Kids At Heart Toys

Kids At Heart Toys is fantastic. They’ve been around forever and I know why. They sell an inventory of high quality toys that not only appeal to kids but also the child at heart, hence the name. I appreciate that they sell environmentally conscious brands alongside some classics I grew up with. One good selling point is understanding how to capture nostalgia. They do that well here.

always have a great selection of jellycats here! so hard to find now but this is my favorite go to place.

Always something magical to discover here for kids of all ages! The staff here is incredibly kind and gracious.

What a great toy store on Hawthorne. Amazing selection of all sorts of toys for all ages of kids. Way better than one of these big box retailers. A great local toy store

Love this place. Very clean inside. Staff is nice and the selection of toys can range from infants to toddlers. Some toys for big kids too!

I love bringing my nephsons in here to look at all the toys, games, and stuffies. Tons to choose from- puzzles, books, games, toys, stickers, maze/word puzzle books.

I've been shopping at this place for years and years but had totally forgotten about it, until we waited too long to order our nieces' and nephews' Christmas presents from Amazon. My husband suggested we go here and I'm so glad we did! It's such a fun, well-curated store, with a great mix of new toys and games, and tons of old school ones from when we were kids, that made it fun to shop there together and reminisce about all our old faves. They have such a great mix of heftier presents, and then also a bunch of fun little toys that make great stocking stuffers or fun add-ons. Their prices can't be beat--I'm sure we spent less than we would have on Amazon anyway, and feel much better about supporting a local small business. They have a huge age range so I'm sure we'll be shopping here as Auntie & Uncle for many years to come.

Beautiful store with lots of different types of toys. A good selection of calico critters!

So many stuffies!!! This is a great place to channel your inner child and shop for toys and gifts (for friends and yourself). I was surprised by their selection of Jellycats too! I bought one for a Jellycat Secret Santa Exchange that I'm hosting. This store is definitely worth a visit if you're walking down Hawthorne! Friendly staff too!

Saved us grandparents on Christmas 2024! Every gift was much loved. Perfectly wrapped gifts, too.

I always want to support a local business and my husband and we came in here to get some stuffed animals for our kiddo's wishlist. We loved the selection they had and it really is dreamy. But gosh...the customer service. Or lack thereof. They weren't busy and tried to not even give me a bag for two stuffed animals let alone even offer gift wrapping - they had so much tissue paper. I feel kind of bad shopping here when I could have supported another local toy store. I should've read the reviews before coming here. Not sure why they have been having customer service complaints for over ten years now. Eek! Hopefully they can improve their service.

Such a cute shop! Tonssss of stuffed animals in every shape and size. They have toys for all ages and all occasions. You really couldn't ask for anything more. From babies, books, puzzles, games and more they have it all. Will definitely be back!

I think I could've spent several hours here just browsing at all the things and buying gifts for my 2, 5, and 7-year olds. Outside of big retailers, there aren't many good, physical toy stores left and this one has all the feels of being a kid and going into a toy store with wondrous delight everywhere you turn. Here, it's not on app on the screen: Touch, feel, and see the toys because they've got new stuff and "oh my gosh, remember this?!" stuff. There is something for almost every age group and a nice price range of items to choose from as well: stuffed animals, puzzles, stickers, cute pens, toy cars, wooden toys, legos, and so much more. I almost missed the "hidden" book section in the back! I do agree with another yelper that the employees are rather aloof and a bit unhelpful, but there isn't much one can help, unless you are looking for something specific and you're in a hurry. If you have kids and/or you're looking for gifts/rewards, this place is def a must-stop!

Such a beautiful store!!!! Staff are super friendly and the quality of everything that's sold there, is really nice! I've been going to that store for over 13 yrs. And still love it.

