Wednesday 13 February 2013

Toy Stores San Francisco


Toy Stores San Francisco Biography
I have absolutely nothing against chain toy stores. The San Francisco FAO Schwarz was a chain toy store, and that place was like walking into the really pleasant dream of a 4-year-old. If I ever have a compound fracture to my femur, and can’t get any Percocet, I plan to just walk drag myself to the stuffed animal section of the nearest FAO Schwarz. It’s basically the same thing.
But I am encouraged by what seems like a thriving neighborhood toy store scene in the Bay Area. It may be my imagination, but the demise of the mid-size chain toy store (the mall staple Kay Bee Toys comes to mind) hasn’t spilled over to the mom and pop businesses. Most of the nicer neighborhoods we visit semi-regularly — downtown Alameda, Rockridge, old town Sonoma, the mall in Corte Madera, downtown Healdsburg — have at least one adorable little toy store.
These stores are usually filled with unique items that you’re not going to find in Toys ‘R’ Us or the ever-expanding toy section of Target. We’ve discovered fun things like handmade wood lettering to put over the doorway to our sons’ rooms, and educational toys that the kids enjoy for more than a day. I’m often stunned by the prices I pay at neighborhood toy stores, but in the end I rarely feel like I didn’t get my money’s worth.
My favorite Bay Area independent toy store is below. Yours in the comments …
I’m always glad to see a small-but-thriving toy store in wealthier neighborhoods, but I’m less likely to go inside the really tiny ones. This is because 1) I like to browse without being noticed and hate that awkward moment when I walk out without buying anything — which is magnified when the cashier is 10 feet away; and 2) While I don’t expect Target prices at an independent store, I’m fundamentally opposed to paying a 300 percent markup for a small box of Legos. (Again, nothing personal. I really hope people who are richer and less insecure than me are spending a ton of money at these businesses.)

Toy Stores San Francisco
Toy Stores San Francisco
Toy Stores San Francisco
Toy Stores San Francisco
Toy Stores San Francisco
Toy Stores San Francisco
Toy Stores San Francisco
Toy Stores San Francisco
Toy Stores San Francisco
Toy Stores San Francisco
Toy Stores San Francisco
Toy Stores San Francisco
Toy Stores San Francisco
Toy Stores San Francisco
Toy Stores San Francisco
Toy Stores San Francisco
Toy Stores San Francisco
Toy Stores San Francisco
Toy Stores San Francisco
Toy Stores San Francisco

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