Gepetto's Toy Box makes last-minute birthday gift shopping so EASY. When I forgot to get a present for a party today I was in and out in 15 minutes with a perfect gift & card and they wrapped it beautifully for free. They have a well-curated selection of toys to suit every age and interest. The shop is clean, bright and pleasant to shop in. The workers are knowledgeable and helpful. Best of all is that they realize the pandemic isn't over for those of us with kids too young to be vaccinated, so they will continue to require masks until there is a vaccine for all ages. And you can order for home delivery if you can't wear a mask for 15 minutes. read more

Visited from out of state awhile back based on recommendation from a family member and loved it. I reached out via email and had a back and forth exchange with someone from the store at a different date and ran into a rude and unpleasant rep. I wish I could remember her name. I know email tone can be misinterpreted but as a representative she completely turned me off from visiting again in person or recommending to any of my friends and family. Good customer service is essential these days if you expect to keep customers! Not to mention the increased prices of Gepetto's toys compared to other businesses. Yes the quality is good, but it's not an excuse to be crappy towards your customers. There are other options in the area. I'd recommend they get a new person answering emails unless the business supports that type of behavior. read more

Be a kid again, it's fun! No really go here, to feel the joy an curiosity of being a kid with toys and games for all ages. There are fun gift ideas for any age and a lot of smart toys, puzzles and anything else that sparks curiosity. read more

The most wonderful toy store!!!! I didn't know such a store existed! You will find toys/games etc that will NOT be found in any major retail Store! Great prices and super nice stats ready to help when needed! I have 4 grandkids (ages range from 4 to 10) and as long they are kids I will never shop for toys anywhere else! A jewel of a find in Oak Park, Illinois! read more

Well this is my 2nd time coming to this independent toy store in Oak Park. I was going to go to another one in Elmhurst but I decided to come here since I was much more familiar with this store in my 1st experience back in 2016. That is because I did a Toys for tots motorcycle drive and had to purchase a toy. Despite the demise of Toys R Us this was the next quality toy store in which I would give a poor or disadvantage child a toy that is not made in China. There are a few made in China products here as well but at least you'll be able to find made in Germany and made in USA. It's been since after covid and now 5 years and my company who I'm working with now does the Toys for tots but I don't have to drive a motorcycle across the city LOL. This time I just have to drop a favorable good toy and it was a tough choice but they had 2 brands that I wanted to buy and I can only buy one. Green toys made in USA and Bruder brand which is made in Germany. The Bruder brand is really detailed vs green toys dump truck I picked made in USA. Yes they are expensive but I have a conscientious heart or generosity to give something better made and not toxic for a poor child to play with from my contribution. $30 vs going to dollar store or even Walmart or Target. Anyways I do recommend going here for those one-of-a-kind quality better play toys which I'm surprised nowadays how people would rather play video games than actually physically play with toy trucks or dolls made in Spain. 4 out of 5 stars because of parking in Oak Park not being convenient read more

Geppetto's Toy Box - Repeat - Toy Stores Near Me - Oak Park, Illinois

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It's a fun little stem, educational toy store. The toys gears towards really stimulating a child's mind, heart and soul. Science and so many puzzles and different arts and crats to get you learning how to sew, or created a science project it's really unique in the sense it's toys with a lot of purpose to get children to grow in learning about how to not just play and pretend but to really learn some new skills. read more

We've been fans for years and always find something new and exciting every visit. Expansive arts, crafts, infant, games and stuffed creatures selection plus wonderful costumes, figures, books and dolls. Free wrapping service has saved me on many last-minute birthday runs. Everything is high-quality, durable and charming. Great customer service. Definitely our favorite toy store. read more

Sweet small business. My daughter lost a gift card from there, but we told them the name of the gift giver and they honored it! Also, generally pleasant service and knowledgeable about the products. Definitely pricey, but a feel-good experience. read more

I love this place for tots but I'm giving them a bad review on their covid protocol. It was so crowded in there and they are definitely going over their max amount and not watching. read more

My kids love this place. My husband loves this place. I love this place. The staff is great. The selection is amazing. Every time we have been there we have left with a great purchase our kids love. One of the best toy stores in Illinois. read more

Staff is very nice! Great selection of toys. Great for gifts. It can get a little pricy though. Nice atmosphere, perfectly located.

