Boon Companion

I am a 32 year old woman and I think back fondly on my trips to boon companion. Now that I live in seattle, I had to find a new «smart toy» store… yes, I do still buy toys, and no I don’t have children. Even as a child I recall the owners being kind to me. My mom would frequently drop me off there to browse while she ran other errands. They would always treat me kindly and let me drool over the madame Alexandria dolls, even taking them out of the case so I could see them more closely. God, do they still sell zoob tubes there?! In any case, to anyone who found the owners of this store «rude», perhaps you need to look at how you or your children are behaving as customers, because I never had a rude experience (nor witnessed one) in all my trips to the Boon Companion. If you go shopping to hear someone tell you hello and goodbye, shop at Walmart.

We did all our Christmas shopping at Boon’s this year. John the new owner is amazing and can help you find the perfect gift for that hard to buy kid. We are so happy he has bought Boon and is in Claremont.

One of my favorite toy stores! I always get lost in here for hours playing with all of the different toys on display. They always have something new and interesting! I found a bunch of the things here and crossed some off my Christmas shopping list.

In honor of small business Saturday, I am leaving this review because I really want you to succeed. I want small shops to survive in an Amazon coupon controlled world, I understand that you cannot compete with Amazon prices, and I am willing to pay «full retail» to support a local business. Your prices on many items, however, seem higher than «retail.» For example, we came in looking for the Lego Cinderella castle. I was fully prepared to pay the «list» price of 69.99 knowing I could get it at Target for 59.99. I didn’t find that but we looked at the Ariel and Elsa castles. Your prices were higher than what I would consider the list price. How did I determine list? That is the price on the Lego store webpage not on sale. Now I understand that you still may have costs the Lego store does not, but I have trouble paying above that price without feeling ripped off. I also wish you had a better selection for preschool age kids in a reasonable birthday party present price range. We used to come in regularly for birthday presents because I could come last minute and have it wrapped, but your selection in the price range I feel comfortable spending is so limited. I wish you stocked more presents that feel like a complete gift that cost around $ 20.

I always feel like buying something here even though I can probably find most of the stuff online or elsewhere for lower price. I guess it stems from wanting to support a local mom & pop business as well as the nostalgic look of this place that takes me back to my childhood. Some of the items are quite unique and this place has several wooden toys that look like the ones I used to play with when I was little. Sometimes I can’t tell if I’m buying these toys for my daughter or for myself. I bought a wooden rocking horse recently and my daughter loves it. I like watching her ride it and saying «horsey, horsey.» I also bought a wooden abacus here a while back and use it to teach my daughter how to count.
I didn’t like coming here in the past because the previous owners were grouchy and mean. They really looked like they were tired of living. The new owner is cool and quite helpful. Now I usually make a point to stop here whenever I’m in Claremont Village. It’s located diagonally across from the Claremont Library.

NEW OWNERS! Super nice couple running this place now. They are always there to help you find what your looking for and really make you feel welcome unlike the previous owners. They carry a little bit of everything plus some really unique, hard to find items. I love this little shop!

We love Boon Companion! The new owners are wonderful and incredibly helpful. They have a wide variety of toys, games, and collectibles for kids of all ages. Shop local!

UNDER NEW OWNERSHIP! This is a great family-​run toy store in the Claremont Village. The owner, John, is very friendly and helpful. They have a great selection and I would rather shop locally! My kids love this store… they have reorganized things so it is easier to get around and feels more spacious. Great store!!!

This store is a local Claremont gem. Please DISREGARD comments about the ownership – the store is now under NEW OWNERSHIP. A very friendly and helpful younger family has bought this store. It has an excellent selection of high-​quality and unusual toys. Unlike the box store competitors, the quality of these toys is *real,* not just junk-​as-​soon-​as-​you-​get-​it-​out-​of-​the-​box. My three kids have never been disappointed with a toy I bought from Boon Companion.

New ownership has changed the personality of this lovely local store! They continue to offer a variety of high-​quality and more unusual toys, games, and books. The owners are friendly and genuinely committed to enhancing the reputation and playful environment of the store.

This store is under new owners. The new owner helped us when we went there, greeted us, and shook my hand for coming. The new owner seemed more than gracious for us coming in. It was our first time in Claremont and we love going in these kinds of stores. Our kids had a great time looking around. Just from this alone, if we are in town again, we will stop by. From reading previous comments, I would have they were talking about a different store. I hope the change in management keeps this store’s doors open. A definite jewel.

Every year we go here when we’re in Claremont for Record Store Day. The only reason we go here is because my daughter is with us and it only seems fair that she gets to go to a toy store after we shop at the record store for hours.
Not sure what their problem is? The store itself is very quaint but the proprietors are unfriendly, unwelcoming and downright rude. No greeting when we come in, no asking if we need help finding anything (we could be the only customers in the store and they still ignore us) and no thank you when we’re leaving (even if we buy something, no thank you at the end of the transaction). I want to support small local businesses, but when I’m treated so rudely, it makes me want to go shop at Target, Amazon or even WAL MART! How they survive is beyond me???