The store is amazing! Love the selection and products available. The workers there though leave much to be desired. Not a friendly, welcoming environment other than all the colorful toys everywhere, but the service was cold. Neither woman working while I was there earlier today spoke to any customer unless they were spoken to first, yet they had plenty to say to each other including about the customers who had just walked out the door, along with personal life stuff they were chatting about behind the counter. Makes me wonder if I really ever want to go there again, it's been one of my favorite toy shops for 10+ years... I hope these two today were the anomaly and that there's some actual friendly and service-oriented people who work there- if not, ya need to hire some!

I'll probably come across as the "kids these days!", grumpy old man stereotype in this review, but I don't think there's any harm in some good, old-fashioned nostalgia, as long as it is well-intended, and not mean-spirited. Here we go! The products here at Kids at Heart are the kinds of toys I wish were still as popular as they were in my childhood. In the age of smart phones, Playstations and TikTok, it feels like younger generations lack the creativity of their predecessors, likely the result of being ensorcelled by the seductive siren call of the ubiquitous smartphones and screens that surround us. We used to be the authors, actors and consumers of our own imaginations, spurred on by a handful of evocative toys and props. We made, and destroyed, worlds and stories that existed only in our minds. Now, playtime is consumed by whatever media being spoon-fed to us from our internet lords and masters. Stepping in to Kids at Heart from Hawthorne feels like being transported to another world, or at the very least, far from the bustle of one of Portland's busiest commercial streets, and into some fairytale boutique in a fictional, fantasy kingdom far, far away. A blanket of silence and serenity washes over you, as you browse their selection of toys, games, plushies, puzzles, books, clothing, costumes, and a whole lot more, with nary an electronic device in sight! Well, very few anyway, and certainly nothing with a screen, as far as I could tell. Prices are very reasonable, especially for a boutique store. It's no wonder this place has been around since the 80s, and was able to survive the ravages of COVID. That says a lot about the quality of their selection of products. I have a handful of nit-picks about their management and daily operations: their counter staff has always been rather aloof and disengaged from their customers, rarely engaging except for a brief welcome upon entry, and the barest minimum of communication during check out. I'm also not a fan of their decision to continue to require masks inside while shopping, despite the statewide mandate being expired for nearly a month, but this seems to be the M.O. for just about every business on Hawthorne, so I can suck it up, for now. At least they provided some at the door. Despite these gripes, there are few toy stores as charming and comprehensive as Kids at Heart, and even fewer where your purchase is almost guaranteed not to require batteries, an electronics warranty or protection plan: most of the toys are as disconnected as the employees running the place.

Kids at Heart has been around for a very long time. I remember passing by this store on Hawthorne in the late 90s. It seems they have constantly kept the toys updated, and children (as well as adults) of all ages are likely to find something interesting, fun, and playful. One of the most amazing parts of this toystore is actually the books section in the back. Many of them are hand-picked by the employees and seem to be in excellent organization, either based on theme, age, etc. The toys are also excellent. I especially like the games and puzzles section. If you are buying toys as gifts, they provide an expedient and beautiful gift wrapping service (to the best of my knowledge this was free of charge). Definitely one of the best toy stores in town, if you are able to find parking nearby (or you can Park at Fred Meyers, buy something there, and take a stroll around Hawthorne :) )

" Kids at heart is probably the best toy store in the whole world. Because I'm really attached to kids at heart. I've just been going to it my entire life your business is just a really good place. Have you seen the elemental monsters that I sometimes get? I'm the one with the golden blonde hair." Liam aka "Zed" Age 7 almost 8

We debated long and hard between 4 or 5 stars. My 7 year old said 5 but the older two thought there wasn't quite enough for the older child. The store is large, friendly and stuffed full of toys and stuffies. The toy selection for the younger child is solid, Theres even a book selection at the back and lots of squishies to choose from. Where the store truly excels is it's stuffed items, from mini avocado squishables, to toothy sharks (and lesser jelly cat items) from rotund three dogs (the true form of fluffy from HP) to plump unicorns and huggable giant tacos:) The lady was friendly, the prices were reasonable (good for some items purchased) and there was a nice array of pocket money items to gifts!

