A super duper cool and quirky shop! Everything is time travel themed: past, present, and future! When you visit, you can park on the streets, but be mindful of the signs. You can also download the park smarter app to pay for parking online. The storefront is very impressive. There are aliens, extraterrestrial themes, and 3D mind boggling designs. You come inside, and everything is already very quirky. You have robot emotions for sale, time travel in a bottle, space items, donuts from the 1800's and light coffee. You can also find dinosaur eggs, dinosaur milk, and more. Everything is super fun to look at and the items made me giggle out loud. The cashier was super friendly! He explained the theme of the shop and also added on how the books in the store were made by students. The store itself supports a nonprofit located in the back of the shop that tutors students. They ask for volunteers who can come to help support students. All proceeds also go to the students whom they support. We left with some postcards and warm, fuzzy feelings inside about how cool of an experience this was. Hope to be back! We might be from the past, present, or future. Who knows! read more

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A fun, beautiful store filled with nostalgia, quirkiness, and novel oddities. I think the store has been around for a pretty long time, but I've never been in here until recently. Just wanted to check it out and when I got in there, someone who was super friendly was behind the counter and we got to look around at some cool stuff. They also do other charity based activities here and I'm not sure if it's just one thing or a few but definitely come check it out. If I remember correctly, the one that I was thinking of helped out children. read more

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This shop truly feels like it could only exist in LA, and I mean that as the highest compliment! I love how the staff stay in character the entire time, making you feel like you've traveled through time. They also highlighted the services they offer to support local youth, including writing workshops and activities, which is fantastic. This shop has so many unique items you won't find anywhere else. My wife and I were too embarrassed to leave empty-handed, so we purchased a cool challenge coin that parents can use to decide bedtime or reading time. Our son loves it! This shop is definitely worth checking out, whether you're traveling back in time or into the future! read more

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Cute shop whose proceeds support a youth writing program. Spend your money while uplifting the community. Wide array of things you never knew you'd need. How did I ever live without a coin to decide if I go to bed or watch another episode? Mammoth chunks, conveniently canned for survival situations when inspiration runs dry. Best cups to hold my future and past drinks. Fun place to explore. read more

Adorable, but small. Worth a poke around. Will only take a few minutes to explore. Loved seeing all of the unique finds. Prices are very high, but understandably considering they have to pay for the space. Really fun. Cashier was incredibly nice. read more

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We stopped by and there was a sign stating they would be back in 30 minutes, but 30 minutes from when (or where) we didn't know. We waited about 10 minutes but decided to take off. We are highly disappointed. read more

Echo Park Time Travel Mart - Fun window display - Community Service/Non-Profit Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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A very fun and very funny place to be! Yes! I like the mission and the humor took me out too!

This is absolutely the coolest smart I've ever been to. I would like to time travel here in the future. They have very quirky little gifts and products that are related to time travel. They are actually a part of a nonprofit that helps teach kids after school. The funny little trinkets and gifts they have here are absolutely amazing. they have a lot of cool decorations up. And there is this one telephone booth where you can call a number and it'll tell you a funny little prompt about time travel. It is really cold. This place is awesome. I highly recommend checking this place out if you're in the area. read more

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This is a small store selling quirky toys, novelties, books, and gift items for all ages. Some items that stood out to me were the Decoder of Dreams, watches that just say "NOW", the robot toupee (that can also be used as chest hair, goatee, or rust-stain remover), and their cute and weird cards, ie. one portraying a caveman and alien couple. We ended up purchasing several items, gifts for nieces and nephews, including a kitchen science book and one of their Hatchin' Grow dino eggs. We loved being able to view the tutoring center behind the display glass, and knowing that all of the profits go to a good cause, free writing programs for youth. Even if you don't buy anything, it's a fun little shop that will at least make you laugh at some of their funny and clever merchandise. read more

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So fun and unique. I felt like I entered into another deminsion. I recommend for kids of all ages.

