We took our 7 mo old foster baby to Toybrary today as it was suggested online for "indoor ways to beat the heat with young children" and it exceeded our expectations. She was mind blown to say the least! She loved how many toys she got to try out, climb on, and getting to see other kids playing and having fun too. We also had a good time seeing what she liked and didn't like which helps us when purchasing toys for home. I love the fact that it's so affordable and cost so much less than the Thinkery which actually does not have much for a baby to do. Here, we only had to pay for the "player" and you get in and out privileges for the rest of the day. Such a cool concept that even offers babysitting. We can't wait to go back! read more

We visited for the play session (not the toy rental membership) and unfortunately left disappointed. The biggest issue is that many of the nicest toys are displayed right where children can see them, but they're only available to members for rental and aren't allowed to be played with. Our son is almost four, and he spent much of the visit asking to play with those toys. We repeatedly had to tell him no, while the toys that were actually available to play with were often very worn, incomplete, or missing essential pieces. For example, the train set didn't have enough track pieces to build a complete layout, and there were two dollhouses (a fire station and a police station) that looked like they would have been great for imaginative play, but they were missing the figures and accessories that make them usable. A fire station without firefighters or a police station without people isn't very engaging. The entire play area felt tired and overdue for an update. Many of the toys, furniture, and chairs showed significant wear. Looking through older reviews and photos from several years ago, it seems this may have once been a much nicer space, but it doesn't appear to have been refreshed or maintained to that same standard. I think this might still be enjoyable for toddlers under about two years old, but for preschoolers, the lack of complete, engaging toys was frustrating. If the rental-only toys were kept in a separate area instead of being visible but off-limits, it would probably make for a much better experience for the children who come just to play. We really wanted to like it, but we won't be returning. read more

We went to Toybrary in Austin to attend a birthday party and it was such a fun experience for the kids. And I won't lie, it was such a fun experience for me as an adult! Something felt very nostalgic about it and the place gave me the warm and fuzzies like I was kid again. There were so many different rooms and activity zones that kept little ones busy and excited the whole time. Every corner had something new to explore, from play areas where kids can stimulate their imagination, to indoor slides, hands on toys, and creative play stations. It really felt like a kid's dreamland. There is also an outdoor space for the kids to play in, which was a nice bonus, and plenty of variety so children can move from one activity to the next without getting bored. It worked especially well for a birthday party since a large group of kids could all stay entertained at the same time without stepping on each other's fun. They have a designated space where parties can eat food and cake, which makes celebrating easy and organized. They had little seats for the kids to sit in, which can accommodate roughly 20-25 kids. My only wish is that we could have stayed longer. The play sessions were capped at about two hours per session and the time went by fast because the kids were having such a great time. Overall, a good experience and a great spot for younger children to play and celebrate. I would definitely return again and recommend for a kids birthday if you want to keep kids entertained. My kids loved the place. read more

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I found this place on Google because I was looking for somewhere to take my two year-old granddaughter and the pricing seem pretty reasonable. $12 to pay until 6 PM. When I got there, there were three people there and they saw me walk in and they all turned their back to me and acted like I wasn't there then finally I approached one of them and I told them it was my first time there and she told me it would be $12 for play until 6 PM and seemed like a good deal so I paid with Venmo. After I paid, she explained to me that my toddler could only play with the toys on the floor. Nothing on the walls nothing in the bins, which I was kind of surprised because there weren't very many toys on the floor. It was kind of dark and pretty warm inside which made it uncomfortable. Most of the toys seemed pretty outdated, well the ones she could play with anyway. So then we decided to go outside to the playground and those toys were even worse. I wouldn't even donate those toys to Goodwill. Just throw them away. The back yard was full of dead leaves, it had some chalkboards on the fence that I assume used to say something about play rules... Over all not a good experience. And I hate to think this way, but I feel like the other two people there were waiting for me to leave so that they could leave. I felt sort of discriminated against and will definitely never go back... Just got though reading the OWNERS rude reply to my review and she seems very professional with the way she could only find to insult me and tell me I'm unhappy! Yes I am unhappy with the experience at your business! Take it like the professional you say you are! We are not in high school! And I've been reading over your reviews and other people had the same experience or worse! Dirty toys, funky smell, rude owner.... I can go on and on! And why do you want people to tell you to your face? So you can act like a victim and call the cops? Lady please! read more