I love going to this toy store because it's local, convenient to our home, and has a great selection. However, I will echo a lot of these other reviews and say that the many times I've been in there, Customer Service has been lacking. There has not been a single time I've been in the store where I was greeted, asked if I needed help, or made to feel like anyone cared that I was there at all. I'm so torn because I really like the store, but I feel like at the very least the employees could say hi when customers walk in.

This place was very cool!!! The toys there were cool, people were nice, overall good experience! The bracelets were really cool. I got one a few years ago and I still have it, it looks like I bought it yesterday! I can admit, the bracelets are a bit pricey, but they are worth it !

"OMG I remember when I used to come here when I was little & be obsessed w/ toys." -the little girl walking by the store as I walk into the store.... How can you walk by a toy store & not be mesmerized...OK fine. Maybe it IS just me. They have so much stuff jammed beautifully into this tiny store. They have finger puppets, which I proceeded to play with by myself. I rock, I know. If there was one that looked like me I would've bought it fo'sho. They have a lot of stuffed animals, board games, figurines, etc. They have those sticker books that I never got to have as a kid too! I should've bought the whole display to make up for that missing part of my childhood. All the adults in there seemed to have an excuse for being in there like nieces and nephews and what nots. I may have to wait at least 9 month til I'll have a niece so until then I'll just have to do.

Decent variety of gifts. Not as expensive as one would think with the location. Staff not friendly or helpful.

Had to get a last minute gift for my nephew & wanted to support a local business. I had an idea of what I wanted and called ahead to see if they had something like that in stock. The worker who answered my call was nice and took the time to find the item and let me know how much it was when I asked. The store was a great size: just big enough to have well-made toys stuffed in every nook & cranny but not too big that you feel overwhelmed. I'll def be back to find more gifts for the little guy.

So the kiddo got some money for her birthday and we ended up over in the Hawthorne neighborhood. We went into a few differnt place but I wasn't seeing anything that really popped out to get for her. So we walked into Kids at Heart and there were quite a few learning toys, books, puzzles, puppets and dress up clothing to choose from. There were plastic dinosaurs, science kits, fossils, glow in the dark items... all sorts of things to keep the imagination in overdrive. My kiddo had alot of fun in this store and she ended up finding a pink feather boa and some really cool butterfly wings. She has yet to put them on, but they look very durable and better than some of the ones she has had in the past. This store has been open for 26 years. So they must know a thing or two about keeping children's minds growing. Most of the reading and writing books are geared for slightly older kids (mine is four) and the woman at the store offered suggestions on where I could go if I wanted some material more in line with my daughters learning. Very helpful. Really nice store.

I have been to Kids At Heart Toys many times in the past. This is a great toy store with a nice selection and great customer service.

Cute little toy store. We stopped in looking for some birthday presents for our niece and nephew, and there were quite a few families checking things out. We told the women behind the counter that we weren't really kid people and asked about some age-appropriate toys and they came and helped us out. They also gift wrapped everything for us. We found books and toys that were super cute and supposedly sustainably made and all that crap cuz it's Portland. There's a decent amount of variety for infants and kids through the age of 10, and a separate room for books as well. There were even costumes and such. One thing to note is it is strictly a toy store, so you won't find clothes or general supplies. The thing I loves about local shops is they lessen the likelihood that someone else bought the same gift, or that it's something they already have. Let everyone else go to Toys R Us. I'll come here.

Great local store. They have an awesome selection of things like games and crafts. My kids also like the awesome shelves of stuffed animals. We also get sticker books and small toys for trips.

This is a very nice neighbourhood toy store and apparently with a generous community heart. That observation is based on the bulletin board in the back with all the donation thank you letters. My son and I wandered in a few days ago. It's an attractive and relatively small store, that jammed with all sorts of well-made and intelligent toys that seem to be targeted to the under 12 set. We also met up with his mother who was in the process of buying a few fun bath toys for her grandson. She's right in her comment that this place is too "natural" for what our son likes to buy, play with, and of course lose. In other words, if you're looking for Magic cards or the latest movie-related toy (e.g. Transformers), this store offers some nice alternatives and even an upgrade.