This is a store selling quirky items, mostly based on time travel. It's somewhat satirical and definitely oddball. The best part is that it's the storefront for a non-profit supporting children's writing skills. The proceeds from the store go to supporting free programs for students. Now that's pretty cool. I didn't find anything that I wanted to purchase but I definitely enjoyed looking. Some of the items would make cute gifts or stocking stuffers. The staff member on duty was very friendly and pleasant. They also had some sort of video / art installation by local students on display. Parking is a bit of a hassle. There is a farmer's market around the block on Fridays so if you're driving from far away, I'd recommend consolidating those activities. read more

This is Such a fun little shop, ideal for quirky gifts! Also a fun place to take kids. It always feels great to support local, especially since the proceeds go to a good cause. Metered parking out front, worth stopping in! read more

Echo Park Time Travel Mart - Community Service/Non-Profit Near Me - Los Angeles, California

One of the most fun "stores" to visit in LA! This place is an absolute gas. I had heard about it on the radio or on sites like Atlas Obscura but never really understood what it was, until we visited a few weeks ago after a lunch outing with friends. Even after, I still don't know how to describe it. It's much more than just a mini-mart. I would say it's a kitschy, cheeky, time-travel themed art installation. The store decor and items for sale have tons of gags, even down to the labels and fine print. A lot of it is also just really nice stuff - I like their selection of postcards, pins, and shirts. I appreciate the retro AND futuristic artwork styles. Time travel mart is a storefront a non-profit that supports children's writing, so I bought some stuff and it was actually very affordable. (The pin I bought was only $7). Parking was a bit of a hassle, but we did find a space in the public parking lot nearby. read more

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It is a cute idea of a store. Just found the stuff they are selling to be mostly nifty, kitschy junk to be frank. Some cute things but nothing really unique. Seems like stuff you'd gift someone you don't know too well that they'd end up donating. I feel like I have seen some of the dinosaur knick-knacks they had at museum gift shops. There were some kinda cool posters. There was a fun photo opportunity in the back with a fun mirror. Otherwise the puppet display upfront was cool. I think the finger puppets were the coolest items they had but I don't think they were for sale. If you're in the area come for the cute laugh you might have at the decor. But the longer you stay the more you'll feel like a plastic dinosaur egg. Shiny and a funny idea, but ultimately it is empty plastic. read more

"Whenever you are, we're already then." This is the Mart's tagline! Places like these catch my interest - however, I may have had higher expectations? I love their mission and their dedication in supporting students in LA with their writing skills and helping educators to inspire that passion for writing - so awesome! The mart has various children's books, travel books, greeting cards, post cards, seasonal cards, prints and posters, and random knick-knacks throughout. I didn't think there was much of a selection, though. I did find that fun huge can of 'Mammoth Chunks', though! Interesting place to stop by, and I wished that the employee who was there was more engaging and put forth some effort into providing more information or some assistance of the offerings. If you're into quirky concepts and the idea of time traveling excites you, stop by this mart to peruse for a while. +'Mammoth Chunks' +not-so-great service +limited selection +difficult street parking read more

Quite novel, and towards a really good cause. It is definitely geared towards a younger demographic but still enjoyable to peruse.

The canned mammoth chunks, bottled robot milk and time travel telephone booth really did it for me. What is there not to love about this place? read more

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This place is so awesome and creative and I love everything that it stands for. All the proceeds go to schoolchildren so that they may develop better writing skills and then you can buy their little works of art in the store. They sell books, stickers, patches, shirts, posters and all the coolest funny little knickknacks you have ever seen! Drop by if you wanna set foot in the most unique little shop in Los Angeles :) read more

How many times have you looked around and said wow I really need this done yesterday? Well, you probably can get it done yesterday at Time Travel Mart. The Time Travel Mart sells satire "merchandise" to raise money for 826LA, a non-profit writing and tutoring center. So you're actually doing something good with your purchase not just buying something cool to sit on your desk. But honestly, this place is a whole lot of fun, and a whole lot of creativity. You could spend a good hour wandering around looking at all the cool stuff. You want leeches in a jar? They've got them. You want beginner, intermediate, and professional time travel Parts? They've got them. Dinosaur eggs? They got them. I'm telling you, if they don't have it, you probably don't need it. Bottom line? If you've got some time to spare on a Saturday, go check this place out, you'll thank me later for it. read more

This place is so fun! Been looking for your Mammoth Chunks fix? Struggling to replenish your Robot Milk. Seeking the beginning? Look no further than Wallace's Primordial Soup! The Time Travel Mart is a spectacle of a store that supports 826LA, a nonprofit focused on teaching children, 6-18, creative writing. I know that because it supports a nonprofit, they need to keep prices kind of high of the items, but it was the costs that kept me from purchasing much. It was still a ton of fun to visit and to take out-of-town friends! read more

Having a difficult time trying to get a status on our order, and getting no callbacks no answer to emails, and no emails from initial order confirming. Cannot find out if there is an issue getting what we requested. Nobody answers the phone regarding the stores. in my case, buyer beware. read more