After reading the reviews I was apprehensive but I believe in always giving business a chance and I'm so glad I did! Management was super nice. I don't feel there was a weird smell at all, it smells like meyers cleaning products which I think is a good sign. Employees are constantly cleaning up after the kids and everything thats off limits is clearly placed up on the shelves away from reach. For $60 a month you can come as much as you want and I think that's a great deal, especially because you can take 3 toys home, like a library book, with you each time you visit. Highly recommend! As long as you are following the rules theres no issue. read more

Toybrary Austin - Toy Stores Near Me - Austin, Texas

Credit Card Scam? I have no idea how this Liza W. (owner) got my email address but she sent me an email today stating "I have your credit card. Have you been in lately?". I've never been to Austin, Texas and have never heard of "Toybrary". I called the number to clarify and Liza was incredibly rude. Super short with me and basically hung up on me as soon as I said I have never been to her establishment. SHE was the one who had contacted me, yet she couldn't give me the time of day for a quick clarifying conversation. So just a heads up - if your name is all Elle and you've visited the "Toybrary" - Liza has your credit card apparently. read more

This concept has so much potential, unfortunately like other reviews have mentioned the owner just ruins the whole experience. From the moment we walked in the door we were continually scolded and told not to do this and not to do that. You can only play with certain toys and you can't play with this truck but can only play with the same exact truck that's in a specific room. It honestly became quite obnoxious. The owner is way too uptight to work in this industry. Based on other reviews I'm sure she'll have some snarky response and won't actually learn anything from the feedback she receives. Editing to add after owner response: you clearly don't know how toddlers and children behave. Putting toys they can't play with within their reach is just cruel. There were many other things we were scolded on outside of the toy situation. Being friendly to your customers is something that needs to be worked on. We felt very unwelcomed from the second we walked in the door. read more

I signed up for a 3-month membership that ended in May, yet I'm still being charged months later. I returned all the toys in April and specifically told the owner we were not renewing -- she acknowledged this -- but the charges continue. I've been calling for over a week to cancel and no one ever answers the phone. The environment itself is not welcoming. The space smells stale, and the owner is consistently rude and cold. On my first visit, she was dismissive while I was paying and simply told me to "go to the playground in the back" without even looking at me or explaining where it was. She also made an inappropriate assumption that our nanny was a social worker, which felt offensive and unnecessary. Overall, I've never encountered such poor customer service. Between the unprofessional communication, the questionable billing practices, and the unfriendly atmosphere, I would not recommend this business to anyone. read more

I'm probably the last nanny in Austin to visit Toybrary, and I can't believe I've waited this long to visit. It's located in a great spot, ample parking (free), and not only do they sell healthy affordable snacks there- the owner let us bring our packed lunch in too! It's all open floor plan play with a room that is focused on imaginative play, and the other two with a variety of ride alongs, slides, and lots of toys. Nothing was overwhelming, my two year old is generally shy and not quick to warm up but she felt right at home and was very excited to explore. We were there for hours. We happened to pop in on a Wednesday which is the day the Groovy Bus Gym comes. They offered a free trial class and we were more than happy to check it out. I'll write a separate review of that business- but wow! We were blown away at Toybrary supporting another woman owned business but that they also encouraged us to go check it out. We came back in after, had lunch- then stepped outside for more playtime. I can not emphasize enough how worth our time this was. We've been to many play places but they are often catered to an older crowd. This was the perfect space for a toddler to be independent but still play with you if they want. The staff was all very kind including the sweet owner that we met today. We will definitely be back! read more

