The best toy stores in Chicago

Nothing may be better than 4,000 square feet of toys. This well-curated shop has it all—the latest and greatest "it" toys, retro toys, European toys, puzzles, magic kits, baby products and more. (Parents of Thomas the Tank Engine–crazed kiddos will also be highly impressed with the train selection.) Better still, you won't pay more than the big-box stores.

This veritable palace of playtime locomotives lures regular customers to suburban Berwyn not just from Cook County but from northern Indiana and southern Wisconsin, too. (Toy-train enthusiasts from around the world have also been known to visit this family-owned shop, which has been operating for two decades.) The colorful displays of train sets you can play with will entertain your kid (and you) for hours. From Brio and Thomas the Tank Engine to Playmobil toys, Legos, Carrera, Breyer horses, puzzles and crafts, you can easily spend the day in this store. 

Heading to a baby shower? GALT Toys & Baby is your new best friend. You’ll find a range of infant and toddler toys like plush books and rattles. Moms and moms-to-be can find specialty strollers and nursery furniture. The store has certified technicians on-hand to help answer questions or do car installations.

You might bring your kid along to Quake Collectibles, but you're secretly going to relive your childhood. While the shop also carries modern toys, its real bread and butter is the best of the glory days: old-school Transformers, GI Joe, throwback Star Wars action figures, Strawberry Shortcake, Pez dispensers, vintage lunch boxes and so much more. You can't not find something you want here.

Toy de Jour is a trip back to the 1980s, with vintage toys, clothing, knickknacks and art from the era. Pick up your nostalgia here with figurines from classic franchises like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, He-Man, Star Wars and My Little Pony, or get your fill of it from the selection of equally nostalgic home decor and apparel.

What ever happened to good, clean, fun? It took up residence in Oak Park, at this funky shop. Expect to find an eclectic selection of favorites like retro robot toys, 1980s postcards and vintage-inspired tchotchkes. From Betty Boop to Dr. Who, the gang's all here—at affordable prices.

After six years of business in Bucktown, the toy store has moved to a bigger West Loop location. To stock the shop, owner Linda Schmidt did her research, filling it with familiar childhood favorites to puzzles galore and new games imported from Europe. There’s plenty of options for every age group, and the store even hosts family game nights and tournaments.