Great selection of a huge variety of things: greeting cards, children's toys, kitchen items, picture frames, etc. in a small neighborhood store. Loads of free parking. read more

Richard's Variety Store is a wonderful place to look around. From unique kitchen items to children's games this store has a bit of everything. My favorite part is the card area, full of high quality and handsome blank card collections and some very fun birthday, thank you, and other celebratory cards for the special people in your life. It's a great store and a unique resource for happy shopping in the neighborhood. read more

Variety of fun and cute items. Had a negative experience interacting with elderly man at the register. I got upset, and left the store without my items and went to the other Richard's Variety Store (different owner) and got items there. read more

This is my favorite store in Atlanta. It's packed with novelty items, nostalgic toys (Sea Monkeys, Slinkys, bubbles, Rubik's Cubes, etc), puzzles, board games, interesting kitchen housewares and the most eclectic collection of greeting cards you'll ever find. It also gives off vibes similar to the store in the movie Gremlins where Billy's dad bought Gizmo the Mogwai. It's a great place to browse or stock up on plastic tiaras and magic wands. read more

So much fun! It's like stepping back in time but also they carry a lot of modern items as well. It's a must visit and shop for gifts!

Incredible selection of fun, quirky gifts you're unlikely to find anywhere else. Richard's is a great place to find stocking stuffers or birthday gifts for that friend or relative who loves whimsy. read more

The woman at the register was quite nasty. Maybe she was having a bad day and for that I am sorry. If I were to visit again, as the store was amazing, I would pause to enter if I saw her there. read more

Truly a treasure store. Something for everyone. A few not appropriate gifts for children, but keep them in the toy aisles and they'll be fine. Picked up a few new board games and a funny card. Would love to come back. read more

Cute lil shop that has a bunch of random stuff! good value and sweet business owner :)

So unique. A fun shopping experience. I brought my sister from out of town and she loved the unique games and large selection of cards and toys read more

Idle time can sometimes be your friend. After paying a visit to the next door walgreens to pick up medication on a very rainy day, we decided to pass the time by stopping on into Richards Variety store. I've passed by Richards several times over the last year, and had zero clue what it was. What it is is a shop that collects and sells to you several off the wall nick knacks you really can't find any place else. We came just before 6 and didn't realize that the store was about to close. They started to turn the lights out but we were told 'oh no, stay as long as you like, thank you for coming'. I did think that was cool, although as I glance at the prior reviews, i'm a bit shocked that there were issues with kindness here. With that said my experience was only a one time 15 minute visit. I ultimately purchased a "swiss army hammer" for about $17, which was calling my name since I saw it in the store. There were other very cool things worth purchasing, but time caught up to us. Parking at Richards is pretty easy, considering parking is shared at the Peachtree Battle shopping center lot. Again, customer service was nice and didn't rush us at all, which was very cool. Definitely worth taking a stroll up and down the aisles to spend time looking for, well, anything! read more

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Perfect store for unique cards, books, toys gift wrapping. Truly a one of a kind place.

This is my favorite store to go to when I am in Midtown Atlanta. They have so many wonderful retro items I cannot stop myself from walking out without spending at least $200! They have toys that I grew up playing within the early 70's and some that I know my mother had in the 50's. They also have kitchenware, utensils, dishes, glassware, electronics, vintage candies, new candies, and just about anything else you can imagine. I can spend hours in there. I love this place! read more

Last week I went to Richard's to find a fun birthday card for a friend. It was supposed to be a quick trip in and out but I found myself still standing in the card aisle 10 minutes later, giggling at their assortment of zany greeting cards. Browsing the rest of the store was like entering a time machine. They had a lot of classic toys and games but my favorite section was for books. All the classics were there: Caps for Sale, Goodnight Moon, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs, Little Golden Books, Dr. Seuss...I hadn't seen them in ages. Richard's Variety Store is where I'll go to visit old friends from my childhood. The store is filled with shelves upon shelves of nostalgia! read more

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Came here for a Halloween costume. A barely speaks any English lady that was working the cash register tells me...our Monroe Drive location has costumes....i think that what she said. I did browse for like five minutes...as my mother says..this is nick nack hell! (in a good way) No one else offered any help or even acknowledge my presence. Kinda place where browsing is the most fun, because you are sure to miss some treasure if you run in and pick something and run back out. Will visit again, but right now I'm on a Halloween costume mission! read more

