What is the best toy store in the area? There used to be a bunch, it seems like they've all been closing.
COMMENT 165018P
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2011-04-18 09:22 PM |
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Kernohans is great (downtown on Anapamu and in Goleta on Calle Real). For a broader selection (and I hate to admit this), try Kmart.
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COMMENT 165022
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2011-04-18 10:00 PM |
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The Carpinteria Toy Company, on Palm Ave. in Carpinteria has a good selection of unusual toys.
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AKIMBO
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2011-04-18 11:02 PM |
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KERNOHAN'S!! Very helpful staff and intriguing selection of toys for a wide range of ages...it's THE spot!!
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COMMENT 165026P
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2011-04-19 01:17 AM |
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For educational toys it is Bennett's Educational Material in the Magnolia Shopping Center, 5130 Hollister Ave. Also, there is ToysRUs Express in La Cumbre Shopping Center.
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COMMENT 165030P
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2011-04-19 06:31 AM |
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Serendipity in Ojai! The best toy store around with good toys run by a really nice family for many years!
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COMMENT 165062
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2011-04-19 07:30 AM |
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Bennett's in the Magnolia Center. Educational toys, books, puzzles are all excellent quality, well made and things that kids don't get tired of playing with.
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COMMENT 165067P
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2011-04-19 07:37 AM |
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We have toy stores?
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COMMENT 165070
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2011-04-19 07:44 AM |
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Serendipity's in Ojai -- much larger selection than Kernohan's, which really has very little variety. And Serendipity's is owned and run by a very nice family!!!
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COMMENT 165096
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2011-04-19 08:28 AM |
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I'm sorry, but Kernohan's is to toys as Blue Bee is/was to kids clothes. Boutique "local" store with tiny selection of very overpriced stock. Ok for the one-off toddler present to the grandson/daughter, or to demonstrate your locals-only cred, but if you're a working parent buying toys for your kids (and your kids' friends for birthdays) you will quickly be frustrated or broke. There's no shame in Kmart (also local) or Target, especially if your kid is in to legos. If you want to go north instead of south, try Tom's Toys in SLO. A GREAT toy store. There used to be a similarly great Tom's here in SB but they were another casualty to State Street rents being jacked up (thanks, Sima & Radius Group). They were replaced with, what else, a bank.
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COMMENT 165097
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2011-04-19 08:28 AM |
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Sadly, for the noneducation focused toys Kmart has the best selection.
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COMMENT 165098
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2011-04-19 08:29 AM |
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Buy local! Chicken Little and Kernohan's.
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EDHATBARBARA
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2011-04-19 08:42 AM |
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I went to the Toys R Us Express at La Cumbre Mall to find a Chinese Checkers game -- they didn't have one! Can you believe it?
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COMMENT 165111
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2011-04-19 08:42 AM |
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Metro Entertainment downtown SB carries action figures and lots of cool Marvel stuff for kids also...Serendipity in Ojai is very cool also!
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COMMENT 165122
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2011-04-19 09:00 AM |
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Online - Amazon would be the cheapest.
I also love Zulily.com.
But if you do not mind a little used - There is Polar Bear on Anacapa! or Peanuts in La Arcada. Or on upper De La Vina (by Trader Joe's) there is Re-Play.
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AQUAHOLIC
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2011-04-19 09:01 AM |
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EDHATBARBARA.... Game Seeker, 500 block State St.
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COMMENT 165125
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2011-04-19 09:02 AM |
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165096 has it right, its nice to go into Kernohans or Chicken Little for something small if you're short on time, but I only buy my kids toys at Target. Times are tough and I can't afford to spend 3-4x more on something just to "shop local," eff that. Plus the selection at Target is far superior. I won't even set foot in KMart in Goleta, that whole building just needs to be torn down.
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COMMENT 165129
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2011-04-19 09:07 AM |
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ditto 096...
We actually find some great toys in Craft Essentials on Turnpike and Hollister... they have models, art supplies, puzzles and lots of cool games...
Bennetts is good too! friendly staff! I'm a SB local and not a fan of Kernohans anymore...
