Great selection -- for all ages, a good spectrum of price ranges. And lots of games, which I really appreciate for my game-loving nieces & nephews! Also the service is incredible! Today, I was looking for a specific version of a game for my niece's birthday and Simone went above and beyond over the phone to help me locate it. read more

Bad customer service, bad communication and bad employees they are rushing to get you out they have a attitude no help at all and there wrapping gift is awful read more

With endless birthday celebrations for babies and toddlers this summer, I made yet another visit to building blocks. I've shopped at Lincoln Park and Lakeview locations often, so I decided to try WP location. Found plenty of toys for the one year old in our lives, but nothing for the soon-to- be 7 year old. The 7 year old is far too advanced for the toys available. Still, I found some gifts I needed. I like this location as well, but I love the Lincoln Park and Lakeview locations more. This is my favorite toy store in the Chicagoland area! Free gorgeous gift wrapping at all locations. I personally love the store logo paper and the POW! paper. read more

Great selection, comfy vibe. Everything from adorable stuff animals to a very solid selection of board games

I love a good toy store, brings you back to childhood. Now that I have a little niece I have a reason to go to these stores again. What fun. Lego's, dolls, puzzles and games... What does this place not have. For the past few years I have picked up plenty of fun toys for her here. With a staff who seems to have all sorts of great ideas never fear if you are at a loss for what to get they will point you in the right direction. It is so full of toys you can get lost in there for a while or have them help you with your search. read more

This is a cute neighborhood toy store. My kid is obsessed with trains and he loves the CTA model trains here. Staff is very friendly. So glad that these stores are part of neighborhood rather than ordering online from major retailers like Walmart/amazon etc, just reminds me my parents taking us to a toy store. read more

Building Blocks Toy Store - Toy Stores Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I spotted Building Blocks as I was pulling into Wicker Wash on Division Street and I knew I had to check it out. As the mother of a three year old, I really despise going to Target and Toys R Us to find toys. However, going to those places is inevitable. It was getting closer and closer to Christmas and I had already been to Target to get the Dora, Disney Princess and Barbie stuff that she was BEGGING for. However, I really wanted to get her a few bragging right items--meaning unique toys that all the other kids in preschool wouldn't have and I figured Building Blocks might have what I was looking for. And I hit the jackpot! Since she really loves horses, I found a really nice stable with two stalls and 4 beautiful horses. I also found a breakfast set which came with dishes, a battery operated coffeemaker and pop-up toaster. What I consider the gems were the pre-reading books by Scholastic titled My First Bob Books. My little one can already count to 30, recognize most letters of the alphabet and write two of the letters in her name and I am convinced these books will have her reading by the summer. I haven 't seen or even heard of these books before. What is great about the inventory is that a lot of these toys are learning oriented, which I really appreciate. The shop owners are very friendly, helpful and bend over backwards to make recommendations based on what you're looking for--not random recommendations that will only benefit their cash register if the customer bites. The best part of all this is that Building Blocks is 5 minutes away from my house. I'll be back again and again. read more

Nice toy store and very nice staff. I go out in all the time with my two year old and he loves it! Yes it's a little more pricey than big retailers, but you get what you pay for. Much better quality toys and the staff is wonderful, plus it's local so definitely worth going here. They have everything you can think of. Well deserved five stars! read more

Great toy store. Its all been said. They have toys for all girls and boys, they will wrap your presents for you. They have scratch & sniff pizza birthday cards. They are very nice people who will joke with me about taking in the holographic pony ruler to an architects office. Get you some toys up in hurr! read more

I really like this place. They are always friendly and so nice every time I go in here. They have a wide selection of toys for boys and girls of all ages. They split it out into ages which makes it easy for me to walk in, go to the section I need, and pick something out. And they will wrap it for you? Nice! It feels good to support local business in a great neighborhood. Everyone should support this place. read more

While we do not have children we have several friends with young children and this place is our go to. The place is packed floor to ceiling with toys and games for all ages. This isn't Toys'R'Us or Target, these are quality toys. We consistenly get the favorite gifts for whatever occassion. If you're not sure what to get ask one of the staff. Give them gender and age and they will pick something out that's great. Very knowldgeable and friendly. I know around holiday time they do gift wrapping. Absolutely top notch. Support your local toy store. read more

Freaking Fun-tastic! I am a full-time nanny and have been taking my tots I look after here for over a year now and we love it. The staff is super friendly and helpful, Mayo, Jess, Simone, and Louis areall wonderful. They are extremely knowledgeable of the massive amount of merchandise, and great at directing you towards an age appropriate gift or toy. We also really love that they have a FREE craft Friday! They have a lot of community events and are super involved with the neighborhood, and FREE gift wrapping! I heart Building Blocks Toy Store, good vibes, helpful staff and rad toys... -Laura W. (Eli and Charlies Nanny :) ) read more

