Beanstalk is the kind of toy store I wish is around when I was a kid. They carry a variety of toys…read moreand educational activity games. The store is clean and organized and I must mention the friendly staff on duty this past Saturday morning who offered to put a ribbon on a stuffed animal I purchased. There are plenty of street parking in front and around the store. It's a unique treasure for kids of all ages. Instead purchasing toys from of big box stores or Amazon, give Beanstalk a try!

This is an adorable toy store for the under 10 set. I am not in company with many youngsters…read moretheseadays, but I imagine this store is the kind of place they'd love. There's a train track that runs above the store with a train toddling along. I saw moms sitting on the floor while their kids explored. I was looking for newborn stuff, the store is more geared to toddlers and up, although lots of baby gear here too. I didn't stay long as I was looking for infant stuff but I imagine I'll be back when said newborn gets a little older.

What a fun stop for unique gifts. I really liked the crafting section as well. All kinds of holiday…read moregifts and fun activities.

Great selection of toys, games, and crafts! The staff is helpful and they provide free gift…read morewrapping.

The selection to start off with insane! It was one of the best collector shops I've ever been in!…read moreWhen I first walked in the was greeted with amazing customer service by the cashier and found out he was the owner! I had a very personal experience while buying the items I bought and will be back for sure! Price was also responsible!

We cannot say enough good things about SMASH Toys…read more They took our order over the phone, then came in on a day they were closed so someone could pick it up. And as if that wasn't already incredible, they wrapped the gift for us, too. All of this was done with one simple goal in mind: to help make a kid's Christmas dream come true. Mission accomplished. Thanks to their kindness, flexibility, and genuine care, we are officially the coolest aunt and uncle on the planet, and that's a title we don't take lightly. This is what a local business looks like when it's run with heart. SMASH Toys didn't just sell a toy; they delivered joy, generosity, and a Christmas memory that will last forever. If you're shopping local and want service that goes so far above and beyond it feels unreal, this is the place. The Eagle Has Landed!

So good. They were talking about the goat(Pete…read moreCrow-Armstrong). Nice people nice Lego

Friendly staff, and plenty of assistance. Seems the staff is knowledgeable in the product and not…read morerandom sales people. Good election of Legos to buy from. A little expensive, snoopy $90, and almost $200 for pikachu. It would be nice to have some of those in a medium size.

To begin with, I'm not a Lego person. I can appreciate it, but it's not my thing. My husband,…read morehowever, is. We don't have kids, but in the de Taylor household, I have to watch where I step, because there may be a Lego underfoot. Accordingly, my husband asked if we could stop by Brick Loot on the way home from Beyond the Cheddar Curtain, and I'm a team player. It's a pretty adorable store. The owner's dad** said that he has three main things that the store does. First, there's a monthly loot box for subscribers. Secondly, they sell lighting kits for legos. Finally, they sell legos themselves. It's not a huge shop, so it's not an alternative for going to the lego store. However, they have a lot of clever kits that I think the owner or the owner's dad put together, as well as the light kits and various spare parts. It's definitely a neat place to go for a lego enthusiast. The only thing I'd suggest is getting a "partner's chair" for when a partner comes along for the ride. However, I imagine that would also inspire inattentive parents to sit down and let their kids run wild, so perhaps that's not a good idea after all! ** The owner's dad was very clear that his 12 year old son was the owner and brain behind the operation, which I find pretty adorable too.

Their light kits are made in China, very poor quality. The one I received had multiple issues,…read moreincluding one which made the install not possible. Customer "support" tried to blame me for it, refusing to send a replacement or refund. Will be contacting my bank to dispute this charge.

Little Peach is part of Peachtree Place, apparently, which I think means they're under the same…read moreownership because they aren't physically connected in any way--I couldn't find a way to get from one to the other without going outside and entering in another area of the shopping center. The staff here said hi as I entered and then gave me the freedom to browse. Anyway, it's a lovely little store with some really nice things. It's not just a clothing store, which I appreciate. They do have clothing, but when I was here most of the merchandise was non-clothing; books, toys, games, and so on. The prices weren't super out of line with other children's stores around. The clothing is more on the expensive end--they don't really seem to sell mid-range stuff here. But it's high quality children's clothing (but do check labels--I've been to some children's stores where dry clean is recommended and that's not something I can justify for children's clothing, though I do forget to check the labels). I stopped in to see if I could find something for my friend's son for his birthday, but didn't find something that jumped out on me at this trip. I am not in Northfield very often, so it's not a shop that would be a place that I would just pop by. But if you're looking for something special or a nice gift it would be a good place to take a look.

Weird staff! That's funny and awesome to interact with and be weirded out!…read more Besides that lots of back issues to dig through that are in decent condition. Decent store. Nearby Geekhut toy store so that's cool and Red Wings shoes. We all need shoes and comics right?! And we all need a bathroom to so you'd think every store has one for customers who may come from hours away just to your store! Not here, no bathroom.

Driving around today with my 15 year old daughter, she spotted the Green Lantern logo in the window…read moreof a comic shop. Knowing I am a GL fan, she said ""Dad, look!" We walked in a few minutes before closing. The man on staff (assuming he was the owner) was clearly perturbed. I explained I had not been in a comic shop for many years and just wanted to look around for a few minutes. I quickly picked up a couple of books with the intention of purchasing. However, less than two minutes after walking in, the man says "we're closed now, you have to go." It was very uncomfortable and a bit sad for my daughter. I set the books down and we left. Granted, the man may have had plans. Maybe he was pressed for time? Or, he was just not very nice. are better ways to handle this situation. What is it about business owners that think they are doing customers a favor by being in business. If you're a comic book fan in Chicago's Northwest suburbs, I recommend you find another shop.

My three kids and I were walking on Center Street in Grayslake today. My eight-year-old daughter…read morewanted to choose the next store we went into. She picked Audrey's and was very excited to find that there are two real life kitties plus a huge selection of stuffed animals. Like most girls her age she's really into Beanie Boos. She was happy to find Sting and Cashmere. She bought Cashmere with her allowance. The owner was nice and we got in and out very quickly. My eight-year-old can't wait to go back to the store with her daddy this weekend.