Toybrary Austin - Toy Stores Near Me - Austin, Texas

This Texas summer heat makes me desperate for any indoor activities that'll keep my 16-month-old occupied. Toybrary delivers! There are 3 ways to enjoy Toybrary: 1) Drop-in play for a mere $7! What a deal! 2) A monthly membership where you can check out toys like you do books from a library - also includes unlimited drop-in play. 3) Childcare, which I wasn't interested in so I don't know too much about. The indoor space isn't huge but in a good way! You don't have to chase your kiddo all over the place. It's like 3 big rooms in a house with toys galore. We were there for 2 hours and my kiddo never got bored because there was always something new to explore. It was 102 degrees outside so we didn't even look outside but I believe there are ride-on toys out there. One thing I appreciated is that it felt calmer than some of the other indoor play spaces available in Austin - it wasn't super crowded and the music was relaxed and at a medium volume. I just feel exhausted when I go to those other places where they're blasting kiddie music and children are screaming and running everywhere. Toybrary definitely had a chill vibe which I so loved. There was juice (maybe snacks) for sale which we didn't take advantage of but it's good to know it's available! We're not signed-up for the membership but we might! I did notice that they had a cabinet for Loveevery rentals and we purchase those toys from the Lovevery subscription so Toybrary might be a better deal for us! We'll see. Parking isn't fun but it's available! I have two things I wish for Toybrary: 1) Just one or two more comfy chairs for parents as the two there were occupied the whole time and I would have enjoyed giving my butt a break from the floor for a little bit. 2) I wish they were open on Sundays. As a full-time working parent who sends her kid to daycare, I try to really take advantage of the weekend to get in some quality time but so many kid activities are only during the work day or are closed on Sundays. read more

Toybrary Austin - No shoes inside - plan accordingly - Toy Stores Near Me - Austin, Texas

Im always loooking up things to do in and around austin. For example, things to do with and places to go with a baby, so I can discover new fun places with my 8 month old grandson. He is a very active baby but also fast and curious lol, so I was looking for a spot tthat has a lot of options specifically for his age range but not a huge area t. They seem to offer a lot of services in that one place such that I have to worry about where he is a t and whats he is getting into. When you enter you are greeted by a friendly face and it wasn't packed. I that b ec too many kids is more of a hassle. They have so many options for many early age ranges. You can rent out the toys and book a birthday party there as well. They also have a monthly calendar listing all their events. I will return for one of their playtime events. They have childcare but I cant coomment because I didnt use those services. They even have an area for the adults to work on things. read more

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We visited the toybrary for the first time this week and stayed for about two hours (stay and play). There was certainly plenty to explore with my two year old inside. We played with the train table and dinosaurs. We had some time in the dress up area and tent. There were some really great toys for members shelved above but it didn't seem to distract my daughter much. I gave 4 stars because I wasn't too keen on the outdoor area. There's a huge sandbox which was great but the rest of the backyard area was a bit lackluster. I think a play house, or mud kitchen would add some spice to the area. All in all we had a great time exploring, the weather was great, the backyard is covered. And we didn't have to deal with a dirty toy room at home. We will be back to visit. read more

Toybrary Austin - A bouncy toy inside. - Toy Stores Near Me - Austin, Texas

Visited the Toybrary today and the kids had a blast during their special event. Super engaging for all I have an 8yo, 6yo, 2.5yo and a 13month old. The girls enjoyed the arts and crafts and my littles had fun playing with all the toys. Definitely worth checking out. read more

Toybrary Austin - Arts and crafts - Toy Stores Near Me - Austin, Texas

This business has deceptive practices. If you sign up for a three month membership, you will continue to be charged after the 3 months ends unless you give 30 days notice of intent to cancel the subscription. Also, you will be charged 64 dollars a month even though the website says 50 dollars per month. It's such a scam because you are charged more per month id you sign up for a shorter membership period, which says 3 months, and then you are auto enrolled anyway at the higher price per month. So ridiculous! When you attempt to cancel the membership, you will be told that you cannot cancel and that you signed up for a year with no cancellations -- even though you only signed up for 3 months. read more

