This is, in my mind, exactly what a beach town store should be like. DIY / repair hardware, tools,…read morebeach-themed household goods and decorations, toys, beach equipment, and more. Walking in here, you can tell it's not like other stores and you can just feel the beachy, summer vibes. Maybe that's just because of the associations I feel between this store and summer vacation, or maybe it's just because that's what this place is all about. It's a bit more expensive than some other stores, but you're 100% paying for convenience. It's one block from the beach and located right in the heart of Lavallette. In my opinion, it's a great place to have in the neighborhood.

Simple - You earned this because the older guy that was at front cash register (probably the…read moreowner-but who cares- YOU were the FIRST impression!) area did not even look up at my family ONCE when we came in. Couldnt say hello? Good Morning? Then when others came in immediately afterward he was all chirpy and happy. Forget you - if you dont even have the common courtesy towards all that enter your store. Seriously- Thank you whoever you were for making us NOT want to spend a dime in your store! Work on your manners.

A small toy and game store with a decent selection and wonderful staff!…read more And best of all, we found a game here we'd been looking for in person for over a year!

I walked into this store and was immediately looked up and down by the employee working (Weds at…read more10am). I simply asked if they had a popular item in stock (as I was told by their sister store in manasquan that they were in stock at big fun toys.) I was rudely answered with attitude and shortness. Telling me her manager would be bringing the item in whenever she felt like it and would notify via instagram. She shrugged me off. When she realized how rude and unnecessary her energy was, she tried to overcompensate in friendliness. Nothing about this store was big fun, and not how a toy store should be!

the perfect toy shop. the enthusiastic young staff know…read moretheir inventory inside and out, and practically do your shopping for you. worth a ride to fairhaven!

A friend told me about Distinctive Toys when I was in a pinch to buy a quick birthday gift for a…read morechild. I was pleasantly surprised that not everything was overpriced for being a boutique type store. The selection was nice and they even wrapped the gift very nicely for me which was a big help. Now it's my go-to place for kids birthday gifts. It's quick and easy and it's not the horror show at Toys R Us!

Great toy & collectibles store! Wide selection, with fair prices, and friendly staff who know their…read morestuff.

Overpriced product, weak selection, bad comps. Avoid and just use eBay or another app.read more

Who doesn't love a toy store, especially when the "toys" are for big kids in their 40's who love…read morecars and trains. An extensive collection of Lionel rolling stock and the track necessary to expand your layout. Staff is helpful but doesn't hover making a quick browse extremely enjoyable. Came in on a whim, the next time The Hobby Shop will be a destination. Five easy stars.

When I was recently visiting the shopping center on Newtons Corner Road, I noticed that a new game…read morestore had opened, so I decided to check it out. I went inside and spoke with the owner, who had just opened the shop. The first thing I noticed was how nice, neat, organized, and clean everything was. There's a semi-private room with about four or five tables, and there's also another space in the back that can fit a few more. The store has game shelving on wheels, and the owner explained that he set it up that way so he can move things around to fit groups of tables as needed. Tonight I came back with my friends for our game night. We usually get together about once a month at local cafes or other places and play games. Some of us brought food to eat, and others bought snacks and drinks that were available at the shop. We had a group of 13 people, and it was such a fun time tonight! The owner set up two tables for us in the back, just like I requested, so we had our own private area. He allowed us to play at the shop without a charge, since it's a new place. We all felt like this was such a kind gesture. Most of us actually decided to contribute some cash since we were there for a few hours. We also all bought drinks and snacks to help support the shop (like I mentioned earlier). We felt the snacks were a good variety of healthy (like organic trail mix) and junk food (like Doritos) and this would be good for a range of people's tastes. Later on, we split into smaller groups and played different games at other tables in the shop. One of the things I really loved was how we could move the tables around or choose to sit in the semi-private room. The couple who owned the store was so kind, welcoming, and accommodating. I loved how the owner mentioned that he disinfects the tables and chairs regularly, and the bathroom was neat, with plenty of paper towels and even toilet seat covers. I've visited other game stores in different parts of New Jersey, and some were not as clean as this one. I love to play games, but I don't usually buy them. While we were there, some of my friends saw games they were interested in. There is a nice selection of games from family friendly ones to more adult- oriented ones. Everyone had a good time and loved the fun atmosphere. The owner also mentioned they'll be hosting tournaments and events in the future. This new game shop is just a great place to visit, hang out with friends, play games, and maybe even find something new to buy.

The Staff/Owners of the 13th Hour are amazing! They put together a wonderful Dungeons and Dragons…read moreparty for my son, arranged everything, and provided 4+ hours of D&D fun! The prices were insanely reasonable and the kids had a wonderful time. I cannot recommend this amazing business enough! They offer classes, clubs, and a great place to hang out for kids and families. What a wonderful place to have in our community!

I took my daughter and grandkids today, as we are walking around, I heard the lady telling the…read moreyoung employee, "keep an I on them, they are walking around and I feel they are going to steal ". Instead of saying what I should it said, I asked my family to walk out if the store and I explain them. Dear owner, we were not the typical family that you see every day, as we are not white, we are Hispanic and my husband and son in law are white. But I wanted to let you know that we work hard for everything we have, including a nice vacation. Our grandkids worked doing shores and saved enough to get what they want on top of the spending money we give them for their vacations. We teach them value and respect. I could have stayed and confronted the lady, instead I walked away and by doing it, we were the biggest people and I tough them a lesson of respecting themselves and not allowing nobody to disrespect them and mistreat them because of their race. One thing for sure, every time we come back to town, I would never spend a penny on your store. I hope you learn a lesson with this and remember not to be racist. By the way, I am very proud of who I am and where I am coming from, Puerto Rico. I have served this country as well. I read the owner review, two points, at the time of our visit; there were only 2 clients, other than us. Second, clearly I heard the lady telling the young employee, I was just walking by her when she instructed her to look out for us. If there was no intention, there should not be any derogatory comment. Also, get cameras so next time you accuse someone wrongly, you can see. Do not try to sugar coat the reality of the event and the discrimination of the accusation. Do not worry, we don't let situations like this to take our great moments away. Yes, I was very upset as my daughter and granddaughter wanted to buy from the store, and telling them what the lady said was not easy, especially for my 13 year old. But my family time is priceless and we enjoyed the other stores.

I'm a sucker for this kind of boutique shop with lots of unusual items, whether it's jewelry,…read moreartwork, fragrances, lotions, candles, houseware, clothing. Upstairs is a lovely art gallery. We stopped in during THE PANDEMIC on a quiet weekday. I immediately fell in love with some of the framed photography, but like many others, during these difficult times, I'm on a budget, so that was a hard no to spending $150 on art right now. Luckily, when we wandered upstairs, we found less expensive prints of the images so we could frame it ourselves. SOLD. Staff were friendly. And bonus, even through my mask, it smelled so lovely inside.

Typical location for this brand. Kids love it-you can give them, say, a $10 limit and they'll have…read morea grand time rooting around looking for the best deal.

Five Below is a higher-priced Dollar Store/Tree without many food products. Their lights are…read morebrighter, so it seems cheerier. The store doesn't present to me much of a savings. Much of the items are priced in the $4 range and if you are specifically looking for something, you should probably know what they have and what they don't. They really do not have much of a variety of products. Good for toys and cell phone accessories, but be cautious with the phone ware. The store really doesn't do anything for me.