This place is amazing and if you're shopping for toys for little ones then look no further. Anyone reviewing Building Blocks with anything less than 5 stars should have their head examined. What is a 5 star toy store to you anyway??? Everyone else has pretty much already said it all. Awesome selection of well priced items, phenomenal staff, VERY fast and free wrapping and just an overall fun place to shop! Bought 6 items, paid and wrapped in about 30 minutes!! I'm betting I could spend that in line alone at any of the major chains 2 days before Christmas. read more

LOVE this place. Go in with your gift list and the lovely staff will have it all set and gift wrapped in no time. I always get the best gifts here, and regret it when I buy elsewhere. They are really full service and it's wonderful for giving, as returns are a breeze for the recipient (though probably never necessary). I am just sad as my daughter will outgrow this one day but we will try to keep it going as long as we can for the sheer joy of shopping here! read more

Building Blocks Toy Store is one of the best local toy stores in the country. Not only do they stock an amazing selection of toys, but they also have some of the most knowledgeable and friendly staff I've ever come across. I usually go in there with a list of birthday presents and presents for my kids to buy. I simply tell the salesperson the age, gender and price range, and then let them show me the best toys available that fit my needs. I always get something great that is also in my budget. Plus, they gift wrap for FREE! I recently went there to buy some toys appropriate for airplanes and restaurants. We took our 3 and 4 year old girls on an 8 hour plane ride earlier this month. Their staff picked out a great array of small toys that were perfect for planes and restaurants. Hours of entertainment were had. My husband and I (as well as the other passengers on the plane) thank you for your great suggestions! read more

I wandered into this toy store since I had about 30 minutes to waste before my hair appt. at K Chula and I am glad I did. The woman who I believe was the proprietor was extremely helpful but non-pushy in terms of what she was showing to me as possible options for my 2 year old son. I really prefer smaller toy stores like this one to places like Toys-R-Us and even Target. The main reason is that the owners usually pay attention to the kinds of toys they carry far more carefully than these large chain stores - you'll find things that you hadn't thought about and, especially in this store, you know the quality of the products are pretty high. Of course, some of the toys are more expensive - I ended up dropping $40 on a UK-made construction truck that had moving parts and such - but I also grabbed a couple of plastic flutes ($5 apiece) and a xylophone ($10). The proprietor slipped in an extra toy figure for the truck since those seem to get lost all the time by kids, and the toy itself has been a super hit with my son. I'm a fan of this place, and even though I live in the South Loop, I'll come up for some of their special events and sales when I have the time. read more

Wall to wall toys, games, puzzles...wall to wall fun! They have jam packed this store with an amazing selection of kid's toys. I stopped in to browse for some toys for Bubs and easily found some gifts for Bub's cousins. And they ship too! What I love most about this store is the variety of toys. And none of the big box TV character driven toys either. These are quality toys for imaginative, creative and as another reviewer posted, whimsical fun. And the prices are reasonable considering these are well made and not what you'd necessarily find in the big commercial stores. There are some personalized options too--I got a decorated door hanger for Bub's room and they added his name--no additional charge--and only a wait time of 10 minutes. I also chose some nice wooden board books that he always wants to play with now. The folks behind this store really know their stuff! Friendly and chatty, they were really nice to talk to. They shared my enthusiasm over some of the toys I found--Bozo Buckets--YES! the preschool playphone--awesome! Easily on my go-to list for Bubs and his friends. 5 stars easily. read more

This place is awesome. It makes me want to be a kid again. Yay for being stocked in pretty much anything you can think of plus some! I will definitely be back here for more ideas of fun things to buy for work - (doggy daycare.) The toys are a hit. And 5 stars for carrying my husband's childhood fave - playmobile. read more

Building Blocks is packed with awesome toys for all ages...even a few toys (Fisher Price record player and phone!) that I loved as a child that I can't wait to buy for my lil one when she is a bit older. I do think it's probably a bit more pricey than a big chain store, but I would prefer to support a local store so I splurged on a set of blocks and a ball for my daughter. I'm not sure if I visited before the saleswomen had their coffees, but I didn't get the warm, fuzzy & energetic feeling from them that most other Yelpers raved about. Sure, they said hello but that was about it. After the hellos, they were bustling around the store (which only had 2 customers, including me) organizing toys, answer the phone or in the backroom. read more

