the bathroom alone deserves a review.
1) spacious, as in you could wheel your stroller inside
2) there is a pint size toilet for the little ones. Seriously!
3) there is a diaper changing table — EQUIPPED with wipes and they even have a diaper pail.
4) And a stool to reach the sink.
Basically, I have not seen anything like it at any other toy store, let alone even most kid friendly play establishments.

Used to really like this place, but their cavalier attitude toward their opening hours shows utter disrespect for their community. I went there just now after work to buy a gift for my daughter whose birthday is on the day after Thanksgiving. I checked the hours on their website and Facebook page to make sure they were open until 6 PM. I showed up at 5:30 PM and the doors were locked. Not even so much as a sign in the window explaining why. I called and was told that they «do this every year».
Had I known about this tradition — say, through their Facebook page or website — I could have made other arrangements. But I trusted them, and I paid the price for it. It won’t happen again.
If they don’t feel they owe their customers any warning or explanation for failing to keep the promise of their posted hours, I don’t feel I owe them my business. I’ve spent a lot of money here over the last several years, both for my own kids and for the many birthday parties they go to. But after this big screw-​you from the owners, I’ll be taking my business to RetroActive Kids in Columbia City or Magic Mouse in Pioneer Square. The extra driving time won’t be any worse than the time I just wasted. (And those stores still stock Playmobil toys, which Curious Kidstuff stopped carrying for some reason.)
Here’s hoping all this new retail space in West Seattle will attract a toy store worthy of the neighborhood. Come on down, toy entrepreneurs. You won’t have much competition.

I have been to this store 4 or 5 times with pretty good results. As was pointed out to me by another visitor I know, all the toys are plainly marked for which age bracket they are aimed at. The service has been a little uneven but over all I have been pleased with the results. And the free wrapping has saved me a few times. I have even bought a couple of items for myself here ! If your in the area how can you not stop? It is a lot easier to get in and out of than say Target.

Tonight I was looking for a particular gift for my kids birthday. The 2 ladies behind the counter could not be bothered to help me find what I was looking for. Once I found it and brought it to be wrapped the saleswoman insisted the wrapping is no longer complimentary. They were even more annoyed when I went to pay with a gift certificate and a coupon that said free gift wrap. I lightheartedly commented that the gift is for my child’s birthday. Again, they were annoyed of something. I heard no «thanks, I hope she enjoys the gift «or anything. I will never shop there again, I’ve been consistently treated with rudeness. Why advertise with coupons if you’re going to shame those who use them? Maybe this will be on Portlandia– an upscale toy store that snubs you for coupon use and the dollar gift wrap issue. Seriously? Business is that good that you can treat me that poorly? Next time I’m shopping on Amazon!

A few weeks ago I purchased a couple items for my daughter. One of those items was those great Quest kids question cards. When I opened the box and began asking questions my daughter literally had every question and answer memorized. Turns out she had the kindergarten cards at her fathers house. I couldn’t believe it! So accordingly, I went back to the store a couple days later with receipt in hand to exchange out for the 1^st grade version. The owner was rude and argumentative right in front of customers. She actually made a scene. She refused to return the items. After I tried to explain myself she offered to return at 50%. I am a single mother on a very limited budget yet I have supported this store since before my daughter was born because I believe in supporting local businesses. This isn’t how you treat repeat customers. What is the point of a local business if this woman is going to treat her customers strictly in dollars? Isn’t that the way the chain stores are supposed to be? Not a small local shop. That very week I got my sister to go in because they had some items she was looking for. No longer! We both will never support this business again and recommend you don’t either.

This is going to be my go-​to toy store from now on. My husband and I have an 11 month old so this was our first year trying the whole Christmas shopping for a kid thing. We went to the big chain toy store and were both completely overwhelmed and disappointed by both prices and selection. We decided to come here instead and were happily surprised! There was lots to choose from and although prices are a little higher than the big chains the quality and lack of cheaply made plastic toys makes it worth it. I highly recommend shopping here. For Christmas they also offered free gift wrapping to us even though we didn’t even ask! You can’t beat that!

My husband and I go here every year to buy Christmas presents for the nephews and nieces. It’s our holiday tradition. I love that they have a lot of the toys I grew up with and not a lot of the cheap plastic crap you find at other toy stores. You won’t find barbies here. They have lots of fun games, crafts and classic toys like Legos. We always find good toys here.

I love this place. I always walk out with something. I work with kids and they have some great stuff, they also have a great kids book collection.

Amazing local toy store!
They have such a great huge selection of toys, books and educational items! My little one and I always stop by when in the area. They also have toys that kids can play with while shopping!
The staff is so helpful and nice! And they do gift wrapping!

Oh boy… I wish I were 6 again! This store has amazing toys that will interest ANY adult… ahem, I mean child…
Dinosaurs, animals, trains, cars, princesses, books, balls, dolls, etc. They have EVERYTHING! The ladies here are all very nice and have no problem with the wandering kid hands that just HAVE to touch every single toy you walk by.
An amazing store to buy kids toys at.

