This place is a lot of fun and put me in mind of a store I went to as a child though that one didn't just have toys. They have a very wide and varied selection of things which was really neat. Their prices are a bit on the high side for quite a few of their items that can be found elsewhere and on the net for much less. I have never understood the practice of charging customers for the privilege of shopping in their store and this seems to me to be one of them. Not saying the place isn't cool but it's not quite worth the hype. Though, I do not know of anyplace that one can even get vegan soft serve much less in as many applications as they provide. read more

This place ain't no Toys 'R' Us. Their selection is a lot more eclectic and a lot more fun. It's kind of like a bigger version of Monkey See, Monkey Do down in SoCo. They've got toys like The Avenging Pony, Einstein "action" figures and much, much, much more. The staff are really cool and happy to assist you and the prices aren't bad at all. They've also got more conventional toys like frisbees and such. In short, something for everyone. I personally bought an inflatable copy of Van Gogh's "Starry Night." read more

Great store full of everything from games, candy, costumes, puzzles, coloring books, etc. Nick-Nacs!!!! Please bring there dogs in the store. Neat store to check out if you are ever in the area. read more

Toy Joy - Toy Stores Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Fantastic store! My family and I have been going for years. There's so much to explore, you could easily spend hours! There's something for everyone. A bit pricey though! The staff is so friendly- I'm a regular at the store and the staff recognise me :) This store is definitely worth a visit, and you'll find yourself coming back for more!! read more

This is definitely a place you need to check out. They have an amazing collection of toys, books, and novelties. They have toys that I remember when I was younger. They have Sanrio items and an extensive Golden Book Collection that included Pete's Dragon and The Lone Ranger. I highly recommend. Free parking validation with check in! read more

Super cute store! My kid loved it, we bought him an aunt farm and he is very excited.

This is a cool place right in downtown where you can get toys, puzzles, boardgames, stuffed animals and more. There are a bunch of Samrio and things with Japanese characters. Good place to kill time read more

This store is amazing. Now I'm going to warn you, it is not cheap. But you'll find stuff here that you would otherwise have to travel to Japan or order online. There is a unique variety of toys and novelties here. Great location too. Come here and bring your kids or your inner child, but bring your frigging credit card too. read more

Haven't tried the vegan soft serve, but the workers are so helpful and nice! I had to run out and grab my wallet after I had amassed quite a few items and they had no problem holding onto them for the 15 minutes it took me to drive home and come back. Definitely will be back to try the soft serve soon read more

Toy Joy - Mind blown yet? - Toy Stores Near Me - Austin, Texas

Toy Joy is stuffed to the brim with fun. Though parking isn't the most fun in this downtown spot, once you enter this local shop you're surrounded with a lot of stimulation in a forms. Plush animals, Hello Kitty, novelty toys, Star Wars and more. I'm no toy store designer, but there seems to be some sort of organized chaos in the way the store flows. You never want a toy store to be too structured as you want to lose yourself in the labyrinth of wonder and imagination, but I'd imagine that could get dangerous with your time at money. I will say, they do a good job with fitting a lot into a smaller space, but just be prepared to maybe get a little lost amongst all the toys when trying to find what you're looking for. However, their customer service is spot on when it comes to helping you find anything! They all also seem to really love working at Toy Joy, which makes the experience even more enjoyable. They've got it all from board games to scientific and silly toys and wizards and magic. It's all there to delight children and adults alike. read more

I'm glad to hear Toy Joy has reopened, it was closing right before I left Austin. It's a fun, unique spot - but doesn't offer enough to keep me regularly going back. A majority of the merch is really cheap, good for small gifts and it's definitely a spot to take out of town visitors. For a true toy collector or someone looking for nice, vinyl toys - unless it's changed with new management - you should look elsewhere. Fun vibe and good for kids however. read more

Toy Joy - Toy Joy! - Toy Stores Near Me - Austin, Texas

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This is based on the shop at the Austin Airport. There was very little joy today. Of course the toys are overpriced. And so are the $5 candy lollipops. But the service is what lacks joy. Ok , I took my time browsing to find the right gift. But still, the incompetent clueless clerk then spends a minute talking to an airport employee who wandered into browse, asking him to guess the high price of the toy on display at the counter. Him: "20?" Her No more, 30... etc until it is $70 Ok well guess what I am the paying customer going to catch a flight. And then, the clerk seems disappointed when I politely decline a plastic bag (in green or purple). Isn't Austin moving away from bags? Finally, she blankly forgets to push the button to accept my credit card. until I ask her why not. I would expect this service at a low-end fast food joint.... sad to have it here. read more