If I needed a gift for a child, I think this is where I would instinctively think to come. I first encountered them one year during Little Boxes. Most recently I was drawn in after seeing a large, plush avocado in the window. Let's be clear, this actually wasn't an impulse buy. I was rushing to an appointment when I saw the avocado and then I thought about how great it was for three whole days before when I went back to purchase it. I was so worried they wouldn't have it anymore, but they had a bunch! Tons of smiling avocado friends everywhere. And that's not all...they had plush ramen and octopods and pufferfish and so many wonderful creatures! I really like that I was able to use a Chinook Book coupon. I also purchased a gift and the woman wrapped it so beautifully. I was just really impressed with the experience I had here. Pretty great. Ooo, and they make massive Squishables that I hope the store can stock some day...especially the narwhal one!

I really like the products here. The toys are great and they have a lot of old fashioned looking toys. There seems to be everything to make the kid happy. My issue is the employees. I agree with the other reviewer that the employees seem too cool to be working here. Umm...sorry, no. I've been to other independent toy stores and the employees are more than happy to help you. I've been there a few times and never had the feeling I want to keep going there. More like, look around, grab what you want, pay, leave. And yes, I had to ask for a bag.

The toy selection is great and I always find fun, unique items. The staff, however, is consistently rude. This was my third visit and I don't see myself going back because I always leave wondering why I go there when the staff acts like me being there is an inconvenience and the checkout process is always very awkward. This is a children's store - find employees that don't act annoyed with children.

Just went in this cute toy store for the first time. I was the only potential customer in the place. There were two women who worked there behind the counter chatting and another woman in the back office. The bell chimed when I came in, but no one said hello. I was looking for something fun for my daughter and walked around the whole shop for several minutes. No one said hi to me. No one asked if they could help with anything. I only left without purchasing anything because they didn't recognize that I was there even though they looked at me a few times. When I left they didn't say anything either. I wonder why retail stores are struggling...

In my experience Kids at Heart goes the distance to satisfy their customers. Online, if the toy I want is out of stick they will suggest another. They are also constantly adding to their online inventory. I know they are largely a local Portland business but their online presence is another way to make the most of pamdemic need to shop online. And they will deliver to locals!

We love our local toy store and make an effort to shop here as much as we can. Their selection is incredible. I am always amazed at how many good quality toys (and children books) they have in stock. They have a lot to choose and everything is great. Plus, they do an incredible job of wrapping every single toy (something you don't get with Amazon).

This was my kiddo's first toy store. We lived in the area for her first year of life. I think they have an awesome selection of toys for all ages. I miss walking here with her. Oh, the memories.... The staff are always very nice, and they do free gift wrap for you. I like that. It's a sweet little store if you're in the area.

Such a perfect store!! Amazing toys and gifts for all ages (everything from newborn to pre-teen). Everything from locally made, unique options to the hottest trends. Really fun, helpful staff. This store is such an asset to the neighborhood and has solved all my last-minute gift needs. Shop local!!

I had another chance to head over to Kids at Heart Toys this past week and really enjoyed myself. It really is just so cute inside that you can be won over just from all the goodies... But, this time while shopping we were walking around near the infant toys and someone did help us. We still actually had to ask her instead of being asked, but at least she was THERE. We asked for some ideas on toys that my 4-month old niece could "grow into". We got some great suggestions, and my niece really loves to shove that wooden teether into her mouth. This is the kind of place that can be fun for all ages... in fact, next time I might need to head over w/o my niece in mind - I might find something cool for myself.

I visited Kids At Heart Toys while I was in Portland to buy my favorite niece a gift. They have lots of great toys for many ages. The staff seemed friendly. They have a wonderful selection of finger puppets. I bought a finger puppet puppy dog for my niece. I would recommend this store to people in the area. It's a fun place to walk though.