Awesome store. Lots of unique options. They also wrapped my packages beautifully and for free.

Granted, I’m new to this baby stuff and haven’t visited a ton of toy stores as of yet, but I love this place! They have such a great selection of educational/​nerdy/​geeky toys (perfect for my 10 year old niece) and they also stock a lot of the cutest toddler toys ever. I have purchased gifts for baby showers, one-year-old’s birthdays, and gifts for my older niece and nephew here and every one has been a hit! It’s especially helpful that they have free gift wrapping, and they also offer art classes. The staff has always been very helpful when I’ve needed assistance, leading me around and helping me pick things out. Oh, and if you’re a dog lover, be sure to say hi to the store pup :)

I’ve been here a couple times over the year to pick up the occasional kid birthday gift. It is very kid friendly with toys and gadgets within reach, but there isn’t quite the selection I’d like. This particular trip I was struggling to look for something for a 2yo who loves cars. I didn’t find it. Either it wouldn’t be safe for his age or he already had something like it. I decided on something entirely different, but on the plus side, they wrap gifts for no extra charge!

Loved this place! Took my twins in the other day and my son played with the train tables and my daughter played with the Calico Critters tree house while I shopped for a gift for my friend’s daughter. The prices were good and their selection very good for such a small shop. I loved that they offered to wrap my purchase for me. I was able to buy a really cute birthday card there as well. I wish this place was in my neighborhood!

Oh, how I *WANT* to like Curious Kidstuff. They’re so close to home and goodness knows, I *WANT* to support local West Seattle business, since hello, this is where I live and work.
But in the nearly 3 years I’ve lived here in WS, and after MANY visits to this store, I just cannot bring myself to recommend them on the whole. Not when there are so many other great toy stores and kid bookstores in/​around Seattle.
Unless it’s truly a last minute birthday or shower gift, or it’s for an item I know they usually carry (like Stomp Rockets, or Roddy horses, Play Mobile, etc.), I plan my shopping excursions for Clover in Ballard, or Retroactive Kids in Columbia City, etc. so that I won’t have to deal with the tremendously UN-​interested and UN-​knowledgeable staff, other than to have them ring my purchase up and get on my merry way. Because really, that’s about the extent of their expertise in my opinion.
It’s really too bad, because they have a great space, lots of inventory for a variety of ages and interests, and virtually no competition within a 10+ mile radius. But when you can’t even get the staff to pay attention to you, let alone recommend a gift item based on age/​gender with the savvy I expect of people who work in this retail niche, why even bother? I’d much rather shop at a store that knows exactly what they have on hand, is willing to order or obtain what I need/​want if they don’t have it, and/​or can, in a NY instant, direct me to a ½ dozen great toy or book suggestions within my stated price point.
Sorry Curious Kidstuff, after my last visit in late March, I’ve finally given up on you.
NOTE: I am a mom of a soon to be Kindergartener. And 90% of my friends are parents too. What a lost opportunity for this locally owed business to not care more about customer service and quality of experience.

This toy store is worth the drive over. If I see a small toy store I need to stop. And I know it’s not just to entertain the little toddler, it’s for me to hunt down the coolest toys because I get to play with them too!
First off, the staff is super friendly and greets you immediately. They have a great set up for a wide variety of ages. You can get a baby shower gift and something for that picky 12 year old here. They also apparently have art lessons, which I would totally do if they weren’t so far away. And their bathroom is awesome. I just have to say I love having a changing table and small toilet for kids only. That was cool!
We found two great items here. A toy airplane that comes with a wrench so you can take the whole thing apart and then put it back together. It’s pretty cool. And the other were stomp rockets. Air pressure rockets that launch over 100ft when stomped on. They are so much fun.
It’s a definite stop whenever we are in West Seattle!

Doing our tour of west seattle, we hit the junction, and little boy saw this store. Another great toy store, nothing like toys R us. The moment we walked in, the lady at the desk, was helpful and delightful to us.
There is a play room for kiddies. thomas trains, and another car table to keep there interest. I guess there is a upstairs room which has art classes for the youngsters. sounds cool. Then there is the main room, which has the majority of toys. many which involve imagination. We left with a few valentines day items, as its hard to leave such a great place empty handed.
Much like top ten toys in greenwood, this is a great place to shop or just browse. Of course the customer service made it even better.

I don’t have kids. I don’t spend a lot of time around kids.
Some of my favorite people have kids and I like them, so when they have birthdays and such I try to please my friends by not getting their kids something noisy or super gross. I prefer to get their children educational toys (my friend’s kids are practically brilliant), but the whole point is to get something the kids will like and enjoy, riiiiight?
Enter Curious Kidstuff.
Tons of fun AND educational toys and games for children of ALL ages. Shoot, I had a hard time not buying things for *myself* here.
The staff is incredibly friendly and totally helpful for those like me who want to give a good gift with a personal touch but don’t know a whole lot about what 6 year olds like these days.
Another major perk? They offer free gift wrapping and they do a damn good job at it.