After getting rid of a lot of my junk aiming for a minimalist life, a visit to this "time travel mart" was pointless. A bunch tcotckes that I personally have no space or use for. I have been curious and finally made time to visit with my nephew. He seemed very amused with the store looking at the unusual items they have for sale. There's an Instagrammable spot in the storefront window where you can come in full on costume to take photos. What this place does is actually housing a tutoring non-profit called 826LA, which is hides behind the travel mart so they are doing good behind-the-scenes in the back area of the store. "826LA is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting students ages 6 to 18 with their creative and expository writing skills, and to helping teachers inspire their students to write." They have other locations in the country doing something similar which is kind of fun to think about. One of their locations in Brooklyn is a superheroes supply store - https://youtu.be/BscbPSe_wcE So how can one rate this place less than 4 stars? Reading, writing and helping others is cool. read more

Echo Park Time Travel Mart - Community Service/Non-Profit Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Such a fun little whimsical place to stop by on your idle Saturday afternoon -- or lunch break! You have to pay attention to the little details here -- from the signs pinned to the cork board to the donuts from 1985. So many hidden gems. You can even take a picture with the abominable snowman puppet thing in the display window. Plus, this place is a non-profit so you can feel good about anything you buy. The only thing is, I wish they sold postcards!!! read more

Echo Park Time Travel Mart - Read every single one of these signs for a laugh or two! - Community Service/Non-Profit Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Cool experience but after about 5 or 10 minutes, the afterglow wears off. Came on an odd day, apparently they were orienting volunteers for their store? It really made the place a cluster-, and I couldn't tell whether they were open or closed. The throng of people with applications in their hands were feverishly waiting to be fingerprinted or whatever; it made shopping/browsing a daunting task. Grabbed a neat item just as a tchotchke, but it took a bit to get checked out; presumably I must have looked like a volunteer amongst the crowd. More than 10-12 people in the store at a time makes it very cramped. That aside, TTM has some neat things for sale, obviously novelty items skewed with a time-travel, sci-fi vibe (e.g. Robot Milk, Mammoth Meat, Human Emotion programming chips...). Although it was good for a few laughs, the sparse amount of items and lackluster shopping experience amidst the volunteer-a-thon make me wish I could time travel and get my 20 minutes back. One and done here, folks. read more

Heard about this place & thought it'd be a cool place to check out. It's a really small shop that sells cool knit knacks that represent the past. They have cool little products here and there such as Robot Milk, Dinosaur Eggs, Mammoth Meat etc. (see pictures below) and toys we used to have when we were young such as slap wrist bracelets, fortune fish, etc., I think it's a pretty neat shop and I found out that the proceeds go to help tutor children with writing. I have to admit, it's really pricey, no REAL use for the product (just gonna lay around & collect dust) & its regular items in a container with an unique label. For example, Robot Milk is a bottle of sugar maybe? With the label of robot milk. Did I want to buy some of the things? Yea but like I said really pricey. But like I mentioned before, it is for a good cause. There's a cool Medieval Money Laundry where you do a trade in with the cashier (see picture below) You either do a dance ending with jazz hands or write him a nice friendly poem & you get to dig for "treasure" fake gold. So it's a nice little souvenir to have from your trip to the Time Travel Mart. The signs are also hilarious! I would definitely recommend coming here to check out the place to see it for your own eyes. It's fun cool hip place & if it's too far of a drive, find other things in the area to check out to add to the list so it's a full day of adventure! read more

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How can you not walk into a store that has a caveman hanging out with a robot in the window display??? ;D As a fan of 826LA and having supported the nonprofit several times at past events and fundraisers, I finally stepped foot into the Time Travel Mart that would've impressed Inspector Spacetime. We were immediately greeted by the friendly girl working the front desk but my "hello" back to her was distracted by the tank of turtles on the counter. She even offered to let me feed them even though they normally have the kids do it. But I suppose that traveling in time makes me a kid again :) The store sells everything from robot milk to dinosaur eggs to mustaches. They also have slightly more practical items like posters, keychains, and journals. If you walk through to the back, you will see the spacious tutoring area where kids can go after school for help with their writing skills and storytelling. Might be kinda fun to volunteer to be a tutor. Perhaps motiviate kids to become future Yelpers ;D read more