The owner is a great guy, I use to do office sales and the experience was always delightful. I ended up leaving with a rubber chicken for a party a while back ( the events I do!) It looks like a hardware store on the front, but has all sorts of knickknacks read more

Is this the greatest, random gift store ever? Unequivocally yes. They have tons of cool stuff and I really can't begin to describe everything. Awesome cards, board games, jigsaw puzzles, children's toys, magnets, novelty gags and foods, craft supplies, etc. I felt like I was a kid again at one of those teachers' stores in the '80s. This place is fucking amazing - 'nuff said. read more

About Richards (from their website): "Welcome to Richards Variety Store Online. We're known for having the everything from classic toys, books, a large selection of greeting cards to an impressive collection of kitchen supplies, antique furniture, and party supplies. Our aim is to have something for everyone." Posted hours: 10-6 Monday thru Saturday. 12:30-5:30 on Sunday. This location of Richards is located in the Peachtree Battle Shopping Center. My friend and I stopped by as we were waiting to be seated at Another Broken Egg. She went in, I did not. Why? Cause I had an open container. If you look at the sign in my photo: no open food or drinks and no ice cream. :-( Trust me, I think I would have not made a mess. But I respected the sign anyway. My friend said there were some neat things inside, but ended up walking away with nothing. Miffed about their store policy, but I will stop in sometime when I don't have a drink on hand and update my review. read more

Rude and unpleasant staff. Not sure why you have a toy store then want to yell at kids for being kids.

I stumbled on this place looking for a real kite.....and wow what a surprise! It's a real toy store and a hardware store. They had every single board game that you could imagine. It was a real toy and real hardware store. I'll be back many times!. read more

Coming here makes me smile. I could wander around here for hours and it's especially good if you're not in the best mood or if you're feeling some sort of way. I can't help but find things that cheer me up or make me want to give gifts. Today I was trying to kill some time outside instead of attempting to drive home (FYI - it took me 15 minutes to drive 1.4 miles on Peachtree because of the I-85 bridge collapse). I actually had a purpose, which was to find a birthday card for my friend. In addition to her card, I found one perfect for my father and 2 gifts that I didn't know I was going to give. Did you know there is a home improvement section? If so, then you're more knowledgeable than me because it was a bit of a surprise, especially since they're just a few doors down from Ace Hardware. It's a small selection, but enough to get me through a project like hanging a picture or repairing a tear on furniture. read more

It's the bastard child of an old time general store and well-traveled, gift boutique: full of useful necessities and random tzotchkes. They have neat, vintage metal shopping baskets in which to place your curious finds. Their card selection is impressive, ranging from established lines to Indie labels. I bought an airplane attachment for my bicycle, greeting cards, gangbanger bandanas, a flyswatter, and a harmonica. You figure it out. Walk the aisles and find some fun. read more

If you ever wondered where all the cool, discarded toys and novelties come from? It's Richard's Variety store. Imagine basically a shop where anyone and everyone can find something they love and well, possibly even explore what and why we love these items. Spend an hour in Richard's for no good reason other than conversation and junk collecting, who doesn't love tzotchkes? In fact you may find only exactly the opposite of what you're looking for but also the very same thing that has been missing in your life. read more

You cant spend less than a minimum of 20 minutes in this calvalcade of extremely fun stuff -- even if you wanted to do so. The great toy section, random odd end caps (one with a collection of hooks in various sizes and shapes - tree branch! Octopus!), and fun greeting cards will keep you as occupied as you want to be. Plentiful, easy parking and next door to Trader Joes to boot! read more

Fun place to shop and look around. But whatever you do don't go close to closing time. Multiple comments by the cashier, tall man with grayish hair. It was 20 minutes before closing and I was finished and checked out before 6:00. Didn't need all the comments, I can read the sign on the door. This is the second time they have been not so friendly. Bummer. read more

I fully realize that I am both being redundant and preaching to the choir here, but . . . best place to get cards - birthday, I'm Sorry, Bat Mitzvah, no reason at all, whatever kind! - EVER! Why do I ever get lured into schmancier places? Richard's makes me want to buy five years' worth at once - and figure out later to whom I'll send them! read more