Very rude staff, barking orders about virus prevention to the point my nervous system was affected. The store is supposed to be about joy. Learn some customer service and maybe train your staff on tone and respect of those who keep you in business? Lost a loyal and enthusiastically promoting customer. read more

Great place to see some toys from your childhood and some newer items. Lots to look at and can be crowded. Slow moving store when you are trying to see everything. Not the place if you're looking for 80 mainstream toys but some little things like yoyos and party favors. read more

Toy Joy - Front window - Toy Stores Near Me - Austin, Texas

My mother asked about the cat clocks on the wall. They were quite pricy. She felt the staff to be rude and dismissive. I think they were just answering her questions quickly and efficiently. If they did ask my mom why she was interested in the cat clock they would have found out that my daughter is obsessed with cats . My mom is obsessed with my daughter. If they found 1 cat item for $25.00 they would have had a sale. read more

This place is so cool! They have all kinds of retro things including books, toys, stickers, and so many more things! I 100% recommend going there! read more

What a fun little place. Talk about going in a time machine and reliving the good stuff. If you're looking for a fun gift for a child or better yet, a adult, come here. The selection is wonderful. read more

So after a lackadaisical off- again on-again search all over town for a die cast Bender figure (from Futurama, if you didn't know) I ambled into Toy Joy. After a fruitless (but highly enjoyable) 20 minute search I ask the girl behind the counter: "Do you guys have Bender?" She smiles and responds: "Of course, we are WELL versed in the Tao of Futurama." Bliss. Why didn't I start here? read more

Toy Joy, I know we all have to grow up sometimes and we even have to move on to new and possibly greener pastures but we've grown apart. I still remember the funky, cool shop on Guadalupe with the secret rooms and the shelves stocked to the brim and the ceilings covered with whimsy. I remember when you had room for my car at your place and you just let me hang out without feeling like I was a burden to you. I remember when you were laid back and frankly, kind of a hippy with a junk fetish. Now you're yuppified. I know, maybe it's me. Maybe I should be more yuppified too. Maybe I should accept the new you and move on with my life. Maybe not. I just kind of feel like you've sold out. You've become friends with The Man and that's just not cool with me. So, I gotta break up with you. It's sad and I'll always remember the good times we had you and me, with the whoopee cushion and the statue of Jesus. read more

They've moved! If you did not know that, you must be from another planet. I dig the new larger space with the black light room. Even the layout seems more open and easier to maneuver and the employees are always a blast. Two gifts that win my vote for best adult toys for Christmas 2013 (the clean non-sexual, non-vibrating kind....so some of you can stop reading) are the fun blue light up bracelet ($4) and "Wee Wee Willie" ($6.95), the boy that whizzes when you pull down his knickers. And you can't beat the free gift wrap! read more

You can segment toy stores using the Whitney Houston sliding scale. For example... you could say that 'Toys R Us' is Whitney Houston circa 1986, during the "Greatest Love of All Era"... all bright and shiny... full of amazement and wonderment. A beautiful place that you can't take your eyes off for all the right reasons. Well, if that's so... then Toy Joy is Whitney Houston circa 2000, during the heart of her Bobby Brown crack-addled crinkly-hair train wreck years. She's tweaking out, can't keep her attention straight, is completely unpredictable and gets caught in the airport with guns and drugs. But...you can't take your eyes off of her because you never know what's going to happen next. It's captivating and a can't miss. Toy Joy is an amazing cavalcade of what the fuck. You turn the corner, there's a thousand bouncing balls in various sizes and shapes. You turn the corner, there's a japanese fire breathing robot. You turn the corner, there's a life sized cartoon squid. Regardless of who you are, you love it and you have no idea why. They're open late. The toys are unreal. The people are eclectic. The energy is infectious. And the best thing? They've hidden a spectacular vegan ice cream and chai tea store in the back left corner. Unexplainable. Unmissable. read more

