This place is really sucky. I've been there a few times in a pinch when I need to grab something…read morefor a birthday party, and I'm totally willing to pay a little bit more because it is locally owned and not a big publicly traded company. But there is no charm. The customer service is nonexistent because the people who work there clearly don't want to be working there and aren't very friendly. To make things worse, they don't have a bunch of basics: no gift bags... Seriously? To run a toy store and not sell any assortment of birthday gift bags that we can use to put our gifts in? Also, no balloons. I guess that can be a little bit difficult because you probably need a helium tank, but for a toy store where people are purchasing birthday gifts, no balloons? Anyway, I've been there a few times and have left disappointed and won't be coming back.

A great place to buy kids toys and gifts. There's everything from squiahmallows to fidgets and even…read morepajamas. I came here to look for a birthday present and found a cool robot toy for about $25. The lady at the register was amazing as she wrapped my gift and even added ribbon to the outside. I'll definitely be back to support and buy other presents.

old, outdated + DIRTY! miserable staff…read more I suggest going to Henry Bear's Park just around the corner!

This store is a gem in the middle of Wellesley . They have a huge variety of toys, and the workers…read moreand super friendly . They even gift wrap for you free of charge, which is huge. I recommend 1000 times.

Expensive but a nice mixture of old and new. Very clean and well organised. Woman behind the…read morecounter was very kind, polite and greeted everyone that came in.

Great store for unique gifts. Absolutely a hidden gem and one of the rare local storesread more

Learning Express has been a great gift shop for kids for years. And yet it still is…read more I come here to get lots of gifts for the "little" people in my family. Especially around the holidays, this store is a gem because it's never congested like Toys R Us can be sometimes and the staff are personable, kind, and actually knowledgeable about the items they sell. Sometimes you'll be even lucky to find someone working at Toys R Us! Now, the selection here in comparison to Toys R Us is definitely different. This is a smaller store and therefore, much less incapable to hold the excess of toys that are able to be held by the larger chains. Plus, any independent business is smaller so service can be supreme, and so that they can actually survive. I hope there never becomes a day when all the small, independent stores are gone, because having this place around makes Christmas and birthday shopping very easy and much less hectic. Organized, not overpriced and ideal for any parent to do shopping for their kids or gifting for others at. While this probably should be a five star review, the Newton location does seem to always have a little more of exactly the stuff I'm looking for... and for that only, minus one star. I will continue to patronize them. 4 stars.

I absolutely love this location. They have a huge selection of toys and is super organized. The…read moreowner and manger are so nice and helpful. If you have kids into fidget toys and Squishmallows, Needham LE is the place to go!

If you're a teacher, you likely already know about this place and have been here numerous times. I…read morereally like this place, even though I have no children and teach college students. I tend to shop here for educational items for relatives and friends' children. The staff is very friendly and patient, even when you have no idea what you are looking for. The store is well lit and well organized, so you know relatively quickly whether the item is available. The have undoubtedly the best selection of educational materials for all ages of any store around. That said, they are rather pricey and it is easy to blow through whatever budget you may have had walking in. I would suggest shopping here last, as many things can be found at Target, Amazon, and other outlets. If there is something in particular, especially harder to find educational aids, then this is your place. Just prepare to spend accordingly.

So I do a lot of shopping for my classroom.... and I buy much too much stuff, and have a lot in…read morestorage, but I always will end up using it at some point. Lakeshore is a really good place for the items that are rare. Special board games, art supplies, and even classroom decor (no where sells that stuff anymore!) have huge presences throughout this place. Lots of variety, very colorful store in general (it actually is too bright in here sometimes), and lots of unique and innovative products that aren't found in any other store. I definitely get more for a buck at WB Mason, and probably shop there three times as much as here, but this is the place I get things that are fun, useful, and normally for activities that are memorable for kids. Staff are always friendly and definitely search out the clearance tags here, they are a goldmine! Make sure to bring the 20% off coupons they send out and are sometimes on their website. In closing, great place for teachers to shop for any classes from Kindergarten - Grade 8. Don't expect the lowest prices, and I would never suggest buying crayons or pencils here. They will be lots cheaper online or at Staples down the street. 4 stars for Lakeshore. Located in Newton on Needham Street (technically, it's on Industrial Place). Exit 19A off Rt. 128, turn right at the HomeGoods (Industrial Place) and the store is the last storefront on the right side of that side street.

An absolutely charming, little gem of a children's store in Davis Square…read more I was drawn in by the fun and colorful window display/artwork. The fabulous display continues throughout the store, creating a very enjoyable shopping experience. The selection of clothing, books and toys are well curated for ages ranging newborn to small children. I had a lovely chat with the owner who was both friendly and helpful with my shopping needs. She let me know about a clothing sale they were having and provided fun facts about the books I was browsing. (Local authors sold here) I was pleased to see good Spanish book options, and ended up purchasing one as a gift. Many of the items here seemed to be "earth friendly", made with good materials at a reasonable price. I will be back to shop for gifts in the future!

The owner has great suggestions for just what might work for you. The shop is well stocked with…read moreclothes, some small toys, books and more.

Even though I moved from the Waltham area, I've kept my comic book subscription at the Outer Limits…read morebecause the owner is the best! It's always been super-easy to update my subscription and I love discovering all the pop culture gems when I visit: used records, CDs, DVDs, Disneyana, games, toys, and of course comic books! All at reasonable prices. I love the bins of action figures; you never know who you'll find! Free handicapped parking can be found in the metered lot behind the shop on Chestnut Street. There are also several handicapped spots on Moody Street. Shop is handicapped accessible, though it is a pinch cramped in the back. I've been able to maneuver with a rollator and cane. If you need help navigating or reaching anything, the owner is happy to help.

I think I could spend hours in the Outer Limits comic book store looking at all the unique antique…read moreitems they have available. As a Disney nerd I was very excited to scan their vast amount of Disney collectibles. Statues, pins, books, comics, stuffed animals, die cast cars, you name it they have it. As soon as you walk in you can smell the paper, books and comics from wall to wall. The gentleman that works there was extremely nice and helpful with trying to find certain comics my oldest was looking for. It definitely let me walk down memory lane with some of the old comics they have available. The pricing is reasonable too, if I didn't budge well I'd leave that store with empty pockets but with a treasure trove of goodies.

Really great selection of puzzles and toys; spent a long while trying to decide which jigsaw…read morepuzzles to get because of how many options there were. Pretty averagely priced for an independent puzzle shop, but the cashier was super nice and personable!

Great selection of puzzles! Well organized. Wide range of sizes and brands. Good value.read more

Went into Newtonville Books with an ice cream. A mouse ran across the floor and we gasped…read more Staff told us to stop "horsing around" and that ice cream isn't allowed. Good to know the store enforces stricter rules for customers than for rodents.

The vibe is super friendly. The staff is attentive and helpful . If they don't have what you're…read morelooking for they can order it for you , that's always useful . They have a large selection of lots of books in all categories. They have other cute things like candles , socks and reusable bags . The value is good for the environment and large selection. They have lots of parking metered or a lot filled with metered parking . So no worries on parking . Also don't be shy the vibe is very welcoming. Great value for your monies as well .