They will help you find the perfect gift for the lucky child you're shopping for. Just tell them about the child's interests and they will produce the perfect toy. Felt like being in Harry Potter land - they always seem to have just what you need. read more

I went there today based on these rave review. Very disappointing. It's basically a shrunken version of a generic independent toy store. There are several bigger and better versions in the metro area. In fact, for a long time, there was a bigger and better version not too far away in Oak Park. As a result of the cramped environment, the toy selection at Geppetto's is extremely limited. For example, somebody mentioned that they have Thomas the Tank Engine. That's technically true, but it's confined to one small display with an extremely limited selection. In addition, the staff member I dealt with was badly misinformed concerning this product line. I spend a lot of time in Oak Park but, in the future, I'll head to Downers Grove or Elmhurst instead for the vastly superior "My Favorite Toy Store." read more

My favorite part about this place is the customer service. My husband and I are childless but we were looking for Christmas gifts for our nieces and nephews. As we stood bewildered in the store a very nice salesperson came up to us and asked if we needed help. Once we told her the ages of the kids we were buying for she immediately led us to the age-appropriate toys. My only complaints were that they didn't seem to have a wide price range of items. Of course, you're paying for quality toys, but it would have been nice to have more options in a variety of prices. Additionally, one of the things I was looking for was wooden puzzles but the selection of these wasn't very large, either. So, if you're not used to buying toys and need some assistance, this is the place to go. However, be prepared to drop at least $20 per item. Oh, and take advantage of the free gift wrapping, too! read more

Nice toys, but management could use some work. My wife and I used these guys to custom order a toy for our babies. They said it would be in by the end of the week. After 3 weeks of waiting I called back to check on the order - the next day they got back to me and told me to expect it at the beginning of the next week. Annoyed that it was going to be that much more of a wait, I asked to cancel the order. They said they would check with the owner and let me know. Later that day, I received a warm voicemail from the owner, assuring me it would be in after the weekend, and that if I wanted to cancel he'd totally understand. I called him back and said I do want to cancel - his demeanor immediately went from warm to cold and dismissive. A week after that phone call, and they haven't refunded my money. I'll be calling them today to ask again, but I'm pretty sure that if I hadn't, they'd have happily kept the money for the item they weren't able to get for me. read more

I love you Geppetto! This is the greatest independent toy store I have been to in the Western suburbs since My Favorite Toy Store closed. We walked in on Small Business Saturday in hopes of starting and finishing Christmas shopping for my nieces and nephews. The store had absolutely fabulous displays. They only displayed child-friendly toys at a height that a child could not accidentally grab and hurt themselves with. every time we stopped to look at different types of toys, we had a member of the staff approach us and ask if we wanted a demonstration of how to play that game or to see how that toy works if there wasn't a display out and we looked incredibly interested in it. They weren't pushy but they were willing to give us a hands on experience. Clearly, we had "Childless" written across our foreheads and they thought we were a good target. Added bonus is that they will gift wrap all packages purchased! Yay! read more

I walked into this place with my son and the lady that was attending the space was incredibly rude. She seemed annoyed that my son was picking up the toys as he tried to decide what he wanted. Each time he grabbed an item and put it back she was right behind us adjusting it. She was giving us very rude looks and never once asked if we needed any help. We felt incredibly uncomfortable and soon left the store. I did notice while we were there however that the items are incredibly overpriced. I ended up stumbling over to their competitor, Pumpkin Moon and had a much better experience. Never again will I step foot into Geppettos. read more

This is my kind of toy store. They carry toys that will hold the child's attention for a long time since they allow the kid to play creatively - they say "huh...I wonder what this does." I hate toy stores that only sell what you see in commercials - kids want so much stuff for two reasons: 1) they saw it on a TV ad that made the toy look way more exciting than it really is, or 2) the nextdoor neighbor kid has it, and they begged their parents after seeing it on a TV ad. Sick. I'm seriously thinking of investing in TIVO just for the commercial editing. This place has a few popular names - Thomas the Train being one. They also carry the Thomas-compatible knockoff track that's way less expensive, but the track is only on one side, so you may have to invest in extra left- or right-winding curvy track. Alex is another brand I've seen elsewhere, but most of the rest are smaller companies, many made in Europe. Lots of wood and metal - more to recycle, less PVC. I really respect that. The people who work here are soooo cool. read more