I've always enjoyed walking through Toy Joy and spying all the random tchotchkes. They have an abstract collection of items that often have no rhyme or reason. And, yes, I typically leave Toy Joy with a least a couple of things that I don't need but can't live without. My main complaint about this establishment is that I know how much they pay for these things. They mark-up most of these prices 5-6x. Some are marked up 10x! And yes, the economy is rough and rent is high. But, for those prices, I expect better customer service. Their customer service is beyond lackluster. It's not memorable. Their cashiers are there just to take your money. They rarely have answers to any questions I ask. When I need help with a price (with such a large inventory, they often have things without price tags), they find the price for you - eventually. Believe me when I say they never make me feel like a priority of any sort. Really, I feel like a nuisance. Yes, they somehow spin the encounter to make it seem like it's MY fault the price is missing. So, do they have a fun collection of toys? Yes. Is it worth the up-charge? Only if you're unwilling to find it someplace cheaper. Does their customer service make paying a little more worth it? Heh. No way! Their terrible customer service means that I'd rather have to bust out my ninja like google-fu in order to find everything they sell online -- for far less money then they charge. And heck, most of those places offer free shipping. Typically, I like to keep my business local. But this is one establishment that I just don't feel deserves my business. But, hey, it's probably my fault. read more

If you're not vegan, just don't eat the vegan soft serve, reminiscent of newspaper pulp. Further, no one should drink ice-blended bubble tea. Both are abominations, here to remind the unwary that adventurousness veers perilously close to gullibility. I wanted to believe and I crossed over. You don't have to. Enjoy the toy heaven, skip the culinary purgatory. read more

5 words: Clear. Woman's. Pregnant. Torso. Keychain. ps...upon purchasing this jewel I knocked it over on the counter and the male cashier said: "Oh, that's not good for the baby." I love you Toy Joy. And your quick witted workers. read more

Holy smokes! Not just classic and new kids toys, but also adult and joke toys, with a good mix of Japanese stuff, too. One of the best parts is walking around reading the hand drawn cards attached to some of the toys and toy bins. Good stuff. You will be sure to find some unique items here and some things from your childhood that you may have forgotten about. For me, it was Monchichis :) read more

It's like Santa ate every possible toy, game, and plastic object, (even old school ones) then threw up in a small room on the corner of 29th and the drag. Just like that but minus the partially digested gingerbread men and pre-chewed gum drops. read more

This is your one stop shop for all the little crap you need to buy your silly little friends or all those lame little stocking stuffers you are compelled to buy your 40 nieces and nephews. Space can be a commodity here and it is frequently packed in here and almost impossible to move. But who really cares because where else can you buy everything from novelty Christmas lights to green plastic army men and just about everything little novelty toy in between? Prices are fair but won't blow you away. Selection is pretty amazing, of course I am not sure exactly what you can compare it with since it is a very unique store. Overall, this is another one of those places in Austin that everyone must visit whether you live here or are just visiting. If you have company coming to town and you don't take them here you aren't worthy of calling yourself an Austinite. read more

I honestly felt, for a moment, that I might burst into flames for not giving Toy Joy the 5th star. I really did. It is, quite possibly, the happiest place in all of Austin. For years, whenever I was down, I wandered into this place to find something to cheer me up. Most often, it was Pez. Yeah, I said it. Pez. I LOVE Pez. I had a great collection, years back, when I was in college, all kinds of Pez dispensers. My roommates and the guys in the dorm thought I was a little weird at first, but they were all constantly munching Pez out of my Darth Vader and My Casper the Ghost in no time. At the end of one semester, when I was packing my things to put into storage for the summer, I ran out of boxes, and wasn't sure what to do with the 60 or so Pez dispensers I had. I was packing my stereo, I had saved the box and the styrofoam casing and everything, and as anyone who has ever opened electronics knows, there was a lot of spare room in that box. So, I swept up my Pez dispensers into the box as well, and into storage they went. While I was gone, someone broke into storage and stole my stereo, among other things. I can only imagine the look on the thief's face when he opened up the box, and found not only the stereo he was after, but 60+ little plastic cartoon heads! So I started a new collection when I got to Austin, even put together a Pez drive on the web, complete with prizes. I sent a guy in Oregon, who sent me three pez, a cd of a great Austin band as a prize. I bought a close friend a great pearl snap shirt in exchange for a Pez that was also a flashlight and a vintage Pez sign! There were many other prize winners, and I have a pretty good collection going again. And like I said, there were the days that I went in to Toy Joy, by myself, for some cheering up, and came out with a Pez. I realized recently that I haven't done it in a long, long time, and I think its because I was using it. During that hiatus of solo trips, I visited Toy Joy with others, as part of a group outing or shopping trip, and it was fine because it was fun, and I wasn't really there for ME. But I realized that I had grown to dislike going to Toy Joy alone just a little, because going there alone meant I was upset before I got there. It's a little like how I associate Gatorade with hangovers. It works like a charm, but if that's all you use it for, it becomes like taking medicine, not like something fun. So, I am determined to go in when I am in a good mood, and maybe be nice to a stranger, help spread the Joy of Toys around a little, and let them earn back that 5th star. read more

