My friends and I went into the store to take a look at some plushies. This store had such a variety of Jellycats and Douglas toys. I really loved the display of hanging vines with the plushies attached it was such a fun touch. The staff there was so nice and helpful I really appreciated the service. I made my purchase which also comes with free gift wrapping which was awesome. As for the Jellycats I saw there was a wide variety all around the store. The prices were very close to retail price online which was great. I also enjoyed the variety of toys around the shop that seemed to be organized by theme and hobbies. I can't wait to bring my nieces here. read more

Five Little Monkeys - Toy Stores Near Me - Albany, California

See all

I've been coming here for a while now, and I've really tried to like this shop, but unfortunately, every time I visit, I'm met with rude and uncomfortable customer service. The younger female employees are often standing around talking and gossiping rather than helping customers. The only employee I consistently see walking around assisting customers is an older woman with gray hair. She is absolutely wonderful--she is always friendly, greets customers, and genuinely makes an effort to help. She is by far the most welcoming person in the store. Unfortunately, there are two employees in particular who have made my visits especially uncomfortable. One is a woman with pink and black hair who frequently wears a mask. I have personally felt profiled and treated differently by her, which has made me uncomfortable. Another is a tall white woman who is also consistently rude and gives customers unfriendly looks. I understand that everyone has bad days, but this has happened repeatedly. It's especially disappointing because this is a children's store, where customers should feel welcomed and comfortable. Management should really address the customer service and how certain employees interact with customers. I do want to give credit to the older woman with gray hair--she is always kind, helpful, and welcoming, and she deserves recognition for her customer service. read more

Extremely disappointed with their customer service, extremely rude and unprofessional teenagers/ young college students, made my child feel extremely unwelcome read more

Workers are so rude!!! No greeting at the door. Funky teenager attitudes at check out and no effort what so ever to give customers a good experience ESPECIALLY WITH KIDS!! ALL THESE GIRLS ARE HORRIBLE EMPLOYEES. Hiring manager needs to hire people who want to sit there and work with kids and not be chatting on the job. Horrible. read more

It hurts to give a local Toy store 3 stars, but let's go through it... lots of great toys! The prices are on the high side, but our daughter LOVES to go there. no public restroom in a toy store that is 1/4 devoted to toys for kids under 5. they direct you across the street to a coffee shop - seriously. Parking is ok and lots of other great shops near by. They have a habit of having low displays that contain choking hazards. I have mentioned it to the staff 3 times and every time we go in there are little plastic animals, marbles, or 3D printed stuff at the 2 year old mouth level. I spend the whole time making sure nothing goes in the kids mouth. read more

Best toy store! Grew up in Albany and never really went in until I had a kid myself. My son is obsessed with jellycats so every time we visit Albany, we always stop in to pick up a plushie (or Lego set or toy car). The toys are super curated, we love the selection and every time we gift someone something, it's an immediate hit. Love how it's expanded to multiple locations. Free gift wrapping is such a great option. Love this shop. read more

They have an amazing selection of toys and I appreciate the vast selection of items I do not see in other places and I like to support local businesses. The downfall is their customer service especially the older woman who works there. She did not speak nor was she helpful to certain customers. Every time I go I feel the unwelcoming vibes of most of their staff (it's been like that for many years since 1996) as I try to not use businesses like Amazon and target and shop with my local businesses- I feel conflicted- I feel like my daughter and I are not welcomed. I have shopped there mainly because my daughter wanted some things that we could not find anywhere else. The vibe is the same at the other 2 locations. read more

Five Little Monkeys - Lego Friends ranch set - Toy Stores Near Me - Albany, California

One of my favorite five little monkey locations. Always clean and organized, I love how I don't feel squished in the store. Many many items, you are sure to find something you love. They always try to keep up with current toy trends and post it on their social media. Prices are amazing for a local toy store and it makes me happy I get to help out small business owners in my community ! read more

Gave me hard time for making a return on a purchase made with a debit card. Seems that the cashier was simply unwilling to do the extra step involved in refunding a debit card purchase? I had to insist, repeatedly. Will never pay with a debit care at that store again, IF I ever make another purchase there. Any shop that negatively surprises and inconveniences their customers, expecting them to roll over, is just pushing more people to shop online. read more

