Unique Independent Toy Stores in Marin

Here in Marin, we're fortunate to able to choose from many unique and often independent locally owned toy stores. A place where the person behind the counter is usually the owner, a member of the owner’s family, or a longtime manager who knows everything there is to know about toys. There are usually samples out and about — great for play-testing — and there are items guaranteed to bring back a major sense of nostalgia.

Yes, the toy store of yore still exists, despite the attraction of online shopping and gigantic big-box retail monsters. We love visiting our local independent toy stores for birthday and holiday gifts or for a special treat, and a visit to one is usually a lot of fun for everyone in the family, too. Many of these stores offer gift wrapping and curbside pickup, making getting that special gift even easier. Needless to say, during this time it's more important than ever to shop locally and support our small businesses!

Five Little Monkeys, Novato & Corte Madera

852 Grant Ave, Novato 94945
(415) 898-4411

131 Corte Madera Town Center, Corte Madera 94925
(415) 886-8497
www.5littlemonkeys.com

Five Little Monkeys, with locations in downtown Novato and Corte Madera Town Center, takes its toys seriously and offers a huge selection for all ages. You're sure to find something for everyone on your list here, and they offer gift wrapping, too! Five Little Monkeys has other Bay Area locations in the East Bay and Burlingame.

The Game Fortress, Novato

1205 Grant Avenue, Novato 94945
(415) 895-1019
www.thegamefortress.store

The Game Fortress is Novato's new tabletop game store. They stock an awesome variety of board games, card games, RPGs, miniatures, plushies, puzzles, and more and hold gaming and hold game events throughout the week. 

A Child's Delight, Corte Madera

The Village at Corte Madera
1602 Redwood Highway, Corte Madera 94925
(415) 945-9221
www.achildsdelight.com

A Child’s Delight is an independently owned mini-chain that's been around for nearly 20 years, with one shop in the Village at Corte Madera and one on Fillmore Street in the city. This shop is filled to the brim with old school and educational toys and a little bit of everything else. Note that they have recently moved to a new location in the mall near Pottery Barn Kids and Talbots.

Toy Crazy, Larkspur

Marin Country Mart
2211 Larkspur Landing Circle, Larkspur 94939
(415) 925-1775
gotoycrazy.com

The NorCal outpost of a small LA-based chain, Toy Crazy at Marin Country Mart offers unique toys and games, a knowledgable staff, and a fun atmosphere. Swing by when you're shopping for groceries at the Saturday farmer's market. Toy Crazy has been in the toy biz for over three decades, so they've had time to fine-tune their selection to represent only the best and most fun toys out there.

Gamescape North, San Rafael

1225 Fourth Street, San Rafael 94901
(415) 457-8698
www.gamescape-north.com

This game lover's paradise in downtown San Rafael stocks every board, card, and role-playing game you can possibly think of, and then some! You'll have plenty of choices for fantastic gifts for kids of all ages and game-loving grownups, too. Gamescape offers frequent special events like game tournaments and preview days, too.

Haze's Toys & Arcade, San Rafael

Northgate Mall, 5800 Northgate Drive #62, San Rafael 94903
(415) 299-9348
www.hazestoys.com

Haze's Toys & Arcade, in San Rafael's Northgate Mall, specializes in fidget toys to help relieve stress and anxiety, as well as games, puzzles, and more. There are also Japanese-style arcade games to play.

Marin Hobby & Gift, San Anselmo

224 Greenfield Avenue #2, San Anselmo 94960
(415) 454-3087
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This small shop on Greenfield Avenue in San Anselmo is packed full of old-school hobby shop fun, with everything from model kits and trains to RC planes and cars and model rockets. They have all the paints and accessories you'll need to finish your projects, too.

Play-Well TEKnologies, San Anselmo

216 Greenfield Avenue, San Anselmo 94960
(415) 460-5210
www.play-well.org

This LEGO-building activity center in San Anselmo not only offers fun engineering classes, birthday parties, and summer camps, but they have a fully-stocked LEGO shop, too! Browse their wide selection of LEGO sets and accessories including Star Wars kits, Mindstorms, minifigs, and more.

Susan's Store Room, San Anselmo

239 San Anselmo Avenue, San Anselmo 94960
(415) 456-1333
www.susansstoreroom.com

Part vintage shop and part toy store, Susan's Store Room in downtown San Anselmo offers an amazing selection of Steiff teddy bears and stuffed animals in a whimsical setting. They also stock a wide array of children's books as well as gift items and antiques.

Fairfax Variety

61 Broadway, Fairfax 94930
(415) 457-2580

Fairfax always has some sort of fun offering and Fairfax Variety doesn’t disappoint. It’s a shout-out to the classic five-and-dime shops that used to line Main Streets and, although the toy selection isn’t super big, there are some fun joke gifts, stamp sets, and even a variety of classic books. Many an afternoon could be spent here, following a trip to Peri Park and the ever popular Fairfax Scoop.

Games People Play and Sausalito Ferry, Sausalito

688 and 695 Bridgeway, Sausalito 94965
(415) 332-9590
www.sausalitoferry.com

Games People Play and its sister store, Sausalito Ferry (located right across the street) have been in business on Bridgeway since the 1970s and offer a wide array of games, stuffed toys, building toys, puzzles, baby toys, art kits, and even European Tintin figures, books, posters, T-shirts, and collectibles.