Best place to buy crap and I mean the good, silly, make you giggle kind of crap, not the other kind. I love going into Toy Joy because you regress a little into a kid again. But the ironic thing is, I hate when there are a ton of kids in there. Too much stimulus for me to take in and there is just not enough floor space to move around. A bit claustrophobic-ish. But good wholesome fun! O...They have free gift wrap too! read more

I've seen Toy Joy at this location for a long time, since my undergraduate days at the university, but never visited. So after 15 years, I finally remembered to visit Toy Joy after a trip to Wheatsville Coop. The negatives: - Parking lot is a little cramped but is manageable. The positives: - Salespeople and storeowner greet customers as they walk in the door - Seeing TuxedoSam, Little Twin Stars, My Melody, and Kerokerokeroppi stuff brought back lots of memories - Decorations in the store are done to the extreme - Prices are reasonable--Sanrio products are always expensive and it is here, too. - Discounts on some items - Wide variety of toys - They sell the huge colorful octopus kite (along with other neat-looking kites) - Unique selection I browsed the store for a long time looking for something useful to buy but couldn't find anything so I just left. The items that caught my eye were these car magnets of Sanrio characters. Toy Joy is located on the Northwest corner of Guadalupe and 29th, literally on the corner. It is located across from the Subway / Ken's Donuts / Vulcan Video shopping center and you can smell donuts when standing outside. I'll come back if I think of a practical use for those Sanrio car magnets. read more

Toy Joy is NOT a sex shop, it really is a toy store. You would think that this doesn't need to be said but, trust me, it does. Remember all those toys you played with as a kid? Take a walk down memory lane and embrace your inner child. Ask to see their selection of 'boxing' puppets. They are great! read more

I was on a mad scavenger hunt to find some large marbles that had come up missing and was told by many to come here.....So, I sure did... WOAH. Amazing! It is like the SMURFS, Get-A-Long Gang, Thundercats, ALF, Rainbow Brite, Punky Brewster, the Care Bears, Strawberry Shortcake, all of My Little Ponies, and the entire Reading Rainbow exploded in here at one point!! Amazing!! It is wall-to wall madness of the toys of yesteryear!! One could spend hours looking at the packed walls of nostalgic merchandise.....I loved finding all kinds of marbles, wacky wall-walkers, board games, really, everything in there was so cool. I even halfway expected the traditional Willy Wonka himself (or an oompah-loompah) to just jump off from one of the hand-shaped chairs and parade every visitor with a golden ticket, yes, it is really that special!!! Then, just as I thought it could not get any better: HELLO, KITTY!!! I was in Sanrio Suprise/shock when I headed toward the back of the store past the colorful pirate's treasure chest of celebrity inspired bracelets to find Hello Kitty's Hideout!! Unbelievable! Hello Kitty everywhere!! The cool red lockable diaries, the red jewelry boxes, back-packs, I thought I was dreaming! Then, I saw the neat coffee/cold drinks bar where the cool staff was offering out peanut butter soy soft serve that was delicious! Then we tried their teas with the huge pink straws in it so that way the "bubbles" in the tea (which are tapioca beads) could easily pass in the straw and that was so unique and memorable!! When I bought the marbles, they put them in a Hello Kitty Bag with all the Sanrio characters on it!!! I LOVED IT! It may not seem like a big deal but it was very exciting to me!!! :) The prices are low to moderate.....And don't forget about looking at the erasers that smell great and the pencils that had separate leads that you had to push through the pencil when you needed a new lead....unreal.... To "top" it all off, they even have a candy aisle in the Hello Kitty area that will have you remembering when Jolly Rancher came in long stick form, and not the small squares that it is today....you will see pop-rocks, chic-o-stix, and it will ignite your inner child most definitely!! The only thing that was missing was Gem and her truly, truly, truly outrageous holograms, and the Snoopy-sitting-on-his doghouse-sno-cone Maker that was the talk of my neighborhood back in the 80's.... Please go check it out and find your marbles there, too! :) read more