Was in the area for a massage and walked pass this cute little toy shop. Decided to go in and look around. I left with two extremely cute books for my new baby cousin. I'll definitely go back when I'm in the area. The staff was helpful and kind. Store was clean, everyone had on masks. Their book section is was the best. Books on activism, girl power, children's yoga & health. Love it ! read more

See all

Wow, what a cute little toy store! I found this place by complete accident, as I was just strolling down Solano Ave. after pigging out at Oori Rice Triangles right across the street, and was looking to burn off a few calories. Once I saw the massive collection of Jellycat collectibles among other adorable items, I knew I had to pop my head inside to see what I could find. The second I wandered in, I could tell that this boutique shop was well managed and organized. I ended up staying much longer than expected, as I couldn't help but notice interesting items from every corner of my eyes. Don't get me wrong though. Not only does Five Little Monkeys stock an impressive amount of plushies/stuffed animals, but it also carries a wide range of educational, creative, and fun toys for all ages and genders. Also, gift wrapping is complimentary! They even let you choose the paper. Best of all, prices are surprisingly reasonable! I was expecting huge markups, but such is not the case, much to everyone's delight. The staff is also patient and friendly. As a matter of fact, what started as a quick bout of curiosity to see what I could gift to the little ones ended up with me also grabbing a few items for myself. I was *this* close to copping the elusive large Jellycat dragon (since I am year of the dragon, I collect them), but my wiser head prevailed. If I return sometime soon, and it's still on the shelves, that baby has my name written all over it! From this one visit, Five Little Monkeys has vaulted itself into my list of top specialty toy stores in the Bay, along with Whales & Friends in Alameda and Tantrum in the Richmond district of SF. Even if you don't have any kids or young friends/relatives, all three are worth a visit! read more

Five Little Monkeys is the go-to spot for buying gifts for kids' birthday parties. For a small store, they have a wide selection of toys and games for babies and toddlers through 11 year olds. By about age 11, I think you'll probably be out of luck. You won't be getting any deals here (they have very limited sales) but they have a loyalty program linked to the amount of money you spend. They offer complimentary gift wrapping, and they always have the nicest wrapping paper and do a wonderful job wrapping presents (even odd-shaped ones). read more

Great little local toy store. They do gift wrapping and all. Staff knows about the toys and what they are good for and appropriate ages and levels. Totally a god find. They also order items you may need Fun Ns educational toys available too. read more

We really love five little monkeys. My kids say " it's really good" they have a good selection of quality toys. They are very friendly staff , offer rewards program, they offer complementary gift wrap. I recently shoped at another independent toy store in Oakland and was disappointed in that experience, which reminded me how fortunate to have Five Little Monkeys great service, friendly staff , fair prices and changing selection. read more

Ordered online do local delivery to Richmond was a breeze. I like how they organize toys by age group and checking local inventory is easy. I ordered a wooden pull toy, some alphabet flash cards and an adorably soft doll. They were able to gift wrap all the items and it was a hit. They have great quality toys and gifts, both cute and educational. Big box stores can't complete with them. I ordered my gift a few days in advance as they are experiencing high workloads, so plan with enough time to receive your order. Having it arrive ready to gift on my porch was amazing. Top notch service! read more

I'm here A LOT. Whether it be for a kids birthday gift or stopping in for my little ones, our numerous experiences here never disappoint. Yes, prices are a bit pricey but they carry brands and quality items that you just cannot get at a Target or Wal-Mart. You also feel good supporting a local shop who believes in their community and customers. The elderly woman who's always there recommends the BEST STUFF- from new children's books to games and everything in between, you can tell she loves what she does. This place also GIFTWRAPS for free- and might I add they do a STELLAR job at it. Check out the picture that I attached to my review- some wrapped up gifts with a sequin unicorn pillow tied down on top. I mean come on??!????!????!!! * Heart eyes heart eyes * read more

Five Little Monkeys - Packaged with thoughtfulness - Toy Stores Near Me - Albany, California

Love this little shop. So many fun things to look at, and I appreciate the complimentary (I think? Possibly a min purchase is required) gift wrapping. I always take my niece here or drop by to get gifts. read more

I am very happy with this store, in particular with the employee Natalia! I was under pressure to find a play tea set. Because of the closure of toys r us and Black Friday being yesterday, I needed a solution and Natalia saved the day by doing a spectacular job by answering the phone and my questions, she gave me options on the phone and prices. She saved me the search and I couldn't be happier with their customer service. Thank you Natalia and Five little monkeys for making my favorite 2 year old happy read more