I'm gonna try to keep this short lol So i saw a groupon for toybrary memberships and was intrigued. I called to ask questions bc the website and groupon details were vague and I was told that all the services were included in membership and there were some select events free with membership and that the place gets cleaned frequently. So im like "let's buy the annual membership!" (I technically bought this as a backup to our daycare or childcare so that i could handle emergency work meetings which are 30 min or an hour tops; one of the services is something like "we have private rooms to work out of while your kiddo plays") We show up right at opening for our first (and only) day. The place is not clean or organized. This older lady sitting at the front is checking people in and then turns to me and says "drop in rate is (x)" and i got "i actually have a membership" and she says "no you dont" and i say i bought it on groupon and she says "show me". Dry and short as can be. (Plot twist: turns out she's the owner, and a few moms from daycare after i shared this story said she's known to be rude). Well there's other people, like 3 fams so she asks to hold onto my phone credit card and id and that she'll check me in later and to step off to the side.... Im like um ok... but my little ran off to explore so i followed and assumed she'd come find me (it's not a huge place). As Im walking around Im looking at the toys and I can see things have definitely not been wiped down in awhile, and some toys were old and glued together. One of the wooden horses another little was playing with broke off at one of the hand holds and exposed a rusty nail. I took it up to the owner and she said "oh yea, this one breaks a lot" and just left it on the floor while she walked away to set up some paints or something. I asked if I could have my cc, id, and phone back and she said "oh yea, it's on the desk" (she left it sitting on the front counter where everyone walks in and out of) so i go grab it. I came back and asked her questions about the services and where the room was you could work out of and she says it's extra. I tell her "oh i was told it was included in the membership" and she says the membership (which is 600 bucks) is to borrow 3 toys at a time. All the toys are outdated minus maybe a small table with a handful of lovevery toys.... I kinda laughed and said "is there a calendar to see which events come with the membership and she says "you have to pay additional for the events; if i have to pay for it, you have to pay for it" (word for word). We stayed maybe an hour total and then left. I called that afternoon and asked if i could refund my membership and that i would pay the drop in fee for the visit we had and she denied it but ends with "but i do hope to see you and your son back, he was so sweet" and hangs up. I tried getting groupon to refund but she denied it (they have to get her approval) and now im just disputing it with my bank. read more

OMG!! We Love Toybrary! I'm a mother and a nanny and I love bringing my kids here! When it's too hot for the playground, or too much rain to be outdoors, Toybrary is the place to play! You pay one price and can play all day. You can also bring your own snacks. Lot's of toys to enjoy. Tons to check out if you're a member, and also new toys for purchase. The owner Liza is super sweet and very patient with the children. You can tell she loves what she does. I've been enjoying Toybrary for over 5 years now! Thank you Liza! read more

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Our little one loves it here. Being able to take toys home is a huge plus, since she gets to explore new toys and find creative ways to combine them with the ones we have a home. Most toys follow Montessori principles, so don't expect shiny plastic toys, its mostly wood. read more

Perfect place to have a seat and just let the kids be kids. I have a 1 year old crawler and a 4 year old so it's rough for me to find places they can both enjoy. This place is perfect!! They even have comfy chairs for parents with baskets full of massage tools which is awesome . They have free play for $7 where the kids can play with anything on the floor or out in reach, including my son's favorite, the costumes! The backyard is also a wonderful place for the kids to play so make sure to get out back there. Stocked diaper table, clean, friendly and a brilliant idea. read more

Toybrary Austin - Toy Stores Near Me - Austin, Texas

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I was browsing Yelp and read a few strange reviews about the Toybrary. I've been going here (and the previous location) with my kids for over 6 years. I've probably been 100x in those 6 years so here's what I have to say to the negative reviews. 1. Yes, there are toys that you cannot play with (up on higher shelves) They tell you that when you enter. The Toybrary is a toy lending library. You pay to use toys for as long as you want and return them and get another lot of toys. It's a genius idea if you ask me so your kids always have age appropriate, educational toys and you don't have to keep buying them. The other part of the Toybrary is open play. Lots of toys, ride ons, dolls, slides, trains, pretend kitchen, more dress up costumes than I've ever seen, an awesome outdoor space with sandbox and shades and unshaded areas as well as a garden! 2. The owner is one lady who does everything herself. She has ALWAYS been super friendly, kind, and nice to me and my kids. I've never gotten even a tiny bit of anything rude or nasty from her so I cannot believe she's done that to anyone. It just doesn't seem like her. I am basing this on the hours I've sat there watching my kids happily play. I observe what's going on! 3. Someone wrote about them being on Facebook a lot. I subscribe to the Toybrary page on Facebook so I know what activities are going on for my kids. Yes I'm sure she's posting on Facebook but how else can a small business in Austin survive? Advertising and getting the word out is the only way I can think of that a business can inexpensively get their word out. To say "go to Catch Air" is basically like saying "screw the small businesses of Austin, don't support them, don't shop local, only go to the big box stores, etc.". My parents had a small business and I know how hard they had to work just to stay open so I empathize with the hardworking small business person. It's just my opinion and you're entitled to your own but I stand by my previous reviews and pictures that say this is a rare gem in Austin. Our kids don't need to be constantly stimulated by lights and music and high intensity jumping/running. Quieter, imaginative play is important in today's hectic times and that's exactly why I drive over 30 minutes often to take my youngest to Toybrary. It's good "old fashioned" fun. The biggest plus is they have really cool and unique events often. That's why I subscribe to their Facebook page. That way I'm aware of what my son may be interested in. A few days ago he got to hold and feed and caress a baby Kangaroo! It's just a cool place! read more

