Shop Locally for Toys
These local shops with toys want your support and they are bending over backwards for you! If you cannot go out, call your favorite store, tell them what you’re looking for, ask them to send you a photo, arrange for purchase and pickup. Small businesses always need our support, now more than ever!
Atlantis Fantasyworld – For 44 years, Atlantis has provided the Santa Cruz, California community with a comfortable themed entertainment store for the whole family. Now expanding beyond those boundaries, Atlantis invites you to explore its website. Here you can learn more about the store, upcoming sales or special events, meet our staff, shop for comics, toys and gifts or simply take a virtual wander through our store. Owner Joe supports our libraries’ summer reading programs. Curbside pickup, in-store shopping, (831) 426-0158. 1020 Cedar St, Santa Cruz, atlantisfantasyworld.com
BARD Games publishes board games for the specialty game industry. Focused on unique brands, positive play testing and promoting the wonderful board gaming industry, BARD Games is dedicated to gamers who love casual play, exciting themes and fun! (831) 687-8565, https://www.bardgames.fun/
Bookshop Santa Cruz – In addition to books, lots of unique stocking stuffers. 831-423-0900, 1520 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz, https://www.bookshopsantacruz.com/
Childish Santa Cruz – We are Dyane and Jessica and we love playing with toys, or at least our children really do! Everything we carry in our store is kids tested and mom approved. We focus on toys that promote creativity and imagination play for children and do our best to stay away from over stimulating electronics in this screen filled world. In Stock purchase available. 1127 Soquel Ave, Santa Cruz, (831) 454-8208, https://www.childishsantacruz.com/
Comicopolis – We are COMICOPOLIS, Santa Cruz’s finest Comic Bookstore! Home to Team J-Roy, purveyors of all things comic & pop-culture! An oasis of awesome in a land of bland! Come in and explore our carefully curated selection of Comics, Graphic Novels, Games and more in our beautiful Downtown Santa Cruz location. From Spider-Man, Batman and Archie to Walking Dead, Scott Pilgrim and Blankets we feature the area’s best, most varied selection of comic related material available. We feature an amazing selection of young reader graphic novels as well as an amazing assortment of non-fiction graphic works, and our game selection is second to none. Stop on by – You won’t be disappointed! 829 Front St, Santa Cruz, 831-427-1929, www.comicopolisonline.com
Epic Adventure Games – Epic Adventure Games is a full service store for the gaming community of the California central coast. Our store features a huge selection of board, role-playing, miniature and card games as well as a large dedicated play area. Our knowledgeable staff can help you with hobby or game-related questions and will always make sure that shopping with us is a fun and enjoyable experience. 222 Mount Hermon Rd, Ste A, Scotts Valley, (831) 438-2032, http://www.epicadventuregames.com/
Friends of State Parks Online Store – Educational Games and Toys that celebrate animals, ecosystems, and STEM concepts: citizen-science notebooks, puzzles, lapel pins, https://thatsmypark.org/collections/
Instock – Check out In Stock to search for products from local businesses. Get it fast with same day delivery (or pickup in-store), Santa Cruz County, Browse on a local website first, then go to Instock to order. https://instock.org/
Jelli Beanz – We offer a wide variety of gently used clothing, toys, music, books and equipment. Come and get a glimpse of our large selection of children’s clothing, size preemie to eight, exciting toys, and enjoy our extensive book selection in our reader’s corner! We provide a clean, organized, and friendly shopping environment for you and your whole family! Check out our new online store! Shop from the convenience of home, pick up curbside at your when your order is ready! 2555 Soquel Drive, Santa Cruz, http://www.jellibeanzonline.com/
Mini Mint – Earth friendly goods for minis and mamas. We sourcethe globe for small batch, ethically made clothing from the softest textiles out there. Find all of your favorite boutique brands! We host Mini Mint Mama meet ups, workshops, GroovaRoo dance classes and more! 3912 Portola Dr #1, (831) 600-8587, https://minimintstudio.com/