Five Little Monkeys - Gift wrapped and removed price off hand is perfect! Thank you team - Toy Stores Near Me - Albany, California

I came in here today for stocking stuffers and ended up with a few cool and reasonably priced tchotchkes that I think my son and Gayle will like. The store is not as big as Mr. Mopps in Berkeley, but it does have a nice selection of toys and a great neighbourhood feel. Best of all, my fellow customers and the store staff were all in good spirits, even though we were all crowded in with our Holiday rush activities. And it was a real pleasure to avoid the hordes at Toys R Us, and of course buy locally. I also tried without success to locate 'Power Rangers Jungle Fury' figures for fellow Yelper Gary E., who was instructed to get these toys by "any means necessary". So what's wrong with leaning on your Yelp buddies to avoid a trip to the Dog House (or worse)? read more

I love this shop!!! Small local toy store with wonderful selection of toys that are quality. The staff is great and makes fantastic suggestions. Free gift wrap too. read more

What a fun store! My friend just a had a little baby girl so I wanted to get a present for the baby and her son. I wanted to make sure that the son wasn't forgotten after the oohing and aahing over the new addition to the family. I have to admit that I wanted some of the toys for myself! Yes, I'm a kid at heart but I settled on a lego car for the son and these super cute stuffed animals of a pig and a lime green stegosaurus for the baby girl. They do a complimentary gift wrapping which saved me time of buying wrapping paper and then actually wrapping it myself. The customer service was super nice. My only complaint is that it was hot and stuffy inside. read more

I will never go to Toys R Us again. seriously. love this neighborhood toy store. no overly commercialized junk here. lots of quality toys, arts & crafts, puzzles, books, etc. something for every age & price range. you can tell the owner, Stephanie, carefully selects all the items. great free gift wrapping. friendly, helpful staff. also very community-minded-- when our school was collecting money from families to buy holiday gifts for families in need, they gave us a big discount (25%, I think) on items we bought there. read more

The selection at Five Little Monkeys is top notch. While shopping for children's gifts I typically become bitter and cynical as I look at the aisles and aisles of overpriced, over packaged pieces of sweatshop produced plastic from China. This is resolved with one trip to Five Little Monkeys. They have great toys made sustainably from wood, bamboo and recycled materials. Not to mention limited packaging. They offer gift wrapping and all the latest toys, including the playmobil line. The down side is the staff. I have never encountered such chaos. I had to dodge a ball that the staff was tossing around. There were six staff members, three customers, and none of the customers could find what we were looking for, though no one asked us if we would like assistance. So while the store is fantastic, customer service could be improved upon. read more

I have spent hundreds at this store. I love that the kids can feel the toys before purchasing and the little play area is great. The prices are higher than other places but I gladly support their small business in that name. They also offer free gift wrapping which is lovely. Their toys selection is great for the size of the store. The staff is sometimes rude but it has gotten better with time, with prompted me to visit more often. My big disappointment is with the shelter in place, I again gladly support their business even though I had to wait about a month for my order, I understood it is a difficult time. However since their website is up and running again I can see that the free local delivery is setting some kids aside. I see that kids living some part of Oakland don't deserve their toys or have to pay an outrageous $15 for delivery. The same applies to Richmond kids when Pinole and Hercules can enjoy free delivery, kids living in Richmond can't. BTW Richmond have great areas. What message are you trying to send here ? read more

Love this toy store where we get all our birthday gifts for all the kiddos in our live !

Great toy experience for all ages! Was looking for LEGO Star Wars sets & found many to choose from :) The customer service was A+ & I will definitely re-visit soon read more

I have been shopping here for years, and it is my favorite toy shop. They have a lot of options of toys, and the staff members are really nice. --A.W., age 9 read more

It's pretty wild to encounter a toy store that does not cater to moms in need. I never make Yelp reviews but felt inspired to today because I was wandering around Solano Avenue, far from my car with my little one and desperate for a bathroom. I told them I would buy something and they would not budge. I have shopped here before but never again. How can you be a toy store that won't help out a desperate mom literally begging you? I'll never understand. Can't recommend them. read more