The Toybrary Austin is a great place to have a baby's birthday party! They cater to children age 6 months up to 5 years old, and offer a variety of cool, imaginative and educational toys ready to be played with! Full disclosure for the Type-A parents out there (who are like me): the sheer amount of toys strewn about can be a bit overwhelming at first, but just relax and look around-- your kiddos are in paradise! We hosted Zoe's 1st birthday party here and it was reasonably priced, super fun and completely stress free! Probably the easiest birthday party I've ever organized (I also have a 17 year old, so I know how party planning can go sometimes). Parties here are two hours long and your guests have access to the inside and outside play areas. Our designated party room was pre-decorated, but left enough wall space for our own decorations. You can bring in your own cake, food and drinks. They even have a full-sized refrigerator in the party room where you can store your perishable items. The bathrooms, toys and play areas during our visit were clean and well kept. Overall, our birthday girl and her guests had a wonderful time celebrating at the Toybrary. I highly recommend checking them out if you're looking for a fun place to celebrate your little ones! read more

It bothers me that Toybrary, a place where kids go to SHARE toys, is open for business right now during this coronavirus outbreak. Two days ago they sent emails that said "We're open. Come play." With no message about coronavirus or suggesting what they were doing to mitigate it by cleaning. When I called to ask what the thinking was behind this, she said, "If you feel comfortable coming, then come. If you don't, don't." Then she hung up. Well, I don't feel comfortable with asymptomatic kids spreading this disease to the immune suppressed and elderly. Today the email was about not stressing and child care and staying healthy. Well, staying healthy means staying home! I've always been a proponent of Toybrary and the programs it offers. I fully understand that people may have to work and they are trying to offer a place for kids to go while mom or dad works, but the fact that they aren't even acknowledging the crisis in their emails makes me think they aren't doing anything about it (cleaning, disinfecting, etc.). We have to get ahead of this thing now! It will be too late in 10 days. And everyone -- and I mean everyone, including cute places like Toybrary -- needs to be as responsible as possible! read more

Toybrary Austin - As of March 13. No messaging on protecting kids and the general public. - Toy Stores Near Me - Austin, Texas

Updating to 5 stars for drop off childcare. Now I can go to a yoga class on a Tuesday or Thursday - it's so hard to find a sitter for an hour or two! I must have also missed the light music and rugs for babies to crawl on before. There's tons of bikes etc for the kids to roam around the room. And a separate room for classes. And they have a calendar filled with tons of events for the kiddos from holiday themed (it's Easter month so they have an Easter hunt, crafts, decorating Easter eggs with daddy) to Kinderdance/gym (where you pay $10 to drop in for tap/ballet/gymnastics), baby sign language, music class with Miss Ariel, Zoofari, Chinese lessons, Meet a Fairy, Staci Gray concert etc. It's nice to drop in for a class instead of having a semester obligation to somewhere like Heartsong! read more

Toybrary Austin - March 2016 Calendar - Toy Stores Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Our two toddlers love Toybrary and Ms. Liza, and we do too! From the friendly and safe environment to the very flexible options for childcare, we feel very fortunate to have Toybrary in our neighborhood! read more

