Devon BrooksSearching for the best toy stores in Columbus shouldn’t feel like a chore. Whether you are a parent picking out a birthday gift or someone shopping for a dedicated collector, finding a store with fun, safe, and engaging products makes all the difference.
The local shops around town offer a wide mix of options, from classic toys to niche hobby finds. The best ones are easy to browse, thoughtfully curated, and help spark imagination without feeling overwhelming.
To make things easier, I explored the local scene and narrowed it down to the most reliable toy stores in the city. Here are the top spots to help you find exactly what kids or collectors are hoping to unwrap.
1. Learning Express Toys
Website: columbus.learningexpress.com
Address: 3140 Riverside Drive, Upper Arlington, OH 43221
Contact: (614) 485-0005 | [email protected]
Schedule: Monday to Friday 9:00AM–6:00PM | Saturday to Sunday 9:00AM–5:00PM
Walking into Learning Express Toys immediately shows why it is a local favorite.
I brought my nephew here last week, and he absolutely loved the hands-on layout where kids can physically test out items before buying them.
They also run a really convenient birthday gift registry, allowing parents to coordinate party lists with ease.
If you need a quick present, they provide free gift wrapping and zero-cost personalization to give your purchase a unique touch.
However, I did notice that popular catalog items frequently run out of stock, meaning you might have to pivot your plans.
Avoiding the busy crowds here gives you more time for weekend activities, like hitting the water parks in Columbus instead of stressing over shopping.
Awesome store with special gift wrapping
This toy store is absolutely awesome. There are so many unique and cute toys to browse that I found myself in there for well over an hour. However, the best part about this store, to me, would have to be its staff! Connie, the store’s owner, along with a gentleman named Andrew and another young lady were all very adamant about making the toys I purchased even more special. They professionally wrapped each and every gift that I purchased in the wrapping paper of my choosing, finishing each gift by adding beautiful ribbons and beautifully writing my daughter’s name
- Logan Knauff | Google Reviews
Top notch store for STEM and toys
Top notch toy store. Can be easy to miss along riverside drive – right after the Marathon station northbound and right across from the south entrance to Griggs Reservoir. Everything in the store is immaculate and they have multiple locations so if something it out at this location, they can get it quickly from anothers. We’ve bought STEM games, Airforts (awesome), Squishmellows, and some impulse buys like glow in the dark goop and such. Not cheap, but a really satisfying experience to shop here.
- George Faerber | Google Reviews
2. Dublin Toy Emporium
Website: dublintoyemporium.wordpress.com
Address: 28 North High Street, Dublin, OH 43017
Contact: +1 614-389-1467
Schedule: Monday to Saturday 10:00AM–6:00PM | Sunday 11:00AM–5:00PM
Filtering out mindless entertainment is a huge priority for Dublin Toy Emporium, led by a founder with a strong background in teaching. Every product on the shelves focuses heavily on child development, highlighting traditional play items like wooden games and puzzles.
They even go a step further by offering specific language instruction classes led by an instructor fluent in French. This authentic learning approach helps kids build confidence with proper pronunciation in a social setting.
Their uniquely named rental space is also great for private gatherings.
The downside is that certain language events enforce a strict age limit that excludes younger toddlers.
Amazing store with great play area
Super amazing toy store. The staff was friendly and has a great variety for all ages.
Really cute little place! They went all out with the play area and changing area! It’s the little extras that really make this place shine.
Creative merchandising makes this fell sleek, yet homey.
The diary walk brought us in, so glad we were introduced to such a fabulous toy store.
- kelli k | Google Reviews
Quaint, clean store with helpful staff
Lovely, quaint toy store. Very clean store. Products are up to date with consumer wants and needs and are of exceptional quality. Staff are personable, very welcoming, and helpful. They never “rush” you, and offer recommendations concerning age-appropriate merchandise. Makes toy shopping a fun experience, with memories of bygone times.
- Bill Spence | Google Reviews
3. The LEGO® Store Easton
Website: lego.com
Address: 4004 Gramercy St, Easton Town Center, Space 728, Columbus, OH 43219
Contact: +1 (614) 708-7744
Schedule: Monday to Saturday 10:00AM–9:00PM | Sunday 12:00PM–6:00PM
Building enthusiasts will find exactly what they need at The LEGO® Store Easton.