IT'S NEVER TOO LATE TO HAVE A HAPPY CHILDHOOD! I wanted to buy a gift for a friend's (almost) two year old child. And as any old librarian will tell you, even though I didn't have the answer, I knew where to start looking. It was right in my backyard, of course. "FIve Little Monkeys" is just around the corner from the Albany Preschool.And although over sixty years have passed, I still think of Albany Preschool as "my" school . Returning to the old 'hood was rather like having a go at a second childhood. MIss Curran would have been proud. This time round I wasn't going to spill the little pitcher of milk as I poured it into my cup. At least metaphorically. The store has a great selection of high quality stuff, selected with an eye to durability, "fair trade" and child interest. I knew that I'd find just the gift I was looking for, but I had no idea *what* it would be. So I browsed around. Train set? I'd love one, but probably Emma Lynn wasn't quite ready for it. Book? You know I love books, but I wasn't sure which ones she already had. And although one can never have enough books, no kid needs a lot of copies of the *same* book. (Librarians do...but we are mark-it-and-part-it people.) A puzzle? I love puzzles, but I thought she might be young enough to swallow a piece. And a piece of puzzle just isn't as digestible as a piece of pie... So...I found the ideal little crocheted Princess Puppet. And, for good measure, I also picked up the perfect little Froggy puppet. Of course, it might have been a toad...but then, Frog and Toad Are Friends. You never know whether a kid is a frog-lovin' type or a fairy-princess lovin' type. But either way I had it covered. And, as every little girl knows, you have to kiss a lot of frogs before you find your prince...so... I had both of them gift wrapped together...with a fancy curly bow. I knew Miss Emma Lynn would enjoy opening her present almost as much as the adults would enjoy watching her open it. Left the store whistling "The More We Get Together". Felt so fine that I actually paid one full dollar to two little girls selling lemonade on the corner. They poured the stuff from the pitcher into the cup beautifully, so I didn't even have to embarass Miss Curran with my sloppiness or lack of manners. Swallowed the lemonade in a single swig and no, ladies...but thanks for asking. It wasn't too sour. Headed back up to my trusted Caravan which was parked right infront of the aforementioned Albany Nursery School. Which is, by the way, right next door to the Albany Senior Center. Wonder if *those* folks can pour their milk from tiny pitchers into their cups without spilling??? And yes, Emma Lynn liked her present. The curly bow and the paper were a great success. The princess and the frog, less so. But her parents enjoyed playing with them...and so did I. read more

Shopping for children is a bit different than shopping for adults. When you ask a kid what they want for Christmas they will rarely reply with something like "oh, you know me...I'll like anything you choose." No way. They'll say, almost before you finish the question, "I want the slinky-dog just like the one in Toy Story!!!" or, whatever their fascination du jour may be. Whether your shopping list is specific or flexible, Five Little Monkeys is stocked with gadgets and games, trinkets and toys, both educational and for pure play. Really high quality, unique gifts unlike the plastic crap you'd find at a megastore, with a good mix for boys and girls, ages baby to brat. I once needed some Italian alphabet blocks and found them here, and only here. I also found the original slinky dog for my sister. Yes, JUST like the one in Toy Story. The only downside is it's a bit cramped for comfortable browsing. The cash register is in an odd location right at the entrance so you feel like you're totally in the way of people entering/exiting while you pay. Besides that minor detail, they've got their finger on the pulse of childlike wishes, so you can retain your "best (mom, sister, aunt, godmother) ever" title. read more

Oopppsss.....I meant to get this in BEFORE Christmas. I found two puzzles for gifts and they wrapped them for free in cute paper with a pretty bouquet of ribbon curls. They actually offer free gift wrap all year round. Even though it was kind of a madhouse the few days before Christmas the staff was still patient and helpful! I called them a few days later for a friend who was looking for two toys. I only knew how to describe them but the clerk patiently listened to me describe the toys and then told me the correct names for them. She then checked the store and the storeroom to see if they had any left. Unfortunately they were sold out. Kudos to them for their friendly service on the phone and in person. The only problem is that my official kid is an old teen so the toys I buy are mostly from "big kid" me! And did I forget to mention they have a fantastic play area? There is a house set up and lots and lots of toys to play with and they have a Thomas the train layout. I'll have to bring my friends' kids here so I can play too! read more

If you are looking for something different from the typical battery operated piece of chinese made plastic, this is the place. Awesome toy store for kids of all ages...from 2 months to 102. The best place for all your gift giving needs! For real, just the thought of walking into a Toys R Us gives me seizures. Lots of wooden toys, instruments, trains, dolls, books, trikes, books, toys that foster learning and creativity. Oh, and they have the BEST bubbles ever made...Pustefix! read more