I am so disappointed. If I could give this review zero stars, I would. After much anticipation, we took our 3 year old son into Richard's this afternoon to pick out a few Thomas trains. They close at 5:30, which I didn't think would be an issue, as we were there at 5:15. After playing at the train table for 10 minutes and watching our little boy do the potty dance the whole time, I asked the cashier if we could use their restroom before we checked out. She showed us the way and as we started to walk in, she told the manager "it's 5:25", he leapt up and stopped us from going into the bathroom saying"we're closing, don't use that bathroom". I told him it was an emergency for my son and we were about to make our purchase. He absolutely refused, repeating over and over that they were closed and nobody was to be in the store anymore. He proceeded to walk us to the door and then continued to stand in the doorway until we finished using the restroom next door and got in our car. All evening my son has been asking why that "grumpy old man at the Thomas store was so mean to us". We have always bragged about this random little toy store. Now I will never spend another penny here. And I will most definitely continue to tell folks about today's experience. read more

This place is straight up magical. I nanny and after going to the park in Va-Highlands, I wanted to get her a small toy to stop the crying and randomly chose to take her here. I walked in the store thinking it would be your typical drug store type thing and it was like walking through the wardrobe into Narnia. Not only is there literally any toy you can imagine, there are books for both kids and grown ups, amazing handcrafted reasonably priced furniture, kitchen supplies, party favors for any theme from New Years or Dr Seuss, puppets(hells yes) and hundreds of amazing unique gifts. While I went to entertain the little one, I think I had just as much fun looking at all the odds and ends as she did. I grocery shop at Trader Joe's so that I can "swing in" this place. In fact...I may just do that today :) read more

Being in Richards Variety Store makes me nostalgic. From mini toy cars to fake plastic pearl sets, the store is filled with numerous old-school toys. I'm also guilty of spending too many hours here, just checking out their toys and other goods - and impulsively buying them for my childhood sake. Like many Yelpers said, Richards Variety Store is a great place to shop for unique gifts, especially for kids. I know many kids prefer playing their Nintendo or other computer games, but come on! There is a charm to these old-fashioned toys. When I have kids of my own, I would love to bring them here and share a piece of my childhood with them. I'll show them what I played with and how much I loved it. Hopefully, they won't think I'm outdated.. sigh. read more

Love this place. The perfect place to find emergency Tattoos for The Elderly, beautifully tooled leather journals and yodeling pickles. read more

Everything you never knew you needed in one little tiny store. I always go to Richard's Variety to buy cards, then an hour later I walk out with an arm full of other goodies. Their selection of cards is so far above grocery store cards that I feel sinful buying a card any where else. They have a great mix of hilarious, cool, sentimental, and beautiful cards for LITERALLY any occasion. The bizzaro gifts the Richard's carries are perfect for those random life events like white elephant, funny wedding or baby showers, stocking stuffing, or that friend's birthday who already has everything. They also have a serious selection of unique children's gifts. Toys R Us has nothing on Richard's selection of interesting coloring books, classic wooden toys, paper dolls, puzzles etc etc. They also carry things that are actually useful like kitchen wares, school supplies, wrapping paper, storage containers, and gardening essentials. In my opinion, this location closes too early during the week. If they would just stay open until 7, my life would be significantly less stressful and my friends and family would receive significantly more cards from me. This location is a bit easier to park at than the one on Monroe since the parking lot is not consumed by Trader Joe's customers who would cut off the Pope himself to snag a parking spot. This location is also smaller than the Monroe store, but there are still plenty of treasures to be found. read more

Perfect place to stock up on douchebag citations, giant novelty pencils, sexist magnets, and pot scrubbers (yes, they have normal kitchen supplies, too.....weird). It was sensory overload and I loved every minute of it. Other gift shops offer these measly little teaser sections of smartass adult items (think old photo of '50's era ladies talking about binge drinking and other anti-domestic sayings) where it leaves me starving for more. HERE, you get the whole enchilada. I was in my zone, my Nirvana. Aaaaah, sweet denture ice molds....how I covet you. Mr. T catch phrase recorder, you are music to my ears. Varietal farting book, where have you been all my life? I think of the wasted years I did not know about this place. I simply can't wait to place my first filled out 'Go To Hell' nifty note under somebody's windshield wiper. read more

I am glad this was not around when I was a kid. I swear there is an acre of toys on site. I would have spent every freakin' dollar I had in it. It even has snazzberries (not really, but wanted to give a shout out to Willy Wonka)! Really, any toy or novelty can be found there. It is NOT a dollar store and you may be able to find items cheaper elsewhere, but you cannot find the...uh...what's the word.... "VARIETY" anywhere else collected under one roof. My kids LOVE the horse rides for a quarter and the staff lovingly tolerates it. They are also very helpful and seem to find the same joy and amusement about the place as anyone going there for the first time. read more