A massive pick-and-build wall lets shoppers grab the precise individual bricks required for custom projects.
The store also leans heavily into in-person engagement. Staff regularly run live building demos at dedicated tables, showing off new sets and sharing more advanced construction techniques that appeal to both casual fans and serious builders.
For younger visitors, there are structured group sessions and hands-on stations where kids can experiment with parts to create their own mini figures and designs.
On the downside, store policies can feel a bit strict, including account-related enforcement rules that may catch some customers off guard.
Still, loyalty points on in-store purchases help keep regular visitors engaged despite those limitations.
Two LEGO stores with museum and service
LEGO always has some free gifts. There are two LEGO stores. One is outside the hall where free gifts are available. The other one is inside the hall with a LEGO museum. There are always many LEGO models displayed. It is also available to order online and find some lost pieces here. Service is always amazing.
- Vincent Lam | Google Reviews
Open building center for kids
Great store to bring your kids. Store is well lit and has very colorful walls. There is an open building center where kids can build their own Lego characters with the supplied pieces. You can build 3 people for $10.
- Justin Wisniewski | Google Reviews
4. Robbies Hobbies
Website: robbies-hobbies.com
Address: 4578 N. High Street Columbus, Ohio 43214
Contact: (614) 265-7288 | [email protected]
Schedule: Monday to Friday 10:00AM–6:00PM | Saturday 10:00AM–4:00PM
Robbies Hobbies is a massive three-thousand-square-foot space that feels like a collector’s dream.
I recently stopped by to grab some track parts, and I was immediately impressed by their high-tech indoor track setup that’s specifically built for slot car racing.
Rob, the owner, has been in the hobby industry for over three decades and clearly knows how to stock hard-to-find gear.
They carry an incredible variety of train scales, and you can even pick up an exclusive Ohio State University-branded train car that is unavailable anywhere else.
That said, returning an open box will trigger a hefty twenty percent restocking fee, which really stings if you change your mind.
Coolest place for all types of models
This is just the coolest place to go to get a model of any kind the unique things you will find is, any scale die-cast or model to build, train sets, build able transformers, cool statues of pop culture movie and any thing you can imagine. They have hot wheels and multiple others. They even have 1 eight scale motorcycle. They have gran prix models also. Absolutely amazing store. You will find something here. They also do signs there. You are also right next to a cool bike shop. Go here it is a must go.
- tony coleman | Google Reviews
Great staff, especially for autistic children
The staff here are always so great. We have a young autistic son who is always with us and obsessed with this store. They always turn on the train for us and give us a great deal. We will be back soon. We bought him a Thomas o gauge train and covered bridge also. Thank you!
- TINA HAYDEN | Google Reviews
5. Bricks & Minifigs Grandview
Website: bricksandminifigs.com
Address: 867 Goodale Blvd, Grandview OH, 43212
Contact: (614) 525-0481 | [email protected]
Schedule: Wednesday to Friday 11:00AM–7:00PM | Saturday 10:00AM–7:00PM | Sunday 12:00PM–6:00PM
Bricks & Minifigs Grandview is built around the idea of giving old LEGO collections a second life.
Instead of only selling brand-new boxed sets, the store focuses heavily on pre-owned and discontinued pieces. This makes it a go-to spot if you’re hunting for rare minifigures or sets that are no longer in production.
One of the most popular parts of the experience is the loose-parts bins, where you can dig through massive assortments of bricks and buy exactly what you need by weight.
You can also trade in your own old sets or collections in exchange for store credit or fresh pieces.
The main drawback is less about the shopping experience and more about policy transparency. The store reserves the right to share buyer profile data with third parties, which may not sit well with privacy-focused customers.
Good selling experience and free items
I hand an extremely good experience here, went to sell a set and the staff and I were able to reach a reasonable price. They gave some pieces and even a water bottle for free because they say they are for the customers. Amazing store and excellent staff overall. 👍
- Eddy Alejandro Batres Novoa | Google Reviews
Best Bricks & Minifigs store I’ve visited
Wow! What a great store! We were in town visiting OSU at stopped at the Grandview store. Hands down the BEST Bricks & Minifigs I’ve been to (and I’ve been to quite a few). Awesome selection, knowledgable and friendly staff, great inventory with wide range of themes. Highly recommended store!
- R Allendorf | Google Reviews