All I really need to tell you is that I have the birthday party present thang figured out, and it's all because of Five Little Monkeys. Can't tell you how many times I've called them 1 hour before party time and told them the age of the child, what s/he is into, how much I want to spend... they give me a couple of choices, pronto, I choose, equally pronto, and tell them what time I'll be by. Throw fruit of my loins in their carseats, park in front of Five Little Monkeys, run in (leave said fruit in the car--- NEVER, EVER take a kid into a toy store when you are in a hurry; consider NEVER, EVER taking a kid into a toy store, period), pay for gift and pick it up COMPLETELY WRAPPED even WITH A BOW (so there, Barnes & Noble with your cheap-ass paper and sticker wrapping)!!! And if you're not into getting toys, they have a lot of books and puzzles. If the kid you're buying for is a fan of Thomas the Tank Engine, there's plenty of that as well and Legos, too. Stuff for babies as well. PLEASE NOTE: They've just moved down the street to the corner spot- MUCH, MUCH BIGGER (it's where Sweet Potatoes was...) read more

I"m totally into this place. I was at the cafe next door when my daughters went wandering in there like they owned the place. Worried that I would get spanked by an angry store-owner, I stuck my head in and called out, "Ladies, remember what happens when children are unattended in a toy store..." And an employee piped up, "...They have fun?" You might think an independent toy store packed to the rafters might not be a welcoming environment, but you'd be wrong. They have two different play-spaces for kids, a cushy chair next to a bookshelf, and incredibly warm and friendly employees. Plus, I was kicking myself, because my daughter is crazy about cars and I just went to a big-box store to get her pull-back race cars because I hadn't found any I liked in my usual haunts, and guess what? There was a nice big box of much higher-quality pull-back race cars that TOTALLY would have fit the bill. So this will be my first stop before any birthday parties. Also, sale table: scored a half-price cow-girl halloween costume and a slightly-damaged nerf-style sword at deep discount. YEAH BITCH! read more

I always wait until the last minute to buy kid's birthday presents because: 1.) I know I'll find the perfect gift at Five Little Monkeys 2.) They open at 9 on Saturday morning 3.) They gift wrap for free 4) I know that when the birthday kid's mom sees that our present is from Five Little Monkeys she knows she can easily exchange it (without a receipt) 5.) It's central enough that swinging by won't make us that much later than we usually already are. Also, there is a play table that my son can entertain himself with while I look around, and the staff seems to enjoy that the kids are having a good time at the play table. It's a happy place to be and to shop. read more

A cute little toy store that is packed with goodies for both boys and girls. My daughter loves the little playhouse in back, and the vast selection of dolls and doll furniture. My son enjoys looking at all the massive lego sets. You'll find a great variety of toys here, some new, some classic, and mostly unique. We're lucky to have 5LM and Mr. Mopp's in the area. read more

For the little monkey(s) in your life... Cute stuff, wide variety. At first, I was a bit turned off by the cacophony... not of little kiddies running around, but the store clerks actually. I stumbled upon one store clerk yapping away on her cell phone (and none so discreetly) in the back of the store, and then the other two clerks were gossiping away at the front. Frankly, it's hard to shop with all that noise. However, I was eventually won over by the goodies I found, the complimentary gift wrapping, and how quickly they got through the long line that had suddenly developed. Being the green business that they are, they even asked me if I needed a bag! So refreshing, as I am used to store clerks giving me a puzzled look whenever I tell them that I don't need a bag or that I brought my own bag. read more

This is a really great toy store! They have a wide variety of toys you wouldn't find at a major retailer like Toys R Us. Plus, they have a bathroom! The staff are friendly. Definitely, check it out if you are in the area. read more

Pedipeds for $28. Playtables set up for kids to play all throughout the store. A little corner gated off with a play kitchen and stuff also keeps the kinder penned in while you browse. They had exactly what my husband wanted to buy - a wooden toolbox with wooden screws and hammer, etc. read more

One of my favorite toy stores. This one is much bigger then the one in Walnut Creek! I love the feel of this store it's easy to get lost in all the cool stuff they have. I definitely have fun shopping here. Great customer service too. The girl helping me stayed late to gift wrap a present I bought. Wonderful toy store, I highly recommend it. read more