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COMMENT 165134
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2011-04-19 09:19 AM |
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A step above Kmart, but below local shops, Michael's has some cool art-related stuff for kids. They have stuff like art sets and crayola soft clay, but they have kits, too, like the 'crazy mad scientist' stuff, making crystals, planetarium night lights, and colored goo. Kids in my family usually get this stuff & always have fun playing with it. And it doesn't get discarded like stuffed animals do...
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COMMENT 165139
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2011-04-19 09:27 AM |
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Kernohan's has scads of affordable toys. I get lots of great birthday presents there for under $20. It's not discounted like in a big box store, but prices are reasonable especially considering they will wrap your gifts for free. As for selection, they have lots of things you won't find in a mass market store but they don't have much stuff you'll see on TV. It depends what you want. BTW they have a cute metal Chinese Checkers set, and the best selection of marbles around.
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FLICKA
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2011-04-19 09:32 AM |
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It's true about kids often having more fun with the box than the present (big boxes). Make a fort by throwing a sheet over a card table, get water paints and have them decorate rocks. Get them to plant a small garden all their own (even a planter box will do). Just have them be creative with simple, available stuff..
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SBARTS
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2011-04-19 10:13 AM |
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SB Arts in La Arcada carries handmade wooden trains and toys made in the USA. Also handmade wooden spinning tops made locally.
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COMMENT 165173
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2011-04-19 10:15 AM |
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Forgot about Craft Essentials & Michaels, the wife usually can find some good stuff for the kids there too. Saw a Lego set at Chicken Little for $150, granted it was a large set from Star Wars, but I looked it up online and it was about $60 cheaper at Target. I'm all for shopping locally, but that's ridiculous.
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COMMENT 165176
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2011-04-19 10:21 AM |
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Target in Ventura.
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COMMENT 165177
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2011-04-19 10:22 AM |
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There are a couple of great toy stores in Solvang if you want to make the trip.
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COMMENT 165184
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2011-04-19 10:34 AM |
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Agree with 125 completely
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COMMENT 165191
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2011-04-19 10:42 AM |
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SB is short on toy stores because it is not a kid-friendly town. Check out the number of high end clothing and home furnishing stores on State street and compare that with anything for children. It's just rich tourist crap. We need ice skating rinks and video arcades and more FAMILY FRIENDLY stores that don't cost an arm and a leg for everything.
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COMMENT 165199
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2011-04-19 10:54 AM |
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@191.... While there are a lot more things to do here because we have the beach and mountains, I do agree with you.. My kids are amazed that we used to have: a roller rink, ice skating rink, arcades on State St., miniature golf (next to the now gone Bob's Big Boy)... and if we really want to go back in time... the pony rides place that used to be down by Cabrillo. :) To be truthful, we didn't have a lot of toys either and we didn't mind...
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COMMENT 165233
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2011-04-19 11:36 AM |
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How has no one suggested Replay? Come on, that's a no brainer. Locally owned, great inventory, good prices. Do yourself a favor...go see Greg. Tell him Johnny sent you!!!
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COMMENT 165291
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2011-04-19 02:15 PM |
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Other local ideas, especially for gifts for kids: upstairs at Wendy Foster in the upper village (really), the Art Museum, and Chaucer's. All have items between $10 and $20 including books and art supplies. Kids especially like giving their favorite book to a friend. OR - start a savings account for your child.
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COMMENT 165422P
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2011-04-19 06:36 PM |
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Toms Toys recently opened a branch in the Santa Maria mall downtown.
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OLDLAWOMAN
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2011-04-20 04:27 PM |
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I regularly take my 12- year old granddaughter to Chaucer's, to buy her books. She's an avid reader, and enjoys keeping and sharing her books. BUT, I'll not go there again, reason being there is a very rude obnoxious woman there who is extremely rude to children. I drop a lot of money in that store, and do not want to endure having this rude woman bully my granddaughter. It's awful to make a scene, but I've been tempted several times. I'd rather drive out of town than have my family treated that way. Complaining hasn't helped whatsoever.
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