The Toyworks

The Toyworks is what a toy store should be. The toys are thoughtfully chosen by owners who I found out recently are former teachers. Their professional background shows in their inventory of clever, fun toys and games. They also don’t carry toy guns, which I appreciate given the current climate. The staff is friendly and very knowledgeable. They have many of their games on display to «try before you buy». Moreover, the shop regularly contributes to local schools. I finished the bulk of my holiday shopping there last night, purchasing several items on my children’s wish lists. Shop local! It’s worth it on so many levels.

We come here for all of our birthday party presents. We adore that they wrap the presents beautifully. We can always find something special and it’s a joy to shop there.

Good toys! Make sure they charge you correctly. Just paid $ 19.99 for something marked $ 17.99.

I love Toyworks! As a child care professional, in the field for nearly 35 years I can appreciate the quality of their inventory. No super hero stuff, no junkie things that break before you get it home. You’ll find solid, fun things like Playmobil, family games, lots of science items and a good selection of crafts.
The owners believe in personal service and are quite helpful. Every year we hold a school «toy night» here where parents can shop for holiday giving with friendly advice just a few steps away. They provide drinks and treats for our parents as they choose items from a very well stocked store.
Thanks Toyworks!

My favorite toy store hands down! I love the people that work there! It feels like my own little toy works family. Everyone is so helpful, knowledgable, and can help me find just the right toy for my own kids or presents for friends! I also find a lot of great stuff for my husband’s classroom and my counseling office! I love shopping there and I am never disappointed.

I went to toy works to get some toys for my one-​year-​old grandson. There were two employees both very polite and helpful. Great selection of toys and they were organized on shelves according to age. Parking is easy behind the store. This is a great neighborhood store very convenient for me. I will definitely be back.

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this store. I have been shopping there for nearly 10-​years but have not reviewed it until now. Wonderful inventory, unique and well-​made toys. Staff is happy to offer suggestions for age groups and gender that have always been spot-​on according to my grandchildren and their parents. Free gift wrapping is frosting on the cake. Independent, local and community– minded is an added bonus. I’m glad that there are stores like this still around.

I have been shopping at this store for 7 years. I LOVE the quality of the toys and selection they have there. We LOVE Playmobil and Calico Critters. These are toys we will keep for our grand children to enjoy. We also LOVE the selection of puzzles for little kids. I think we have one of each already! The play food selection is great and so is the art section for little ones.
As far as shopping for a last minute gift. I have always been able to find a great gift. If I have not a clue what to buy, someone is always happy to help. They give me a variety of choices and they even wrap your gift for free. The only time I have not been greeted upon entering is when it is crazy busy. But someone will always ask if I need help at some point while I am there. I like how the put all games in one area and science projects in another, pretend play has it’s own section and so on. So if I am looking for crafts for a 7 year old I go to the craft section and find something. Sometimes even something for my 5 year old.
It really is the best place to shop. It’s even better knowing it is locally owned. So our money stays in Sonoma County.

I hate to rate a local, independent, fun store that caters to a wide variety of children (and parental preferences) so poorly but the 1 star is for the fun and engaging toys, nothing else!
The organization of the store was subpar but, worst of all, the «service» was. .. awful? Appalling? Nonexistent?!
I walked in with little idea of what I wanted to get a friend’s 2 year old. I could not quite decipher the layout of the merchandise and, therefore, spent not a small amount of time figuring out what was available, what was age — appropriate, and what wasn’t ridiculously priced. .. with no greeting, help, or acknowledgement from the blonde woman looking through a catalog at the counter.
At last i found a few items and took them up to the register. After setting down the purchases, waiting a few moments, then setting down my purse noisily so that she would hear me (she was 4 feet away), she turned around and stepped to the register. After picking up the first item (still not having acknowledged the fact that I was a human being), she looked at her register and exclaimed «It’s 6:10!» and stared at me. Having absolutely no context for this small outburst, I stood there, speechless, looking back at her for several seconds. She finally snapped out of it and said «We’re supposed to be closed.» She continued to ring up my items, held her hand out for my card (without telling me the total), and completed my transaction. As I left, she was saying to a woman and a child still in the store «Are you going to buy something? No? Well then, we’re closed.»
Probably would have gotten better service (certainly better prices) at Toys R Us (ick!).