If you're a Hello Kitty/Sanrio addict like me, you'll love this place. They have tons of cute Asian things and the best part is, they don't charge an additional $5+ for the smallest shit like Momoko's. I was surprised that they stick to the original price because most other Asian stores overcharge you like crazy. As much as I love this place, there is one thing that I really don't like... their bubble tea. Their drinks are overpriced and downright shitty- I could make better drinks at home. Their iced mocha bubble tea tasted like coffee with 10 spoons of Nesquik, priced at a little over $4.00. Do Not get their bubble tea. read more

Reviewing a toy store as an adult is like a Muslim reviewing a Catholic Church. it doesnt make sense. but if i could go back in time and pretend i was 7 would i like this place? yes. i would love it. its the grandest toy store in Central Texas! i actually have been here numerous times. i used to work across the street at an old Plasma Center which no longer is there. but take my word its a cool spot. read more

WAY OVER-PRICED!!! I wouldn't buy anything here! Ever! Nothing is on sale! Okay, now then... TOY JOY is a BLAST for an afternoon of crazy childhood-memory-filled fun! Who doesn't like Chinese Finger Traps, Silly Puddy, Sea-Monkeys, Marbles, Gumby key-chains, Hello Kitty pencil holders, fire-blowing Nun-zillas, etc. Oh, and make sure you race the yellow, blown-up, rubber pony- bouncy things they have stacked near the front door. It's pure black mail if your friend takes a picture of your face planting into the pile of stuffed animals as your butt flies into the air and tumbles. read more

Oh, how I love you Toy Joy, let me count the ways. 1. I use you as an excuse to buy gifts for my nieces and nephews. 2. Your small crap in the bins is always where I spend the majority of my time. 3. Your store is tiny, and you are always saying "excuse me" to people, but somehow this makes it better. 4. The employees are some of the most helpful employees in any business I have been to in Austin. 5. Those water weenie things. You have them, I like to squish them. 6. However, I am not into those smoosh films or whatever their called. 7. Seriously, I'm not. 8. I do like to squish some things though, like mud between my toes. 9. Live Oak acorns too. The heel of my Gazelles are perfect for this type of squishing. 10. I should probably trim that Live Oak in my yard. read more

Current rating applies to the one open on West 2nd. I frequented the Toy Joy off the Drag on a monthly basis. It used to be an outstanding place for attaining clever or unusual gifts. To be fair, some of that exists at the new locale. If you dig Adventure Time or Hello Kitty, you are set on either front. The thing is...it feels like Corporate America devoured the old one and regurgitated this one. The awesome artsy cartoons taped to the toy dispensers seem depressingly out of place. It's much more oriented toward a younger crowd like any old toy store. It's lost it's flare, it's uniqueness!! The staff seemed friendly and nice. But they didn't seem like they were having much fun. You wouldn't catch a gentleman in a vague reference t-shirt blowing bubbles and soloing on his plastic accordion. No blue haired dames dancing around the shelves, perfecting the displays. I hope this changes once the roots have settled. Don't want to give up on Toy Joy all together!!! read more

(Shakes finger at two star reviewers of Toy Joy). LOL. I bet you're the same people who think the Simpsons is a "cartoon" and are offended that their content isn't "kid friendly." Take your kid AND your grande double espresso latte to Terra Toys. He was hogging the wind-up nun section anyway. read more

I think this store has more hype built up around it than it truly deserves. Of course, my judgment of a toy store is almost entirely based on its Playmobil selection. They seemed to have a lot of one kind of Playmobil set, but in general, their selection was unvaried and illogical. It's more of a gag and novelty toy shop than a classic toy shop. Get your rubber mice, dashboard hula girl, and action Jesus here. Go elsewhere for Playmobil. read more

Where else can you find glow-in-the-dark zombie finger puppets? How about four foot long gummy snakes? Ninja health tip playing cards? Hand shaped chairs? Vegan soft serve ice cream? Endangered animal erasers? Tic Tac Toast?.. Tic Tac Toast, btw, is a little grid to burn onto your bread so you can play Tic Tac Toe on your toast. Genius. Long live Toy Joy!!!! read more