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I wanted to love this place truly I did. And I want this to be clear, I'm a first time mom and yes I'll always be a helicopter mom BECAUSE I know how other parents parent or in better words, how they don't parent. My daughter has only been to one daycare and we didn't take her until she was about a year and a half. I truly recommend WorkCastle in north Austin they have everything THIS place doesn't. I want to start off with the smell, I immediately got a huge rush of the smell of dirty diapers and if you know that smell then you know that it means it's been there for a while. The owner wasn't snappy but she was very uninterested in anything other than us buying stuff. Within the first 5 minutes a little girl started screaming in my daughters face, I understand kids will be kids but if you are going to run an establishment catered to children you better get your ass up and correct the behavior instead of sitting at your computer and texting every 5 minutes. I had to correct that little girl twice before I said no we're going to the other room. There aren't any cameras in this facility, none that I saw so I'm wondering why this owner doesn't follow the children around yes you can't catch everything they do but as I said again if you are an establishment catered to children and especially childcare, get your ass up and check on the kids. The outside area was a mess it looked like a toy dump, there was also a makeshift house thing for kids that I refused to let my daughter go in because it screamed "SPLINTER ALERT". Honestly I could go on and on about food being left out, the amount of toys on the floor that can really be unsafe especially for smaller children. All in all I expected more, this place just wasn't what it needs to be and I wonder why the owner is still running it considering she does not watch the children. I'd like to bring up WorkCastle again because they have amazing customer service, great childcare, teachers always around, and cameras to ensure safety. Maya the co founder is such a wonderful person and my daughter absolutely loves her. If you want a place that is ACTUALLY clean and organized, safe and welcoming, and so much more to offer, WorkCastle is the perfect place. Don't waste your time here at Toybrary. Also before the owner replies, because yes hun I saw your numerous replies. No I'm not going to say anything in person because 1.there are children there who don't need to hear it and 2. I'm not going to argue with someone who has had bad reviews for over 7 years and still hasn't taken proper steps to improve. I'm just coming back after she replied and all I'm really going to say is if y'all want to figure it out yourselves by all means go for it. But for the owner, you need to hire at least 2 other staff to help you watch the children because I'm sorry I watched you were not watching them. If you want to lie and say you were contacting all those people go for it but again it doesn't make sense how you say you're doing that but then not watching the children. Very contradictory. read more

With a 2 year old and a 8 year old I've basically lived here for the past 5 years. It's a lovely small community that feels like a second home. My 2 yo is in their daycare pod and I highly recommend it. Super flexible and full of fun activities every week. But the best part is being a member and being able to just stop in for a breather in between errands and soccer practice...also not having a million toys cluttering my home is great. At first visit, toybrary can seem a little chaotic and overwhelming....but you have to realize it mimics a home environment and kids take to this right away. Just remember when you walk out you leave behind the chaos and your kid leaves having played to their hearts content read more

Toybrary Austin - Waylon - Toy Stores Near Me - Austin, Texas

Negative first; The only reason why I took 1 star the backyard play area need some TLC upkeep, we lasted 10 minutes out there (they need cooling fans with mist with the heat) Okay the good; for $7 each (for as long as you want !) it was good , plenty of options to pass the time and my two toddlers stayed busy for hours , they offer baby pouch food and drinks if they get hungry (for a fee of course) they have a changing area and the staff if really patient and sweet... id come if I have nothing planned and need to get the toddlers out and about the house... read more

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I really appreciate having a place like Toybrary to take refuge from the unbearable summer heat and to entertain three very energetic children. I'd say the selection of toys there are great for kiddos 4 and under. There are dress-up costumes, riding toys, a train set/table, and more. Members can borrow three toys at a time, which I haven't actually taken advantage of since that would be one more thing I'd have to keep track of. There's a changing table with diapers and wipes and an outdoor area with shade, toys, and a sandbox to keep the kids busy. I appreciate Liza and her efforts to make life a little easier for parents. read more

Nice idea, but to me it's overrated and over priced to just play. It's a room full of used, worn toys. Most if not all look like they were bought from a garage sale, dolls have no clothes, everything just looks broken down. For the price to just come play, it's not great. Just take your kids to a play date at someone's house. The toys will be cleaner at least. It's just dirty and disappointing. I would have told all of this to the owner, but I could see she was so busy on Facebook the whole time. There were bags of toys that the kids "couldn't play with" and I thought that was odd. It's not like they have to be sanitized here or anything..... There were toys on the floor that they *could* play with, but they were things like bikes (how could anyone ride two wheeled bikes in there...?), some rundown baby strollers with broken wheels, a huge tattered up, dirty stuffed tiger, broken trains at the train table, and nasty looking stuffed dolls and animals. Don't trust the pictures, that must be the old building. Update- My kids, ages 18 m and 3, were actually okay with leaving after 30 minutes. I looked the owner in the eye and told her "thank you, have a nice day" expecting a smile or a "you too." But all I got was her turning her head back to the computer for Facebook or whatever else is more important than customer service. (She was probably angry about this review that I posted while in there.) Immediately washed our hands with baby wipes once out of that place, out of desperation. So disappointed, will never return. Will tell all my mommy friends to beware and stay away. Save your self the trouble and go to CatchAir!!! read more

