Westchester’s Toy Stores Are Small, Local, and Magical

These beloved local businesses are sure to bring fun, nostalgia, and innovation to playtime.

Toy stores in Westchester — Adobe Stock / Mikki Orso

Yes, it’s a snap to order toys on Amazon, but independent toy stores are more than just a place to shop—they provide a curated selection of unique, high-quality items while nurturing a sense of community and wonder for families. These beloved local businesses are sure to bring fun, nostalgia, and innovation to playtime.

Toys for Every Ability

TP Toys and Accessories

New Rochelle

TP Toys is a labor of love for owner Kemesha Salmon, whose children, Tristan and Peyton, inspired the store’s name. Stocked with educational toys and science items, alongside arts and crafts and puzzles, the store caters to kids with special needs.

- Advertisement -

The New Rochelle mainstay was founded 10 years ago by Salmon, who was motivated to open a specialty toy shop after her son was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder as a toddler. “Our ‘Sensory on the Go’ buckets, the Clixo magnet toys, and NeeDoh, a squishy, fidgety ball, along with Plus-Plus creative construction toys are among our most popular items,” Salmon says. