Love Zone

When you’re in the mood for a ball gag and a butt plug, head over to Love Zone.
Seriously. That’s my friends tell me. *wink*
This place is really awesome inside. Clean, well stocked, and friendly and professional employees who were not afraid to give me their real opinions about certain items. The prices here seem very reasonable for the items, especially when you compare to smaller boutique shops in Capitol Hill, etc. Sure, you can probably find these items cheaper online, but if you’re like me, I need the tactile feeling of touching and feeling things out for myself. I don’t go chintzy on my sex toys, so while I could have gotten a cheaper rubber or plastic alternatives, I pay more for higher quality materials. Seems worth it and definitely lasts longer.
You know what else is really cool? They have sexy lingerie for bigger girls. It’s such a nice touch, because I think it’s really important that the larger ladies feel super sexy with their partners. Gone are the days when only the skinniest and frailest of women could buy corsets and other sex play costumes.
Based on my experience here, I will definitely be back. It’s difficult to feel comfortable in these shops (even the most mature people probably blush from time to time), but the staff made me feel very welcome.

Great customer service and wide selection. Best sex shop in Seattle in terms of variety and selection. The staff is super professional, very polite and eager to help.
The only downside is that it is a bit pricey. You can find the same items online for literally half as much, but then again, in store you can actually see what you’re getting and ask questions to the very knowledgeable staff.

I can’t say enough good things about this place. It’s clean, well lit, and well stocked with high quality toys, videos and lingerie. Sure, it’s a little pricey, even as far as adult merchandise goes, but it’s well worth it for the quality. What really sets this place apart, however, is the staff. They’re extremely warm, friendly and knowledgable. The sales lady that helped me went out of her way to make me feel comfortable while she showed me around and asked me questions about what me and my partner liked. The end result was me having a quite happy partner indeed. I’ll definitely be back.

In 2011 the Journal of Sex Research published a scientific study titled, «Sexual Transformations and Intimate Behaviors in Romantic Relationships.» Results from the study indicated that relationships were positively impacted by partners’ frequent sexual transformations, positive feelings about sex as well as intimate behavior between partners (
). In other words, this study validated what Seattle treasure Dan Savage has been saying for years. That couples who are GGG (good, giving and game) are more likely to be satisfied in their relationship and have better sex –and, who doesn’t want to have better sex?
It’s a wonderful thing then, that Seattle has a dynamic sex-​positive culture. From Miss Indigo Blue’s Academy of Burlesque (
) to the Seattle Erotic Arts Festival (
) to number of Adult/​Novelty stores, including the Ballard Love Zone location which is where I found myself one afternoon.
I totally get why some people may feel intimidated about visiting stores like Love Zone. Far too many people still view sex as something to be embarrassed, even ashamed of. This is, of course, nonsense. Sex is something to be celebrated, explored and improved. Embracing a sex-​positive attitude and raising our children in sex-​positive homes is a gift we can all embrace. And, before all you right-​of-​center folks start getting all indignant on me, sex-​positive doesn’t mean reckless or without accountability. Quite the opposite. It means safe, educated and respectful.
Walking into Love Zone you are immediately greeted with a warm welcome by the associates working the floor. The store is a reasonable size, maybe 2500 square feet. Lingerie on the left, DVDs on the right and plenty of novelty items filling out the rest of the store — from oils and candles to fetish wear, novelty gifts and toys designed for individuals and couples alike.
As I started browsing a specific display, a very friendly associate came over and announced that she loved opening boxes and immediate grabbed the box closest to us and pulled out the product for inspection. There was, of course, no hint of humor, shame, embarrassment, judgment, whatever. Any customer who comes into Love Zone and feels any such emotions is carrying that load themselves.
The key to a successful shopping trip? Letting your inhibitions go. Relax, have fun and by all means, ask questions!
After looking at several different options and asking numerous questions and getting great answers, I made a selection and then visited the lingerie department where I also found what I was looking for. As I went to check out, the associate made a couple of impulse item suggestions (just samples, nothing expensive) and even threw in a gift-​with-​purchase.
All in all, terrific service in a terrific and conveniently located store.
Pro tip: Love Zone also accepts all competitor coupons, which is a great benefit. Currently there is a coupon running in The Stranger for 40% off any single item. That can potentially save you a quite a bit.
Pro tip: Always a good idea to pick up some batteries — even if you only end up using them in the TV remote.

My roommate and i came here after a little bit of vino to make a couple fun purchases. I wish I could remember the sales girls name, she was awesome! Very informative and was able to show me exactly what I was looking for. I paid like 30 bucks for some boob jewels, but hey, I shined bright like a diamond. She even helped me pick out matching panties. Heyyyyyyy!!! They had a good selection of lingerie and many aisles of toys. It’s like FAO Schwarz for big kids… I like it better than Lovers for sure. I will be stopping here in the future for my intimate needs, I’m sure. ;)

My sweetie bought me two vibrators for Valentine’s day, spent around $ 50 for both, neither one works. I’ve put the batteries in correctly and both are useless. What a waste, and I don’t think they have a good quality vibrator, they look cheaply made, but were pricey. We’ll stick to Babeland in the future. He also mentioned that the women working there behaved forward and slutty and made him quite uncomfortable. Not cool.

Basically has everything any sex shop would have. Loved the selection of clothes. Bought a super cute black skirt with ruffles. Was a little disappointed with the shoe selection. Which wasn’t really their fault. They were running out of everything in my size. 5 stars for an awesome staff that was really helpful!

First time in the other day… Very Impressed! Friendly and Professional Staff!

No desire to go into details — it has most of what you’re looking for and lots of stuff you are not. Friendly staff.

From toys, toy-​accessories, to lingerie, they have it all!
You should never be shy asking questions in this store, because all the sale associates are friendly and willing to help you. I bought several items here and the staff helped me with the decision-​making. Of course, I was super happy with the products they recommended.
They have a pretty good selection of stockings. I bought several pairs here. Shoes section is very sexy too. I bought my first pair of stirper shoes while taking pole dancing class a while back.

Good selection, friendly staff. Laid back and tasteful vibe.

I love this place! My girly and I stopped by to check it out several months ago (spent a bit too much, but I just couldn’t help myself) she was a little upset with one of the women who decided to flirt with me right in front of her… But aside from that one incident everything went greatly. They have all sorts of things, an entertaining movie selection, a limited clothing selection but I still really like the place. The staff are all friendly and fun to chat with. I always walk in not knowing what I want, but knowing that I want to leave with something. So I’m usually there for a good hour or so, wandering around. The staff are great about not harassing me too much which is really nice. Check it out. It’s good place for newbies, who want to start their toy collection :)

Super friendly staff, great selection of toys and clothes. The clothes/​lingerie are classier than a lot of places in Seattle, where most of it looks like «dancewear».
Unlike others, I don’t care about a video selection. I’m on the internet, I don’t need to pay to rent a DVD covered in other people’s DNA. And I sure like it when a staff member is friendly enough to engage me and make suggestions — since it is a retail store and all.
Overall, it’s very classy and not scary to those who maybe haven’t really been to a place like this, and it holds enough stuff to entertain someone like myself, who has no problem walking into far skeevier places than this and asking about toys and lube.

Fuck yeah, Love Zone.
I found this place when they put an ad in the Seattle Times that offered a free vibrator just for walking in the door. They fulfilled this promise — they handed me a really nice $ 15 value slimline vibe for free when I left. However it was at least an hour and half until I DID leave — I had brought my husband along and we decided to peruse the wares, of which there are many.
First off the place is very clean, non-​scuzzy, and the staff are all wearing jackets. The establishment has it’s own parking lot. Everything is displayed very nicely and the staff are VERY helpful. My husband likes the be left to his own devices when in an adult shop, and they seemed to sense that and let him be. I, however, like to joke around, and they picked that up right away. The girls that work there are bodacious and very funny, if you would like that experience.
This place is less expensive and snotty than Babes in Yoyland and has a much bigger selection. They also had a lot of stuff that I had never seen before, and I don’t say that easily. They also battery test every vibe before you buy it, and will even open a package of flavored lube if you would like to try it (it’ll remain a tester after that, no worries).
In any case I have never come to Love Zone and left empty handed or unfulfilled. Go there!

This was a really unfortunate experience. My hubby and I drive by this place all the time so we decided to check it out! It looked classy on the outside with the 1950’s décor but had a completely classless experience.
Our first qualm was the selection. They take such great pride in having such an extensive selection that they specialized in nothing. Sexy clothes and costumes took up half the store leaving little room for the video area. The videos were completely lacking. There were whole categories that they completely ignored.
Then comes the sales pitch. As my hubby and I were discussing our preferences between OURSELVES, the sales girl chimes in and starts making suggestions for things THINKING she knows our tastes. Excuse us while we ignore you until you go away. We weren’t even talking to her. We felt completely invaded. That wasn’t the first time. A second time, she finds us from across the store to come over and show off her extensive knowledge of classic porn movies while only addressing my husband without even looking at me. Honey, here’s a tip, if you want to make a sale, don’t flirt with the husbands in front of the wives.
So, after the initial let down of a sucky selection in videos, we were ultimately completely turned off by the obnoxious sales girl.
If you have no problem being SOLD your sex toys and videos, then you may have a good time. But if you already know what you like and prefer not to have any help in such a personal thing, OR have your husband being oogled, than I suggest going elsewhere.