Outside-In Kids – Outside-In is Aptos’s premier destination for gifts, home decor, jewelry, and luxury clothing. We strive to support local artisans, business and most importantly we take enormous pride in supporting our customers and the local community. Our specialty children store, Outside-In Kids is located right next door to the main store specializing in educational toys, books and clothes. If you are celebrating a special occasion, then head to Outside-In Kids for the perfect gift. During this difficult time of shelter in place we are accepting online and over the phone orders, which we are happy to ship to you. (831) 684 0186, 7568 Soquel Drive, Aptos, https://outside-in.myshopify.com/collections/childrens-favorites
Palace Art enchants you with all its art and craft supplies. It is also one of those stores that surprises and delights you with a unique selection of perfect gifts for loved ones. One of our biggest priorities has always been making Palace a fun and exciting space for kids to tap into their creativity, and we have everything they need to create their next masterpiece. Both of our locations are colorful, exciting spaces for children of all ages to discover the joys of art and find just the right supplies to make arts and crafts time more enjoyable than ever. (831) 427-1550, 1407 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz and (831) 464-2700, 1501-K 41st Ave, Capitola, https://stores.gopalace.com/
Paper Vision, Paper Vision carries a wide selection of retro to contemporary toys and puzzles for all ages. We have the area’s largest selection of puzzles. We carry science kits, outdoor toys, die-cast cars, origami, figurines, kendamas, yo-yos, gags, and the perfect white elephant present. Stop by today and see if we have what you need. The brands we carry are Schylling, Toysmith, Archie McPhee, Green Toys, Safari, Schleich, Eurographics, White Mountain Puzzles, and Sunsout Puzzles. We carry picture books and board books for children of all ages. We have the area’s largest selection of coloring books for both kids and adults. (831) 458-1345, 1345 Pacific Ave Santa Cruz, http://www.papervisionsantacruz.com/
Rainbow City Limit – Rainbow City Limit (affectionately known as the Rainbow Shop), is bursting with colorful, eclectic gifts, whirligigs, kites, beach gear and Beatles memorabilia. It’s a fun place to shop, with free gift wrap! (831) 476-9769, 116 San Jose Ave, Capitola Village, http://rainbowcitylimit.com/AboutUs.asp
Ride Out the Wave – Shop safely and keep it local with businesses offering online gift certificates. https://rideoutthewave.org/
The Farm Bakery, Café & Gifts – I’d be happy to work with you via email or schedule some after hours shopping time. We can deliver or do curbside pickup as well! We search the world for unique and beautiful gifts. Your senses will delight in our ever changing sea of offerings. Come journey with us on a voyage of discovery. You’ll find jewelry, personal accessories, books and cards, housewares, toys and children’s apparel, body care and more. For the holidays and every day, for family, friends and you, we look forward to sharing our treasures. Want help curating a fun stocking or the perfect gift? Interested in a private after hours shopping experience? Email meg@thefarmbakerycafe.com. We can deliver or do curbside pickup. (831) 662-2733, 6790 Soquel Dr, Aptos, https://www.thefarmbakerycafe.com/
Wonderland Toys & /classroom Resources, Quality toys, classroom resources, books, games, puzzles & more. Wonderfriends, we’re open in our new WONDERful Aptos location! We open at 10am and will be open until 7. Purple tier restrictions allow us to have have 12 people in the shop at a time, so while we know how excited everyone is, we ask for you to be conscious of how much time you spend inside (we’re really bummed too), masks required and social distancing please. Come find us at the Rancho Del Mar Shopping Center, right next to Safeway. We’re so excited to welcome you in! Curbside pickup, online ordering, and delivery by mail or locally through In Stock – (831) 316-7261, 19AB Rancho Del Mar Aptos, https://wonderlandsantacruz.com/
Woodworm Party Store & Baking Supplies. Woodworm offers party supplies, toys on their new online store and cake creations by Beth! Beth Paiva, a culinary school graduate, manages the Capitola store and offers cake decorating classes. Woodworm is updating the toys on their online store with lots of cool, unique toys, awesome and fun. “Hi. My name is Beth I am the manager of Woodworm. I am happy to take pictures and pull things for you.” 831-462-0455, 827 Bay Ave, Capitola, https://www.woodwormpartystore.com/
Wylder Shop – Adorable clothes, toys and more. Online, owned by local mama! https://wyldershop.com/