This Store Has Many Good Toys For Kids To Play With. Some Of The Toys Are Educational But Not On The High End Electronic Side. The Prices Are A Bit Steep But They Sell Things You Will Not Find At Other Stores. They Tend To Have Higher Quality Toys For Kids.
I Do Agree With The Other Reviews That The Owners Leave Little To Be Desired. They Seem To Be In A Perpetual Bad Mood, May Be They Should Pass The Baton And Let Others Run Their Store.

The most joyless toy store!!!
In a time when we are encouraged to shop local and independent stores, which I support, this place makes me long for Walmart! It truly is more unpleasant than a trip to a big box store!!! The owners of this musty smelling place are unfriendly and disdainful. They completely ignore you, and answer in monosyllables if you gather up the courage to ask a question. The toys are overpriced, and most you could find elsewhere for much less. What amazes me is how long this place has been in business. I guess Claremonters have been habituated to poor service for high prices by this and many other businesses in the village. I want to shop local, really I do. Just give me some good service for those premium prices!

So sad.
This store has great items, old-​fashioned dolls, games, figurines and such. I don’t understand how they could choose such fun stock and have such a horrid attitude towards their CUSTOMERS!?!
When my kids were smaller I would have to brave the owners to get some of this stuff because I did not know anywhere else that carried the Geiff Animal and Medieval figures they had (now I know, Thematic Attic in Covina has them – but that has a grumpy person in there, too – see my review on them)
And now, the reason for the One Star: the owners. This is the grumpiest, most miserable couple I have ever encountered, anywhere. Why on earth these two would own a store that caters to children – those loud, exuberant, happy little people– I have no idea. With their personality they should be tethered to an ironing board in the back of a dry-​cleaner that caters to the very, very, very old… preferably where they have zero contact with the general public.
The last straw was the time I went in and my daughter dared to touch a doll. The owner was on her like a SWAT team on a perp. My daughter actually jumped she snapped so sharply at her.
Go to Mrs. Nelson’s. At least they act like they like kids.

I just wanted to echo some of the other reviews below. This seems like a nice enough little toy store on the surface, but the owners are always just a sour, glaring pair. One expects something at least feigning to be fun and happy in a toy store. If I wanted glaring and sour faces, I could visit relatives instead.

Nice little toy store. Most of the toys are on the higher price then what i can get other places but we did buy something that was the same price.
They have a good selection of the certain stuff that they carry. My daughter is into the calico critters and they have a good selection. they had somethings we havent seen before, im guessing because hi price and thats why they still have them?

Stepping into this store is like stepping into a time machine… this is what you would imagine a toy store looked like in the movies /​stories.
Sure, the price is a bit higher than other places (Walmart, Toys r Us) but the quality of the toys are better. It seems like they have pre-​selected the toys so that they’re at a higher quality. Along with that, they do offer some advice (if you ask them first) on things. For example, we bought a kite the other day. I chatted with the gentleman working there for a while, found out where he went for kite flying. We ended up going to the same park that he used to go; my son and I had a great time. The kite was high quality, not like those cheapo ones you buy at Walmart. I think it’s the non-​material things that makes the difference in price worthwhile and meaningful.
I’m glad that this store exists in Claremont and not being swallowed by those mega-​stores…

I totally agree with Janine R. In spite of the fact that they have a little Thomas the Train track in the store, I felt the owner’s glare most of the time. My son really wanted to buy some of the toys there but I just couldn’t wait to get out. In the end we spent less then $ 8 on a gadget they had on the way out but refuse to go back. Janine R. is spot-​on, very unfriendly people!

Boon Companion might be best described as both the worst and the best toy store for the modern child. For the child who is overrun with modern gizmos and gadgets who has an ipod attached to his hand and a cell phone attached to her ear… hmm…well he or she might get bored here at first… but this store would present a cure for the techno addict in such a child (and perhaps adult as well).
No one can resist the allure of like, every Playmobil set ever, can they? I would play with Playmobil now. I want a Playmobil room. Of course they have Megabloks, some Madame Alexander dolls, and some nice quality wooden toys for really young children.
They even carry these really high quality toys that are totally fancy and handpainted figures called Schleich which range from knights and animals of all species to mythical animals.
They have a Hello Kitty/​Sanrio display up front and I believe carry Tom Tierney paper dolls. I know they carry Dover photo books. Once my friend found me a Dover photo book of Lewis Carroll’s Classic Photos of Children. LOL! In a children’s toy store?! I love her.
So, as you may have deigned from above the owners likely have a sense of humor, however, they do seem very unfriendly in person. Also, Boon Companion will never give you a price break or a sale from my understanding, but it’s worth checking out.