I’ll admit it. I still get a little giddy whenever I walk into one of the Boulder toy stores, and I’m well past the threshold for being considered a kid. Children’s toys are so much fun and they’re much more affordable than grownup toys (most of them, anyway), so now I make the excuse to venture into toy stores by shopping for my nieces and nephew.
As always, I prefer to shop local and support the Boulder economy, but local children’s toy stores are becoming more and more difficult to find as Toys ‘R’ Us, Target and Wal-Mart become faster, easier places to find all sort of toys in one place. But not to fear – there are plenty of independent Boulder toy stores to let you tap into your inner kid.
Into the Wind
If you grew up in Boulder, I dare you not to have at least one nostalgic memory involving Into the Wind. This mainstay on the Pearl Street Mall has been in business for over 30 years. Their main retail item is selection of gorgeous kites, but they have a fun variety of games and science toys as well.
Grandrabbit’s Toy Shoppe
Another Boulder toy store classic, Grandrabbit’s, has a plethora of fantastic toys from infant to preteen. With their commitment to service such a huge age span, there is a corresponding variety of toys in their shops as well. That’s right, I said shops. They’ve expanded and opened two more stores outside of Boulder, one in Westminster and one in Broomfield.
Kidrobot
This shop is more for the older kids and kids at heart. While there are four other Kidrobot locations around the country, the home office is based in downtown Boulder, making this store pretty special. The store specializes in vinyl and plush characters from their own imaginations and some collaborations with franchises like Marvel, Futurama and South Park. You might grab a Labbit, a rabbit complete with moustache and…butthole. Yup.
Tim’s Toy Trains
Located just outside Old Town Louisville on Highway 42 and South Boulder Road, this train store is perfect for parents and their children alike. It’s the perfect way to share a hobby with your kids.
While there may not be a metic gazillion of independent Boulder toy stores, there are still enough to find the perfect gift for the lucky kids in your life. Plus, you can test out some of the toys while you’re at it, giving your inner kid a chance to play, play, play.