Hm, I haven't yet written a review for this 7-Eleven-type convenience store catering to chrononauts and temporal journeymen? Could have sworn I had. Maybe I'm just seeing time echos of myself as I compose this now. Curse those tricky tachyon particles. I've been going to the Time Travel Mart for nearly five years. Its main objective is not in giving visitors a laugh (although it does accomplish this, mind), but to help tutor school children in their writing. Money from purchases of the quirky objects within goes toward this goal. The shop, which was created to fit with the storefronts in the area, is filled with any number of things people, creatures, and androids alike might need to stock up on for their next jaunt through the time-space continuum. They've got giant cans of mammoth stew, dinosaur eggs, Shakespeare insult gum, sticks of Viking ODORant, vials of breath ruiner, robot emotion chips (photo: http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/vNfa5x8uOloS5S1nzvq-fg?select=irZnxU2FO9j_qYK-xf22rw), tonics for learning dead languages, even an out-of-order slushie machine (photo:http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/vNfa5x8uOloS5S1nzvq-fg?select=IeDSvPhTJI4qi8FSXBeJng). They even carry items from the not-so-distant past with products like Michael Jordan pogs, Ricky Martin lunch pales, and 8-Track tapes. A sign behind the counter warns shoplifters they'll be sent to Australia if they're caught. Below that management asserts, "You Break It, You Unify the Resulting Infinite Universes." The closed-circuit security TVs (photo: http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/vNfa5x8uOloS5S1nzvq-fg?select=XnIKcXlvIlonD-CfonUVwQ) show Huns, cavemen, people in 19th century English attire, and many others perusing the aisles of supplies. The mart is completely free to visit and you are allowed to take as many pictures as you want without obligation of making a purchase. It's all in good fun and for a good cause. read more

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David Eggers's Echo Park Time Travel Mart is a quirky, painfully hip little store that's fun to browse, with no practical value. The concept will either strike you as charming or irksome, and it's certainly the act of a rather large literary ego. But it isn't all ego - the place is a storefront that leads to and supports 826LA, Eggers's wonderful non-profit aimed at fostering creativity in youths. You can see 826LA in back, and anything you buy helps out the program. The place is set up like a convenience store, and it sells wares that purport to come from all different points in time, with special emphasis on the caveman and robot eras. If you're looking for dinosaur eggs and robot milk, this is the place to go. The Time Travel Mart also carries a large selection of David Eggers books and McSweeney quarterlies. More than a store, it feels like a quick-stop tongue-in-cheek museum. I love the bulletin board, which holds flyers for things like Bubonic plague support groups. Most of the offerings don't tempt the wallet, though I wanted one of my friends to buy the "All of My Friends Are Dead" dinosaur T-shirt. One of them did buy a cheap pair of fun retro sunglasses, but no pre-historic survival supplies. The Echo Park Time Travel Mart is cute and clever and definitely worth a short browse. It's a smart use of already rented space, and it exists in support of an excellent cause. Despite the overwhelming self-conscious whimsy, it's hard not to like this place. read more

This is a fun small quirky shop in a nondescript stretch of sunset blvd. Set up like a convenience store, this place sells all sorts of goods from different 'historic' periods whose purpose in 'real life' I presume are nothing more than just novelty items or to have around as a joke. no use asking the dude behind the counter though, as he was fully in character acting like this was all real. For instance, I asked if the 'mammoth chunks' were really mammoth, he said that they were. I asked where they got it, he said from 'back in time' and that they're past expiration date and if I went back to the Ice Age, they'd freshen up. playing along, I asked how to go back in time. He said take use a time machine. Where do I get one? His response: at the dealer around the corner that will be there in about ten years" lol xD Overall, an interesting and entertaining experience read more

Where can you buy some dinosaur eggs and maybe a jelly donut from 1986? At The Echo Park Travel Mart of course. Not only is this the coolest prehistoric 7/11 that has ever existed- but better yet- it is a non-profit that teaches creative writing to youth! read more

This place is such a gem! It's almost entirely novelty / gag gifts, so don't expect to find things that are actually useful in life. They do a great job with the overall decor, a lot of small tongue in cheek references. Be sure to look at everything, from the floors to the bulletin board. Everything has a time travel pun or reference and it's brilliant! Such a fun experience! read more

Echo Park Time Travel Mart - Community Service/Non-Profit Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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826 has done it again. I've been lucky enough to visit the Brooklyn Superhero Supply Company and the Greater Boston Bigfoot Research Institute, so I was excited to visit the Time Travel Mart while in LA. Sure, little of it is useful in real life (or maybe just not in this time period). But the store is great, and the product packaging alone is worth the cost. Best of all, it benefits a terrific drop-in tutoring center. Where else can you get a jar of nothing, items for your trip to the Pleistocene era, or a robot toupee? Only here. Resist the temptation to buy a donut (Fresh! In 1985), but do buy something. After all, you'll be helping educate our youth. Be sure to check out the online store. Their poster series are terrific. I can't wait to buy some for my home! read more