Updated: three years after our first visit. We stop in to say hello and pick up birthday gifts for our children and any others we have the privilege to celebrate with. WE (the parents) give our kids the value of plus +5.00 for any Targ** or Wal**** gift card they receive- in trade- to be spent at Geppetto's. They toys encourage creative play and are built to last. You aren't just a customer, you are a neighbor. We made two trips to Gepetto's Toy Box, in less than 72 hours. The idea of spending money at an arcade or another movie seems like such a waste with resources such as these. If you are looking for a toy store that shows it's passion for thought provoking games and toys as well as it's conscience for it's eco-footprint, I would highly recommend visiting. It's reputation for great customer service was definitely met and exceeded. They have samples of all the games they sale for you to try and offered great advice on age compatibility with the games. Free gift wrap! Is this a present? Just like a European toy store! We have two children and are currently expecting. What a wonderful surprise to find a cloth diapering section and baby toy section. Toys, games and gifts for children ages: birth - *achem* your imminent demise and return to mother earth. read more

Stopped in here to kill some time and was blown away. I am the type of killjoy parent who hates "noisy toys". I also REALLY dislike plastic toys. No offense to parents who like em, I just hate the things. Walking into this place was like in cartoons, where the heavenly beam of light comes down from the heavens and the angels start to sing and G_d himself comes down on a fluffy cloud. The only toys I saw there that make noise are ones that are musical- cymbals, a toy piano. Everything is WOOD! CLOTH! Sustainable! I think the owner was there and very VERY patiently explained everything to my husband who has a tendency to ask about a bazillion crazy questions. We didn't intend to purchase anything this evening because our budget is tight but our son LOVED the wooden rolling walker SO darn much we had to. They also have a selection of cloth diapers and cloth diapering supplies! and they carry slings. If they had had a silk ring sling in ANY color but pink (I HATE pink but that's not their fault) I probably would have gone out of there spending another $75. Also- They have an EXCEEDINGLY comfortable chair tucked away in a semi private and quiet corner that is perfect to nurse in. They are a bit more pricey then you would normally think to spend for toys BUT as my husband and I talked about it, we realized, we'd rather spend money on quality toys that we LOVE than toys we feel kind of "meh" about. Not only that, but its seriously COOL stuff you won't find at toys'r'us or the mall. Basically for me, this place was almost as fun for me as I'm sure it was for my son. It had the sort of toys I DREAMED of having as a kid, and now I can buy them for my son! :D read more

This is a favorite place of mine to shop for the kids in my life. I love it because the toys are really well made, high quality, high craftsmanship and not all made of plastic. I also love the variety of educational toys that are fun. I don't want to be the auntie that always buys boring learning stuff but you know what, learning is important. There is this little bike looking thing that has no pedals, you just move the handlebars back and forth and it moves. Sooooo freaking cool. They also have glow in the dark bracelets and necklaces that I buy for myself every time I'm buying for someone else. what? The extra beauty and the thing that keeps me coming back is the free gift wrapping. I'm not always on top of my calendar. I am sometimes stopping here on my way to a birthday party and they save my ass with an awesome gift and then they wrap it up for me. Sweet. read more

These folks are friendly and knowledgable. I love their selection of well-crafted toys that I won't have to worry about being recalled next month. Great cars and sports sets that shouldn't be overlooked amidst a gaggle of girly gifts. It's not everywhere you'll find a lacrosse starter set for toddlers. Beyond the functionality of the toys, visually the store is an appealing reprieve from the mess of bright pink and baby blue overly-gender items at major chains. Wonderful location by car or Green Line. They really made my Christmas come to life. read more