I have shopped in The Toyworks for nearly 30 years, since my children were young. First in the Sebastopol store for my children, and now in the Santa Rosa store for my granddaughter. I have never tried to return an item until today. I bought the 20 Questions toy — a classic — but unfortunately it has been redesigned and when we tried to use it, I found the «answer» buttons to be extremely hard to read. They are embossed along the edge of the toy with no color differentiation. I had my receipt and the original undamaged package, although the toy had been opened. I was told that unless the toy is defective, I cannot return it. I was also told «maybe you can find someone else who would want it.» Nowhere on the receipt does it state that the item has to be unopened. On the receipt it says «All returns must be made within 30 days.» I also checked The Toyworks website, and that says «We want you to be happy with the purchases you make. If you’re not satisfied, you may return or exchange the following within 30 days of the shipment’s receipt: Any toy item in its original condition.» Notice this does NOT say «in its original UNOPENED condition.» Does that seem like a company that «wants you to be happy with your purchase» and cares «if you’re not satisfied»?
I’m sorry to say after this experience I will no longer be shopping at The Toyworks. One more reason to use big box stores and Amazon. I have never been denied a return on a new opened item with original packaging before.

This is a great long-​standing local toy store that we find to be the best toy store in the region. They have a great range of toys and games, both traditional and newer, with a lot of less common and more imaginative options as well as craft and science-​related sets. They have a large selection of Playmobil, a good Lego section, too. The people are helpful and very friendly and they have always been happy to donate something for winter fundraiser at our kids’ school.

The blonde woman working that particular morning was extremely rude and short with us. You would think somebody working at a toy store would be nice and/​or helpful about children’s toys. She was the opposite. Made us feel not welcome. We won’t be back!

Went looking for a present for my great-​nephew; ended up buying gifts for every kid in the family and a few of the adults! A great selection of quality toys, puzzles and games, with lots of wooden toys and educational toys to choose from. We will definitely be shopping here more in the future!

We went to Toyworks yesterday. I took my 1 year old child with me… I was nervous about doing so because I knew he would try to play with everything and get really excited being in there. I thought it could become a nightmare… but it didn’t! Not at all! The staff is very friendly and they have set up open play tables all over the store for kids to touch and play with! They even have an old fashion litte merry-​go-​round in the store the kids (5 and under) can ride on. The owners were in the store working and were very friendly and you can tell they love this business. They have a fabulous selection of toys and lots of «play and learn» type items. Also lots of «green» toys. I ended up with a really cool baby learning toy from Italy that he is playing with as I write. He loves it! And, a great little chicken pull toy. The chicken even lays eggs! I think it is important to support our local, family owned businesses rather than buy off of Amazon! Toy Works makes it easy.

I played The Settlers of Catan for the first time with three friends on Friday night. I immediately wanted to buy it and play it with any family and friends that were willing. I wanted the standard game plus the 5 – 6 player extension.
Target had only the standard game, for $ 2 more than ToyWorks.
Toys R Us only offered the game and extension via their online store — same price as ToyWorks, if you don’t include the price of shipping.
I called ToyWorks to check if they had both — they did, and I had both in my hands in less than 20 minutes and for the same or less money than I would have paid Target or Toys R Us.
Not only did I get what I wanted at a good price, but I got it quickly, my money stayed in my community rather than going toward some CEO’s bonus in Delaware, and I found that they offered other versions of this game.
Service was friendly, professional, and she knows her products!
I’ll be back for sure.

Great customer service, local, had what I wanted & wrapped my present while I browsed around. :-)

This is a great locally owned toy store. They have great products and good prices. The employees are all great and very helpful.

Came here to find a game for Christmas, great store, nice layout. Free Gift wrapping! I will say that it is a little hard to spot this store and where to park if you haven’t been there before. I will also give a shout out to the Santa Rosa avenue store, which called this location for me to hold the game since they were sold out.