Toybrary Austin - Toy Stores Near Me - Austin, Texas

Toybrary is a neat idea, but I don't agree with the owner's concept. She has toys all over the place, but has shelves and shelves of toys in plain view that can only be played with if you have a membership. I wish she would set those toys in a separate room so that the non-membership kids wouldn't see them. I feel like this is like dangling a carrot in front of a toddler, which obviously doesn't go over well. I had to say to my son over and over again, "baby you can't play with those toys" which caused a total meltdown. The play area in the back is also really dirty and gross. I agree with some of the other reviewers - the owner does not seem friendly at all. As much as I wanted to enjoy this place, I'm no longer going to bring my son to the Toybrary since it caused more tears and joy. read more

The idea is genius. However, the owner is pretty rude. She seemed annoyed that we were there. No one else was there. I told her I only planned on staying about 45 minutes and she seemed relieved. It wasn't even near closing time, we came right in the middle of her open business hours. While there, I saw flyers promoting childcare and date nights out and it seemed really affordable so I inquired more and she just seemed annoyed and short. She mentioned that she was the one who would be providing the childcare and I was like oof, Nevermind. I would never feel comfortable leaving my sweet baby with someone who seemed like our presence in her business was an inconvenience. Customer service needs work. read more

The indoor facility is a great option for this Texas heat. We were first timers and my granddaughter immediately began to play. We were charged $7 to play and Immediately reminded to only play with toys on the floor. Toys on shelves are for members only. We headed outside to see the playground. It definitely needs some TLC. Maybe have someone come and blow the area and wash the toys down. The sandbox was quite empty. Head back inside and the owner is still in front of her computer. She does not interact with you after you pay. I tried to get info on drop off and she asked me to speak to another lady about daycare. This lady sent me back to the owner. She then stated that she needs to clarify the difference and after the brief explanation (which she seemed bothered i asked), I stated I would just search the website and she was fine with this. It's a good concept but people that work with children or run this type of facility should interact more with children/parents/customers. While asking about drop off she seemed frustrated that my granddaughter was touching the "for sale" toys. I decided at this point it was time to head out. read more

Liza sent me an invite through Meetup to come have a play date at her store. Figured I'd check it out in person before scheduling an event there. It didn't disappoint. Great location. Central to lots of restaurants, Starbucks and stores. Makes for a fun afternoon out and about. We walked in and were not greeted by Liza at the front desk. She was busy with a customer for the first 15 minutes we were there and it took that long to get an acknowledgement of our presence. She just seemed busy but it's always a nice feeling to get a smile and "hello." Once she did acknowledge us, she was very nice. She asked if we were members or there for $3 play. Mentioning it was the latter, I got up to pay with my $20. The payment options were a) I could purchase a stamp card, in cash; five visits for $15 with the 6th visit free or b) Use a credit card for the $3 because she only had a $5 for change. Since I didn't know if we would use the additional five visits, I opted for $3 trial visit. If you go, bring some cash if you want to avoid using your credit card. The first thing I noticed were the cement floors. Total nightmare for the little ones. I felt my face flush with nervousness a few times when Kiddo attempted the slide. Crisis diverted by stacking a few of the circular rugs under the end of the slide, but I still had to hover. Wearing shoes down the slide was a bad idea, as it caused accidental braking down the sides when shoes touched. Socks caused no hiccups. When I asked Liza about the cement floors, she said she had considered mats or larger rugs but that so many parents loved the unencumbered space for the kids to ride the little bikes they provide. Makes sense but it's still a nightmare for those still wobbly or little daredevils. Probably a low profile carpet would work well to solve for both the bike riders and parents worried about bodily injuries. They had a good selection of toys to play with; playhouse, ride on toys, bikes, dress up clothing, kitchen, magnets, wooden toys, real metal mini shopping carts, a slide and many others. Also comfy chairs for the parents. The bathroom was stocked with a mini potty toilet ring and diapers. Sweet touch. Liza let us run free and didn't hover. Kiddo had a fun time and it was $3 well spent. We will be back for future open play and some of the fun events they have. Look forward to coming back. It was like discovering a jewel. read more

