Excellent store, with friendly staff. I am more interested in board games than toys and POP…read morefigures, so I would prefer a dedicated board game store, but I understand that not everyone is as into board games as I am and it would probably not be as profitable. I come in periodically to check their stock of board games, and they usually have a nice selection, though as of when I last visited they were lacking in smaller card games like Dwarf King, One Night Ultimate Werewolf, Arboretum, etc. I hope this store does not go out of business with the pandemic hit.

This company does not stand by their products. I bought a squish toy for my son here. Before we…read moreleft the mall, it popped and got goo all over his hands. He was not being rough with it. I came back to the store with the receipt, to see what they could do. The store would not offer a refund, or a store credit, or an exchange. There was literally nothing they would do except throw away the broken toy. This is the last time I'll be shopping here--I'd be afraid of having an issue with other returns as well.

BLUF: Located inside the Columbia Mall, on the second floor, this is a sizable book store with…read morepuzzles and other paper goods. I passed by a store called BAM! and it conjured up visions of Emeril Lagasse but the only resemblance this store has to Emeril is that it sells cookbooks. Little did I know that BAM! Is short for Books-A-Million and this store has plenty of books, stationary, puzzles and other gifty items. Preferring to listen to audio books, I'm not one for physical books but this store had some lovely displays and vignettes that sucked me in. Although not as large as Barnes & Noble there is still a very healthy selection of well organized merchandise. There was something very nostalgic and cozy about browsing in this store. Overall, a nice experience.

I really like this bookstore. It's well organized and it smells good. Wasn't really in the market…read morefor a book tonight, but it was fun looking around. Friendly staff greets you on entry, but then everyone leaves you alone.

12.14.24 I came in…read moreto look at the calendars. I was hoping to get a large desktop calendar, but they were all wall calendars. As the store name indicates, they sell calendar, toys, and games. It was a fun store to peruse. Currently, select toys are 30 to 70% off and puzzles and games are buy one get 50% off. They are located on the lower level at the Mall in Columbia closest to Macy's.

We took a detour into here on our way to another store inside the mall. They have a ton of board…read moregames inside. That's what I was really impressed with. Every variation you could think of they have. They even had niche types. Such as Jurassic Parks tribal game. The store recently transferred to a new owner/management and they have some big changes. The plan seems to turn it into a true toy store. The employee make it feel like a local hometown type store. It's definitely worth a visit. Especially in a few weeks when they undergo the changes. If you are looking for games or the mini figure collectibles or kinetic sand. It just a neat little store that seems to be getting its footing. You also can't beat that it's locally owned!

What a surprise. FYI: I am in my late 30s and do not have children. I can't remember why my…read morehusband, my brother in law, and I wandered into Doc Taylor's Toy Emporium when we were exploring Old Ellicott City last weekend (something in the window must have caught our eyes), but it was such a pleasant surprise. The store is very large (two stories) and so well stocked. We found lots of classics that we remembered from our childhoods and even made a purchase for ourselves (toys are for adults, too, right?). If you need to purchase a toy for someone or if you're just looking for something a little fun as a treat, stop in. They might have something surprising and fun!

This is what the world is missing. Toy stores seem to be a thing of the past and that's sad because…read morethey bring so much joy. We surprised our daughters with a Friday afternoon trip to Old Ellicott City to visit this toy emporium I saw on Instagram. We were met with what I believe to be the largest selections of squishables I've ever seen. I even left with a sizable one myself. My kids were pleasantly surprised by all of the options and had fun exploring both floors of this establishment. The prices were on the higher end in comparison to Amazon but who wants to wait for the mail when you can just go home with what you want? :-) There appeared to be only one person manning the place at the time but he was friendly. It wasn't busy at all. I heard it's only been open a year or so and I can see the growth potential if we keep spreading the word about this hidden gem. I'm excited to bring others back to find their new squishy friend.

This place is a pleasure to visit in large part to Jake. He's friendly and helpful. You'll meet…read morehelpful adults of all sorts of professions including art teachers, various aged kids and families. It's quiet and Jake and others are willing to teach games and painting. I started looking for a painting class and Jake said if I came in on slow nights he'd just help me and most of my paints are another brand. My painting has improved. I've watched his calm demeanor with kids and while running the store. They have game tables you may use and they're sturdy. I should have written a review long ago. I look forward to normality so people can hang out again.