I always find such cute and creative gifts here. I like that much of what I buy is completely different than the usual birthday party gifts. The free wrapping is awesome and they are super friendly. I used this place to buy my Ergo and cloth diapers when my kids were babies as well. The place is pretty pricey. However, you are definitely getting your moneys worth. read more

Great local business specializing in European toys. You won't find a ton of plasticy stuff here, but it will cost you! PROS -Local business owners Brandi and Eric are awesome. Their daughter, Tryn, is also a hoot. -Eric looks a lot like Chris Elliott. -Really neat, unique wood toys. -Free gift wrapping. Who doesn't love the distinctive orange paper! CONS -Expensive. -Selection is somewhat limited. You won't find the most popular toys here, but they do have stuff like PlayMobil. read more

I LOVE this toy store. They don't carry the typical cheap, plastic toys that you can find at Toys r us and Target, so if that is what you are looking for, stay away. However, if you are looking for unique, thoughtful toys that are made of more natural materials (wood, fabric, etc), this is the store for you. I have received many compliments on the toys I have purchased here...kids really seem to like them. They toys may be a little pricey, but they are worth it. read more

Stopped in today, awesome store! Everyone there is VERY helpful! A lot of different toys, watch price tags or you'll spend a fortune. Will be back. Would recommend. read more

No refund! Are you kidding me? This product ruined my son's pajamas and our furniture. See pictures attached. "Crazy Aaron's illusion thinking putty" is a product you sell at the counter with a disclaimer on the tin in extremely extremely small print. Nine year olds don't read disclaimers before playing with a product. Nor should they have to if the product is purchased at a neighborhood toy store we've trusted for years. Telling the customer that the product is not designed to be left out and should be returned to the tin after playing is not a valid answer to a customer complaint. "It's designed to develop fine motor skills", you say. "Not to touch clothes or furniture." What kind of product do you sell at a toy store that is not supposed to touch clothes or furniture? The Silly putty I grew up with did not ruin clothes or furniture. The lack of understanding customer frustration and the request of a refund to my son's visa gift card is unacceptable. We have shopped here for many years and purchased gifts and toys for everyone we know. This experience has soured our opinion of your establishment. I believe in supporting small businesses in leau of big box stores. Now we will find another independent store to purchase our toys and gifts. read more

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A much needed store in Oak Park! Great location! Geppeto's makes it easy to find cool, educational, unusual, well-made toys. Gepetto's will save you when you need a last minute gift. But - expect to pay a lot more. Everything I've ever bought here is cheaper on Amazon. Do the test. But - it is a cool little store, that engages heavily in community, besides it feels good to support a local business. read more

Geppetto's has been our toy store of choice for the first 8 months of our son's life and I hope it will continue to be so for as long as possible. The owners understand the power of imagination and the importance of fun as opposed to the chain stores which simply and cost-effectively hawk the latest shiny marketing bric-a-brac from Super-Mega-Brand Movie/TV Show. Buy yourself a toy from Geppetto's and you'll be amazed at the freedom you'll feel to have fun on your own without having to wait for the laugh track to cue you. The only downside is that, sometimes, quality costs more. So buy fewer and enjoy what you have. read more

one person covering both the register and gift wrapping makes a short visit tough

This local toy store is everything!! We love it so much! The toy selection for all ages is amazing. The staff is genuine and so helpful! They quality of the toys and selection is unmatched! read more

Geppetto's is better than Amazon every time! I've been here many times but this story probably describes it best: We were doing last minute birthday shopping (as in a day before) for my 4 year old son and purchased a remote control car among other items for him there. Unfortunately we found out that the car didn't work properly upon opening it (only one of two turning wheels worked) so the car could essentially only turn in circles. Of course my son didn't care as he was absolutely thrilled with it and essentially used it for two days straight. We were finally able to extract it and take it back to the store with him. At that point we no longer had the original packaging or knew where the receipt was. We explained the situation to the store owner and he immediately exchanged it for a new working car AND let my son test it in the store to be absolutely certain it would work! My son was excited through the roof of course and we'll be back for all future toy purchases! read more

Fantastic local toy store. We always find fun, quality things for our boys here. We are always made to feel welcome and the employees are friendly and helpful. read more