Paid a visit to this location back in June and was absolutely amazed with the staff and store. The staff is extremely knowledgeable and you can tell that they enjoy what they do. There is a vast selection of product for all ages and plenty of demos to sample. Once you walk in you feel like a kid again. I saw toys that reminded me of my childhood, toys that you would never think would be toys, and eco-friendly, educational toys. The plus to this store is that they hold community events that are fun for the whole family. Big ups to them for being involved with the community! The best part of the experience was because of the staff that showed me around the store and answered all the questions I had. I've been to many toy stores where you get the grumpy people that make you wonder why they're even working at a store that is built on the foundation of fun. They also have another location in Lakeview that I hope to check out next time I'm back in the area. I think the Lakeview one was their first location. A must visit! read more

I did local shopping for toys for my nieces and nephews this year, and I really recommend building blocks! I called them, selected items on the phone, and they were super attentive and helpful. They sent me some photos via text for substitutions for out of stock toys, and then put my order together immediately for pick up. A great way to avoid Amazon that's still convenient! Prices are very reasonable. read more

I'm amazed by the reviews for this place because my experience was quite frustrating and unpleasant. It began when I first walked in and neither of the two employees working said anything to me. Thought that was odd but proceeded to look around. When I actually did need help I approached the two employees to ask some questions but even when I said excuse me neither was responsive. Finally one employees who had been helping another person turned around and was able to help me while the second employee standing behind the desk continued to do whatever she had been doing with her back to me again despite having said excuse me. Overall I found the employees to be rude and unresponsive and I won't be going back. read more

I was here a few weeks ago with my fiancee to buy a last minute gift for his niece. Since we were in the area we decided to walk here and check it out. He mentioned he wasn't that impressed because the store looked cluttered. My opinion did differ however, and in fact I think this place is quite a little gem in the neighborhood. Despite its small size which gives the impression of being quite cramped this place is loaded with toys both whimsical, but also educational. I was also impressed that the staff was not only helpful in locating just the type of toy we were looking for they knew enough of the way they arrange the store to find it despite the tight quarters. I also liked the fact they offered complimentary gift wrapping. Sure beats having to buy an extra gift bag to throw it in (and the options were pretty cute and not cheap looking). If I lived in this neighborhood this would be my go to place. Beats going to a department store because you can get a crafty gift and it would be age appropriate and educational to boot :) read more

This place is great. It reminds me of the type of toy store we had in the downtown area where I grew up. Just jam-packed to the gills with toys, animals, games, books etc. The woman running the place was super friendly and just perfect for a kids store. I only bought a couple books on an errand for my wife but I had to hold myself back from buying little random animals and the like... and did I mention I'm almost 30! The other great thing about this place is its location on Division. It is really easy to get down here and find parking. I live right near by and on any given day there's tons of parking. So many other great shops and eats on Division you could easily work it into an efficient stop or excursion. Price range was fair and across the gamut... some stuff is basic and inexpensive, other stuff is handmade and costly. Just like a real toy store should be. read more

This is my go to when I need a birthday gift for a children's party. When you enter the store the staff is very attentive and knowledgeable. They always ask if they can help you find something. When you tell them the age and sex of the child you are looking to buy for, they walk around the store and show you a variety of toys in different price ranges that a child of that age and sex would enjoy. Once you have found a gift, they do a great job gift wrapping for you. They make the whole gift buying experience totally simple! Additionally, the staff is very friendly. Sometimes when my son and I are out for a walk we stop in here just to play with the train set. This doesn't bother them at all. In fact, they are very welcoming to this. We love having building blocks in the hood!! read more

Everyone else has already echoed what I would write in this review. I only have a few children in my life but every chance I get I try to buy from this great little store. Rave rave rave. Knowledgeable staff. Rave. Gift wrapping. Rave rave. Community asset. Check it out, especially if you're in the neighborhood and have little ones in your life. read more

This place is magical. It has a massive selection of quality, fun toys that you can't get at a place like any of the "R Us's". If you think that too many children's toys today are computerized, digitized, or even just battery powered, Building Blocks is the place to go. Also, they have an awesome section in the back with lots of cool toys for older kids that will get even the most cynical among us to geek out with nostalgia. The best part of Building Blocks, however, is the staff. There is a young guy (I'm sorry, I'm blanking on the name, even though I know I've asked it before) who is just phenomenal with recommendations. "I'm looking for a birthday gift for an active three-year-old boy who lives in a smallish condo." "Oh, here are three toys I'd recommend . . . etc. etc." Everyone we've interacted with at Building Blocks has been great, but we've mainly been helped by him and I wanted to give a shoutout. This is the place we go for all of our son's friend's birthday parties. Hiiiiighly recommended. read more