Had what I needed to make Christmas morning special for my boy. When I called, they picked up the phone right away, found what I was looking for, took my payment, and when I arrived in their parking lot (yes, a business with a parking lot on Hawthorne!), they brought it out to the car. Blew my mind! Great place. Did I forget to mention that is was December 23rd?

I love this store. They've always got quality products for a reasonable price. The staff has pretty high turnover, but the staff has always been friendly. They're fine with kids playing with their toys, and I've never felt pressured to buy there. There's a wide variety, unlike some other stores. It's a good local toy store.

It was obnoxiously pivoting to see how unprofessional the employee was today on 7/23/2021 around 3 pm. When I walked in the store with my son both wearing masks to spent a large amount of money on toys for my children. Right after I entered a store there were a family of four with a little girl below age two. The employee of the store started yelling to the parents that her toddler needs to wear a mask, when the mother told her that she is below two, the employe still continue to yell at the mom that she cannot shop here. I understand that it is the right of the business to let who can shop in the store and who cannot. What I don't understand is that who gave the right to the employee to yell at the stranger just because her daughter was not wearing a mask. This yelling caused this little girl to go into tantrum and I just could not stand it and left the store. You just lost a very generous new customer because of your unprofessionalism and I hope there will be less stores like this. I don't know if this lady was the owner of the store or an employee, but I had been not feeling well after that incident since it was so nerve wracking.

Not only does Kids at Heart have a great selection of toys, it's also serious about supporting the local community! Recently, they generously donated a gift certificate in support of our non-profit's raffle, the proceeds of which go toward providing scholarships, so all kids, regardless of income, can participate in high-quality arts experiences! This company not only talks the talk it also walks the walk!

A kids paradise! From books to toys this store is bound to have something for every kid. We found two cute books for our expecting bundle of joy. We will be back to build our book nook!

They say that people only leave reviews when they are annoyed by something, and that's the case here. I frequently shop at Polliwog for the endless stream of birthday gifts having a 3-year-old seems to demand, but thought I'd branch out a bit and headed over to Kids at Heart. Great selection, really. Tons of options. Priced a touch high on some stuff, but one stop shopping for sure. But then I go up to the counter where 3 people are kind of hanging out chatting it up. Why have 3 people there if someone isn't on the floor helping customers? Its not like there are 3 express cash registers or something. The guy rings me up. Then just leaves my stuff on the counter and walks away. Didn't even ask me if I wanted a bag for the 4 items I purchased. And the reason I brought up Polliwog is that they immediately offer to wrap your gift. For free. And this guy couldn't even be bothered to ask me for a bag? Seriously, customer service folks. Try it. I'm sticking with Polliwog.

Right off of 34th and Hawthrone, this place is the best toy store in town! Well maybe second to Finnegan's but hey, best on this side of town. One of my favorite toy stores to just get lost in and play with all the little things they have here. I've bought many toys/gifts for people here, just look around and you'll find something for either yourself or another person. The name is perfect for me also! I always find myself as a kid, and I love that saying, "Kid at heart". The staff here is really friendly and will talk to you and help you find what you need, and if not they can direct you to where you'd be able to find it. The store is pretty small but you'll be amazed on how much stuff they actually could fit into this place. They even have a room for extra stuff! The prices are moderately priced, you get what you pay for though! I've bought so many things here since they've opened and all of them still look great! It's a great place to take kids also, they can run around and touch everything and you won't have to worry about much, unless they start knocking down stuff of course. Have fun and get lost in there!

Kids at Heart is Hawthorne's resident toy store whose selection presents a healthy blend of cute, expensive toys and kid oriented stuff with tried and true favorites. Barbie coexists with wooden toys for smart kids and there's plenty of playmobile in the mix, too. You can buy plenty of stickers to fill your sticker book, coloring books, and puzzles, too. There's also a room off to the side with a good selection of children's books.