Simply put this is the best toy store in the Chicago area hands down. So many unique toys, lots of great European toys, really high quality stuff, usually made of wood, cloth, and other natural materials. You aren't going to find toys that require batteries here. They also have an amazing game collection and are very knowledgeable about all the games and usually have a couple opened up for playing. Oh, and they have the best staff and owners too. We've been coming pretty regularly since they opened about 10-12 years ago and they treat their customers so well. My kids get birthday gift cards from them, they donate to local school fundraisers, they wrap your gifts for free, and they can absolutely help you pick out those gifts if you have no clue what you are looking for. Geppetto's is a real gem of Oak Park and I never buy toys anywhere else! read more

wow, couldn't be anymore dissappointed by Geppetto's Toy Box. GTP is stocked with old, boring wood block toys - it's basically a toy shop for kids that grew up in the depression, when all you had to play with was soot and your own tears. While the staff is definitely well-meaning, I don't want to be attacked by three different associates when the store is the size of a shoe box. If your store is about engaging & encouraging childhood excitement & discovery, then give me some room to breath & discover what you store has to offer. read more

Geppetto's carries a wonderful and unique selection of toys; however, in my experience, they are completely lacking in customer service. I stopped in yesterday to pick up a birthday present for my nephew who has special needs. After reading all of the reviews on yelp I was super excited to have a salesperson help me pick out the perfect gift for him. Instead of the awesome customer service I expected, I walked into a store staffed by two teenagers who were hiding behind the counter deep in a whispered conversation. I smiled and tried to make eye contact, but instead of greeting me they gave me a "you're intruding" look and actually moved so I couldn't see them anymore! I spent about 10-15 minutes walking around and during that time neither of them said a single word to me. Could I have interrupted their conversation? Yes. Did I feel that would get me the assistance I was looking for? No. When you can't even bring yourself to greet a customer and you are sitting on the counter, it sends a pretty strong "I'm not interested in helping you, go away." message. In the end, I found a gift that I am happy with. However, I won't waste my time driving here again. If I'm already in Oak Park I'll stop in, but this store was a major disappointment. read more

It's great to have a place where one can walk in and look at and purchase quality toys, keep doing what you're doing. Very friendly staff too. read more

Exercise your due diligence - a number of relatively unique products, but as a smart consumer, you can get 1/2 of the products for much less. I am all for supporting local business, but the profit margins being enjoyed on some of the items are a bit much. read more

At a time when toy stores become more and more rare, I have grown to appreciate this place even more. I have always liked it for their uniques selection of well made toys. I decided to write a review because they recently went above and beyond. I have been extremely busy and had forgotten to get my 5 year old nephew a birthday gift. So I called the store and asked if they could do my shopping and have it wrapped for me in about an hour and they did just that! I simply told them his age and what he was into (sports, race cars, puzzles), told them my budget and I arrived to a bag full of wrapped toys! All they had to do was swipe my card and I was out of there! Anyways, I thought I would post this because it really helped me out and, most importantly, the little guy loved his gifts! read more

What a crazy set of cashiers, I walked in Geppettos to get change for the parking meter, was going to buy 3 boxes of 99 cent snappers, and had the money in the counter. I was short 2 cents, and offered to leave 2$ more than the total and grab the correct change, the young cashier struggled to grasp what I was doing, and said she wasn't comfortable with that, and then the other older cashier said it was okay, they had a change basket, and by that point, the struggle for 2 cents lost my allure to purchase a couple boxes of snappers for my 2 and 3 year old. So I put the boxes back and took my money. As I walked out, the older cashier came running out, asking where I put her 3 boxes, I simply told her, I put them back in their silver container. About 30 minutes later, as I was having some food, I noticed police in the store and around my car, parked right outside of Geppetto's. It seemed a little weird, and I walked out, with the police smiling as I approached them, as they said, so your the "Snapper Guy", I laughed and we joked. What a crazy interaction with the store. I was excited to bring my kids in there, but now scared they may try and call the cops on my children and I. Don't go there, what a joke, hire some cashiers or people who can actually interact with normal people and not call the cops when someone doesn't want to buy your items when your customer service is so poor. read more