Cool little knick knacks, with the money for it going to a good cause. What's not to love about this place? A friend was telling me about how she really wanted to check the Time Travel Mart out, so on an adventure day in LA we hit it up. The store in itself is actually really tiny, but the writing lab in the back is spacious and busy. Seeing that I was curious, a volunteer for 826LA began telling me all about the program and what they do/offer. I'm so intrigued that I'll be looking into volunteering over the summer =) Parking: Easy, metered parking along the street where the store is. Stuff: Chubble? 5 minutes to spare in a jar? Mustaches for any occasion? Sure, this stuff is random, but IT'S AWESOME. I walked away with two Haiku pins that are irrelevant and make no sense, therefore hilarious. My friend couldn't help himself and bought a dinosaur egg. I should probably ask him if he ever grew it. Service: The people that work there are super friendly. I love love love it! Overall: Such a great place to visit. When I go back, I'm definitely buying one of the books filled with kids' (ones that are part of the tutoring/mentoring program) poems =) read more

Echo Park Time Travel Mart - Community Service/Non-Profit Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Greetings earthlings! This place was beyond stellar. With blasts from the past and nic-nac's of our future, this time travel shop is a fantastic quick stop that will keep you entertained. The store is very tiny which allows visitors to see everything within minutes. Some items included lava lamps, dinosaur eggs, facial hair styles throughout history, Viking Odorant (deodorant), time travel sickness pills, books, VHS tapes, and so much more. My list can go on and on but basically the items are so intriguing that your eyes will be glued to everything in the aisles. What a great place for gag gifts! I was laughing the entire time, and fortunately the man behind the counter was extremely helpful answering all my questions while also talking to me as if he came from the future. Great vibes! The only reason I can picture someone not enjoying this store is if they're a boring person who doesn't know how to have fun. Totally fine with me, but then you should still go anyway. Why? Because the proceeds are donated to educating children with reading, writing, and the arts. Let's just put it this way... stop reading the reviews and don't spoil the surprises by looking at the posted pictures. Just go. Right now. The Time Travel Mart is a unique place that's well worth the visit. read more

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I love this place! They have things that were popular back in the day: from plastic robot arms (the ones that can grab things off a high shelf), dino eggs, mood rings, all kinds of fake mustaches, knick knacks from different parts of the globe -- it's a mecca for all 80's children and Kids-at-Heart nerds out there! My sister got my husband a robot chip encased in a plastic container called the HAPPINESS CHIP. He loved it, considering he idolizes Star Trek TNG's Data. ;) They also have regular household items repackaged with their signature quirky time-travel humor. It may be a little pricey, but the extra laugh you get each time you look at their labels is probably worth it :D read more

The Time Travel Mart is a great little vintage store that sells novelty gag gifts and old school toys. Some of their knick knacks may include a music box, dinosaur eggs, lava lamps and silly putty. All in all, this mart is nestled in a great area with many cool stores. 2 hours meter parking is plentiful. read more

Echo Park Time Travel Mart - Robot milk! - Community Service/Non-Profit Near Me - Los Angeles, California

The money you spend here goes toward supporting 826LA, a non-profit that offers free tutoring, and other educational activities for local school children. That's the main appeal of this place for me. It has kitchy things and is worth a visit if you're in the area, or not far from it, but I don't recommend you come from the west side to here. Especially when there's an 826, and Time Travel Mart in Marina Del Rey (although, don't be fooled, the two aren't identical). All and all this is a great little shop. A few detractors are that parking can be problematic, but I usually park near the school, and have no problems finding a spot. And it's not very big. You can get through it in less than twenty minutes. So don't plan your day around a venture here. read more

Echo Park Time Travel Mart - Darn - Community Service/Non-Profit Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Whether you're an LA local looking for a fun place to take a friend, or a visitor to town looking for an adventure, this is a GREAT stop. It is a mock-up kind of store with all different time travel themed items that are hilarious and fun. I honestly am still entertained every time I visit and always notice new things. The best part is that the shop funds a writing workshop for kids. I love that if I buy something here it is going towards a good cause. Definitely check this place out. It is good for all kinds of people of all ages! read more

LOVE this place. Great concept, great cause. The tutoring/writing center in the back is a wonderful space for kids (and their tutors). I wish I had thought of this. So, so creative. read more

This place is way to cool for school. Strange in a smart and excellent way. In what year you ask, your guess is as good as mine. Where else can you find opposable thumbs and chubble? "What's chubble" you ask? "It's the product of the future." Too bad the future was yesterday and the past is tomorrow. Just go and you'll understand...maybe! read more

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