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Wow! What a rude response from the owner, now I will DEFINITELY not come back. I'll also be telling my friends. You run a business, be kind. Not condescending. Also, YOU and YOU ALONE are in charge of keeping your business clean. You own it and run it. It is not the customer's responsibility. Take pride in your business, don't expect others to do your work for you. By the way, it was a child that was with you, who left the spaghetti. I saw you both. Not sure if he was yours or a friend's child, but it was clear that you were the adult responsible for him. read more

I feel really bad for this business and everyone who thinks their child is being properly cared for. I met the business owner, who at one time may have been passionate about caring for children. That time is long gone... I walked in and was not greeted, or acknowledged. I met my wife and daughter who decided to check the place out since recently having our first child. The lady in charge was disinterested in anything I had to say, and didn't want to converse with me at all. She was watching someone's child as a "drop off" service for $10 that is not advertised. This said "drop off" service consists of leaving your child with the business owner who is distracted at the front desk, and not watching your child. Your infant or toddler literally roams around and the business owner depends on other parents to watch your child. I was a parent who was watching my child, as well as the other unattended child. This business owner didn't even ask us to help watch the other children in the room, she just expected it to happen since other adults were in the room. I am flabbergasted at this terrible demonstration of a business, and example by the business owner. This business owner also made it clear, she doesn't sanitize toys daily. She expects parents to hand her toys they land in a child's mouth, and only cleans toys when they "look" dirty. Not only is this place unsanitary, but you are leaving you child in an environment that is polluted by all sorts of sickness and germs left behind by a business owner who is not present. If you take your child her, PLEASE stay and watch them. Pay attention to the environment they are exposed to, and don't allow the business owner who is counting her bottles of wine delivered by her monthly "wine club" deter you from reality. What a shame of a business. I can't believe the place has 4 stars. Maybe in 2015, but not anymore! What a disgrace. read more

I just don't feel like this place is really worth the money. Maybe if it was bigger or more spread out but I kind of felt our kid got maybe an hour in a backyard for $12 read more

This is genius! Stay at home moms need just a break an hour or two! And I wish I took advantage of this when I lived in Austin! I had to kill two hours while my step son was at therapy in Austin and my 18 month old was so entertained by all the toys ! Loved it ! read more

Toybrary Austin - Toy Stores Near Me - Austin, Texas

This place is amazing! I brought my 4-year-old here again today and she didn't want to leave. Amazing dress-up and imaginative play areas, smart and well-designed toys, and a great outdoor play area. This place is just the right size for busy preschoolers without being overwhelming. The owner is great, it is one of the few kid-play places where I feel like everything is clean, and it is located centrally with parking which is a big plus for me. It kind of feels like going to someone else's playroom with all the best toys. I totally recommend for baby- 5s. read more

They have so much to entertain all ages. This place is amazing! There's an outdoor area that's completely shaded all day. A large selection of ride-on toys and ton to choose from for checking out toys to take home. read more

Toybrary Austin - Toy Stores Near Me - Austin, Texas

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We had a great 4th birthday party at Toybrary. It was great to have the place to ourselves, particularly because our group included some kids who have sensory issues and don't do well in over-crowded venues. The birthday room is already decorated so we didn't have to do anything, and there's so many toys that the kids didn't need any extra entertainment. Such a good investment for a memorable morning. All our guests loved it. read more

We absolutely love this place!!! Every time we are in town we take advantage of this gem. If you're a busy momma that needs a few moments to breathe or get some work done take advantage!! Such friendly faces but best of all I don't have to worry about my kids playing with screens! Al the toys are imagination driven. Thank you so much for having such a fun place for my little ones to enjoy, we will definitely be back EVERY time we are in town. read more

Toybrary Austin - Toy Stores Near Me - Austin, Texas

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