I am so pleased with the service at this store. I needed help to get a birthday present delivered to a niece since I am out of state. Sarah helped me shop by phone and arrange all the gifts during the COVID19 shut down. I am so grateful for the help and will be shopping with them for all kids gifts going forward.

This is another great toy store. There are tons of stuffed toys, Brio trains, wooden toys, and Sanrio products. While the store is a bit small (compared to Finnegan's), it has a great selection for a local, neighborhood toy store. Kids are always happy to go in here and the staff is great. Plus they have a reading room!

Perfect Portland toy store! The owner, Elizabeth, was a delight to work with!

I'm never going to another toy store in my life! Just purchased a few toys for a closing gift for clients of mine and the gal working couldn't be more helpful. As someone who isn't a parent, buying toys is a little intimidating. I've always wanted to get something age-appropriate, that will also serve another purpose in development. When it comes to buying for a child that just turned one-year-old, what can you get? She led me to the wooden building blocks, walker toys, and other toys that inspire development. This is SO much better than buying a stuffed animal. She also helped me pick an age appropriate matching game for my client's three-year-old. These gifts were a hit, and I feel as if it was money well spent. Thank you, Kids At Heart Toys!

My kids and I are here almost every week. The inventory is good, clean store and they have a great changing table. We are there when it's busy and when it's quiet. I do my best to keep my 2.5 year old twins on the straight and narrow, but it's hard in a toy store. I try to put toys away, take dirty diapers with us and buy stuff. Almost every employee we encounter is friendly and helpful and doesn't pay much attention to my kids even when they are misbehaving. All except one.. Every time I'm in there I get a feeling like I'm being watched by this person. Today, the store was very busy and to be fair, one of my kids was not behaving. Before I could do anything about it, this person scolded my kid and I. The unforgivable offense was he was pushing a toy through the store and pulling items out of people's baskets. Keep in mind that he is only 2.5 years old this person is the ONLY staff that seems to have a problem with my kids playing in a toy store. Other kids were playing on the floor (in the way of customers) too. This person didn't say anything to them! Well, we soon left, and when we were walking back to my car this person saw me from the store and FOLLOWED ME outside to the parking lot!!! This person said "I need to have a serious conversation about your kids". I was in shock! Meeting me out back in the parking lot?? Really?? It was very strange and it made me VERY uncomfortable. I tried to explain that my kids are just 2 1/2 and I was doing the best that I could. Then this person said " Well, YOU need to a lot better job and I'm very worried about their safety" Their safety? Were you going to call CPS about their toy store behavior? Is that your job in addition to stocking shelves?? Obviously, I didn't take this well. Not only was I being followed to my car, I was getting parenting lessons by the person that is supposed to provide customer "service" at our local toy store!! As anyone can see, the common negative denominator about this store's Yelp reviews is the customer service. It's true, one bad apple....There are too many toy stores in the area to have to put up with this! We won't be going back!

There aren't a ton of brick and mortar toy shops around. This one was excellent, great selection, just the right kind of assortment for me. Excited to find this little gem rather than heading downtown every time. Can't wait for the next family birthday to explore this shop again.

I really, really like this place. I've never failed to find the perfect present for a friend's kid - they have tons of educational and crafty options, lots of books and stuffed animals, you can pick up and try out almost everything, and from my scattered observations things are mostly made in The U S of A. The products are pretty much arranged by age which is really helpful. And the staff is hands-off but always friendly, and I do get the sense that if you had a question they would be more than happy to answer it. Support a local biz and check this place out next time you need a gift for that curious but picky 3-year old.

What a great place, just stopped by they took good care of me and helped me find the perfect gifts. They are awesome, the toys are great they even gift wrapped my toys for Christmas would recommend this toy store.

Love the toys there but can't stand how indifferent the staff is. If you want to run a toy store, or any retail store for that matter, greet people when they walk in the door, smile at me when I come up to buy stuff. I've spent way too much at that store for the level of customer service that I've been given. I will try again in a few years to see if they've changed....

The best place in SE to find birthday presents for the kiddos. Lots of unique toys, books.