This has to be one of the best Games Workshops I have ever used. A middle-sized store (seating for…read more6 modelers and 3 full-sized gaming tables), I think it is the management and clientele that make this place great. Tony busts his butt running this store and makes sure that regulars are having fun and visitors are taken care of. Unlike some of the other gaming shops, you do not get a horrible mix of elitism or social ineptitude. Many of the regulars are married with kids and use this place to relax and have fun. Hardcore gamers mix with part-time hobbyists and rules arguments take a backseat to enjoyment. If you want to get into Warhammer, 40k, or Lord of the Rings wargaming? This is the place to start.

We recently visited Playseum for a playdate, and overall, it was a really fun experience! Located…read moreinside the Columbia Mall, it's filled with imaginative play stations that kept the kids entertained for hours. There are themed areas like a café, Italian restaurant, veterinary office, beauty salon, barbershop, grandma's house, and even a stage where kids can dress up and put on a play. If your child enjoys pretend play, this is definitely a great spot. I also appreciated that it encourages creativity instead of screen time. It's refreshing to see a place where kids can use their imaginations and just be kids. The only thing I didn't love was the pricing. Admission is $15 per person, including adults. I understand their explanation that they want parents to participate with their children, but in reality, many parents are simply supervising. Other similar indoor play spaces only charge for the children, or at least offer a reduced admission for adults. That pricing model would have made more sense to me. They also offer several add-on activities like decorating cupcakes, making slime, decorating cookies, baking, and even an animal encounter at the top of each hour. They're all cute options, but they do cost extra, so be prepared for the visit to add up if your child wants to do multiple activities. The animal encounter was fairly small, with just a few animals, but younger kids will probably still enjoy it. There is seating available for parents, although it can be limited since so much of the space is dedicated to the different play stations. Overall, the kids had a blast, the facility was clean, and there was plenty to keep them engaged. While I wish the adult admission and extra activity pricing were a little more family-friendly, I'd still recommend Playseum for a fun afternoon of imaginative play. We'll definitely consider coming back.

Would I recommend this establishment...absolutely! Can't wait to go back!…read more I found this place by searching for play activities near Columbia mall. I had never been here and wasnt sure what to expect. I was pleasantly surprised. Location: Inside the mall, on the first floor, right outside the Nordstroms. Easy to find. Cost: Worth the entrance fee, both child and adults have to pay. Fair price. There are also take home activities and play that cost extra, such as slime, treat making, soap making, and more. These extra activities are also fairly priced and and so much fun. The entrance fee to the Kids Playseum allowed you access to the establishment nextdoor, Playseum upstairs. They also have playseum bucks as well. Staff: Super nice, helpful, experienced and attentive staff. Everyone one we interacted with for our time there was fabulous. We were able to go to both the Be with me playseum and the playseum upstairs. Cleanliness: The kept a tight shop. The toys and amenities were well kept, organized, clean and in good condition. Options: There were so many rooms to play in, so many cute toys, books, dress up and imagination play. My favorite was the ice bucket where the fish were kept in the Safeway. Super cute! The girls loved playing here and definitely want to come back. Overall wonderful experience!

The Forget Me Not Factory is an absolute gem and time capsule located right in the heart of…read morehistoric Ellicott City. After living in the area for years, I always passed by the whimsical exterior. I finally ventured in for the first time and wish I had done so sooner. It not only has the charm and magicalness of walking into a witch's cottage or a fairy garden shop, but is also a time capsule where you can find calendars from 2007 with whimsical fairies that you can still buy today. In other places, I would absolutely be put off by the old merchandise, but in a place like Forget Me Not Factory, it absolutely fits the vibe of the establishment, and I actually really enjoyed finding old things for sale there. It felt like stepping into the past, and I cannot wait to go back. Whether to find new items for my garden or supplies to make my next Ren fair costume.

This place really captured it correctly when it picked its name. You will not forget this place…read moreonce your visit it. You walk in and are transported into many different lands. This place is multi-level and can take quite some time to explore. If you are looking for items for a fairy garden, you will definitely find it here. Honestly, there is so much in here that it can be overstimulating. I know I wandered about this space for quite some time and contemplated buying so many items in here. Everything miniature you can think of is in this space. A lot of the items in here can possibly be used to construct Christmas villages as well. If I remember correctly I was mesmerized by the Ghostbuster items. I just couldn't justify the prices they were asking for some of the items. In short, this place is quirky and definitely worth a stop if you want to grab a unique gift for someone. Or if you have a little one with you that might want to indulge in some make believe.