I recently had a chance to stop in this cute little store on Division. I had been in there once before several years ago and this was the first time in a long time that I had been inside. There is definitely something for everyone here! I was shopping for 3 different birthdays for young children - 1 year, 6 years and 9 years old. I thought I would have to go to separate stores or worse, Target. I was so pleasantly surprised. I told the staff who I was shopping for and they immediately pulled together some gift ideas that were well beyond what I could have come up with! I even saw some things from my old childhood coming back to grace the shelves of sores. I got a real sense of nostalgia here. It felt good. The owner is also an avid supporter of our neighborhood school, and always giving back to the community. I'm so glad that the stores survives their horrible flood a few years ago. I will be back as often as I can to support this important staple to the community. read more

What service and selection!! I was feeling overwhelmed trying to buy gifts for 12 children. So I compiled a list of what they were asking for, their ages, and my budget. I basically handed the list over to the two super friendly ladies working, and in no time at all they helped pick everything out, wrap it, and put cards on each present. So helpful! They had everything I needed and seriously the best customer service imaginable. I will do my holiday shopping and birthday shopping here every time! Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!!! read more

I work near this store and for years have been relying on their friendly and knowledgeable staff to help me buy gifts for all the kids in my life. On many occasions I've walked in, asked a staff member what they'd recommend for a boy/girl who's about "x age". They always narrow my search to just a few items and are able to stay within my budget. And I'm in and out in less than 10 minutes. The best part is that they offer complimentary gift wrapping! These days I have kids of my own and as they ask me to buy them countless toys for their birthdays and Christmas, I choose to buy from Building Blocks instead of Amazon. Sure, Amazon is fast. But it's not as much fun browsing Amazon as it is Building Blocks. And I get to walk out with my gift all wrapped and ready to go. Such a nice touch! read more

Building Blocks is an awesome small business that you should get ALL your toys at!!! Today I went in with my boyfriend to purchase legos for his nephew. All lego products were 20% off, and they even had the new Star Wars swag. All-star employee Chris charmed us into buying products that we didnt even walk in there for; he is just incredible and completely knowledgeable of all the products. We walked out with complimentary gift-wrapped legos for the nephew, and pots of "thinking putty" for ourselves :) Awesome experience overall. read more

Building Blocks is our neighborhood go-to for all things toys. The toys are high quality, the staff is knowledgable, helpful and friendly. And they have free gift wrapping. We're happy customers! read more

I love this place great variety and different toys, stuff you can't find anywhere else. The staff is amazing they were so incredibly patient with me and my kids...we didn't want to leave and we'll be back for sure!!! read more

Lovely neighborhood toy store. The staff is excellent and helpful which is necessary since the place is packed to the rafters with toys. Prices They stock a lot of interesting toys which aren't otherwise that easy to find - especially at a big box retailer. read more

This store is amazing. If the toy you are looking for is not found in this store, you probably isn't that great for your child. The selections are educational, high quality and lots of fun. You don't need to know what you are looking for to find a great gift for a birthday party or something wonderful for your child. The owner is really hard working and very generous with the neighborhood. I can get behind supporting local business with the high quality and spirit found within this store! read more

As a first time uncle with a 3-month old niece, I was pretty clueless when it came to getting her first xmas gift! Luckily I live around the corner from Building Blocks. I was immediately offered assistance, given a number of solid options. Very helpful staff was polite and courteous, and I also got free gift wrapping. FYI - the place is great for all ages, it's absolutely PACKED with toys. read more

Walking in for the first time with a couple of busy 4 year old boys, I was so pleased to see a sales person approach to ask if needed help. Asked for ideas for 2 gifts around the $50 mark, 6 year old girl and 7 year old boy. The sales person asked a few questions, and walked back with such perfect gifts I didn't bother to look further. Very impressive! AND -- they gift wrap! Great toy store -- will definitely go back. read more

I don't have any kids of my own so when I wanted to send a little something to a friend's daughter, I knew that the folks over at Building Blocks would know exactly what to recommend and I was right. Cassandra helped me and gave me a bunch of options and since I was out of town, she even gift wrapped the items, included a card and, wait for it, offered to deliver them! I don't think service could possibly get better than that. :D read more

This toy store is amazing. I walked in last year around Christmas and gave the staff a very vague idea of what my nephews were like, and Mayo ended up picking the perfect toys that ended up winning me the Best Aunt Ever award. They have the best toys, such a great selection, and so many toys that I remember from MY childhood. Plus, the staff is just fantastic. read more

Excellent, knowledgeable staff. They have repeatedly helped us pick out age-appropriate gifts that have thrilled children and parents alike. (And wrapped the presents for us when we're running late. Phew.) read more