Thinker Things

Very unique gift shop! Not your usual Toy’s R Us crap! Nestled next to Vons just off the 5 freeway. I shopped around for awhile and finally found a camel marrionette. It was the cutest thing for a puppet show! The gentleman got me a fresh one from the back. I also observed him wrapping gifts for other women who were shopping in there. No one asked me if I wanted gift wrap. Cool unique gifts, excellent customer service from the owner, but not his associate working for him

If you are like me, and love quality, wooden, educational, battery-​free toys, this place has a great selection of all of the above. It is a treat to come here, brings us to our happy place. My toddler loves being able to handle the toys and they have a few displays set up for that purpose, which is great. I love brands such as Hape, Melissa & Doug, etc. You will be amazed at their selection. I love that you will find here what most places only have a small few of certain brands, but here there are so many options.
We expect to pay a little more than we normally would, we come occasionally for something special to take home. I like that it is never over-​crowded and there are few to no hassles. The biggest problem is narrowing down which item to buy, since the selection is so vast.
I do have to comment though, on both of my visits we experienced some minor customer service issues that if not for that, I would give them 5 stars. First, they are an independent toy store with quality toys, we get that. Not unreasonable, though. So you know that it will be a bit pricey for that reason, they cannot compete with Amazon or Toys R Us. We don’t expect them to do a price match, we pay their prices for the whole experience there. But I was feeling a bit pressured and rushed to check out. Also, one sales woman in particular, who is a bit quirky, but very friendly, needs to use more couth when discussing customers over the phone inquiring about toys that are found at other stores, they do seem to pass judgment.
Another thing, not the end of the world, but they told me they don’t give military discount because they cannot afford to as a small store.
Overall, great store, friendly service, just a tad bit on the snooty side, but I would definitely take a trip and see for yourself.

Beyond rude! Excited to explore the store with my daughter and I have never felt more uncomfortable! I had to exchange a gift and the lady at the front desk made me feel awful for wanting to do so. Didn’t catch her name but she’s the red head with terrible customer service! BTW — if you seem annoyed by children, perhaps you shouldn’t work at a toy store?!

My son loves this store, of course. They have lots of hard to find toys and european/​foreign style toys and certainly emphasize educational toys and other toys that require a child to actively engage the toy instead of merely sitting passively as the toy does its thing. They don’t carry many battery operated toys, which is good thing. Pretty expensive unless they have a sale or you find a coupon. Good choice for something special and out of the ordinary.

Expensive (like Gepetto’s) but you can find such cool stuff here! the salespeople are super friendly and helpful. There are tons of toys out for kids to play with (either for the heck of it or to test drive a toy before we buy). It’s big enough to have a huge selection but small enough that you wont lose your kids when the boy goes one way and the girl goes the other (Toys r us is stressful for the kids when my son has to hang out in the barbie/​baby doll pink, pink pink section… then my daughter yanks on my finger when we are looking at Lego’s and hotwheels)

I LOVE Thinker Things! The most wholesome and wonderful toy store in Solana Beach! The owners are terrific and will try to find and will special order a toy if at all possible. They are friendly and the toy selection is always vast and fun.

I have been a customer of thinker Things for 10 years. The owner, John, is always on site and very helpful. The inventory that he selects is both unique and affordable. I much prefer Thinker Things to the ‘chain’ toy stores. I like the new location in Solana Beach. I have never had a less than very good experience in this store. The owner cares, and that is reflected in every aspect of the store!

After 30 years at Flower Hill Mall, this store recently moved to the Vons/​Ross Shopping Center in Solana Beach. New location is great… lots of room for the kids to run around. The owner is super nice and encourages the kids to play with everything.
This is the place to go for fun/​educational toys. Everything is top quality (unlike a massive chain store like Toys R Us) and they offer lots of eco-​friendly toys!. Plus they gift wrap for FREE!

Nestled downstairs at Flower Hill Mall among the fancy and pricey kid boutiques is a store that actually appeals to children. Thinker Things caters to those who know that timeless play-​things may cost a pretty penny more, but it’s worth it because they’re, um, timeless. This isn’t your plastic-​y, made in China, for the masses toy store… it’s a place for outstanding children to enhance their imagination (and as the neighboring north coastal parents would agree their children are all special and fabulous and better than yours). The shop features plenty of games, fancy dolls, rockets, Playmobile, Plasma cars, building sets, books and all sorts of figurines and action figures. There is also a good sized area for babies and toddlers. What most impresses me at the store, however, is that they have a wide selection of simple elementary school playground staples (like chinese jump ropes, for example). The price points are high, but the service is phenomenal. They really know what they are doing and actually seem to enjoy doing it. It is a local favorite because the customers are treated well.

It is hard to believe that this is not reviewed.
As a child this was one of my favorite places on the planet. Their selection of toys is awe-​inspiring, and their commitment to being great is never ending.
This was my home for Playmobile, Legos, Model Rockets, Wiffle Ball, Board Games, Stephen Jackson Games (Carwars anyone?), and more more more.
They have a tremendous selection of stuffed animals, and every new and funky do-​dad on the planet.
It is worth hours of snooping around and having fun.
Maybe the best Toy Store I have ever been to in my life.