Boy was I ever wrong about this store. I thought for the longest time that it was just another Dollar General dotting the Atlanta landscape. I gave in to peer pressure to check it out and wow - if this place doesn't have it, it probably doesn't exist. If you want a board game, novelty butter knives, funny birthday cards, children's toys, or even something for your wedding... it's here. I promise you. Bullwhips? Check. Party plates? Check. Hilarious coffee table books? Check check check. Seriously, if there's a want, then Richard's Variety Store is your go-to place. It's like the Ripley's Believe It Or Not toy store playland for adults! The only reason I can't give 5 stars is because some items are over-priced and can be found cheaper elsewhere. This is on your more common items, like board games and some toys. When it comes to the weird and strange, though, you simply can't beat it. read more

Awesome! I can't believe I've been shopping at Trader Joe's all this time and yesterday was the first time I stepped into Richards. THIS PLACE HAS EVERYTHING! If you're interested in shopping for the person that has everything.... shop here! I'd say if it's not here, it's not worth getting. For all the useless or useful hodgepodge of random knick knacks in rare form you should come to the Variety Store. Even if you're just looking for a good place to enjoy a day off, or even enjoy a date, this would be a great store you could get lost in. Check it out... who knows what you'll find. read more

I've been going here since I moved to Atlanta five years ago for all my greeting cards. They have the best selection I've ever seen. I still go here now that I've moved across town. As a bonus they have all the toys I liked as a kid! I even applied for a job here when I was a student. Richard (is that really the owners name?) prefers hand-written applictations... I think that is interesting. read more

Richard's Variety Store has an amazing selection. Coming here on other Yelper's suggestion, I was impressed with the variety of items ... wandering down the first row you've got Dobie scrubbers next to face filtration masks across from sewing thread spindles. I was boggled. My wife and I enjoyed the kid's section -- wandering up and down the aisles and going, "Oh, I had that as a little kid!" and "Oh! We've gotta get one of those for our soon to come nephew-or-niece." We got to the greeting cards on our way out and after having just spent 15 minutes in the massive children's toy section -- were shocked at the adult nature of some of the cards. Not "shocked" in a _bad_ way, more like ... the cards belonged in Junkman's Daughter's -- not across the aisle from the stuffed animals. Not a biggie. read more

It is far too easy to get distracted and make impulse purchases at this quirky little place. Variety is truly an understatement. From gag gifts to gardening tools, this store has it all. I went in for a birthday card and came out with some kitchen supplies. To top it off, the knick knacks are inexpensive. The store is a bit small and difficult to navigate, but these shortcomings are overshadowed by the excitement of scouring the aisles for treasures. My one complaint is that when I asked the woman at the register if they had a particular item, she had no idea. This is pretty understandable, though, seeing as there is a lot of inventory to keep track of. Fun. Useful. Entertaining. That just about sums it up. read more

Growing up, Richard's was the place my mom would drop me off while she ran errands, knowing that I was endlessly amused by all the quirky vintage toys, the electric pony that I'm pretty sure my father rode back in the 1950s, and the random hardware/household stuff that is as interesting as the rest just by association. It's true, they've got the lockdown on cards and old fashioned kitsch, but there is a lot to be said for a little store that has managed to survive in Buckhead this long by selling knickknacks. My favorite thing besides the electric pony is their awesome selection of Halloween masks and costumes in the fall. There are plenty of trendy gift shops popping up and shutting down all over town with their over-priced bougie garbage, but none of them come close to matching the Atlanta institution that is Richard's. read more

A gem. A wonderful gem. I seriously cannot say enough positive things about this place. I'd say it's a mix of a joke shop, novelty shop, game shop, toy shop, magic shop, and general light household supply store. "Variety" should say enough but it doesn't. This will be my one stop shop for holiday and birthday shopping. The first time I was here, I spent over an hour browsing. Every time I went back to a section I had previously visited, I saw something I missed. As if someone had just added new stuff to the section within 5 minutes. The people there are generally helpful though a couple seemed a little annoyed with so many walk-ups. That didn't dull he experience though. If you are looking for something fun to do, go check this place out. Belly laughs. read more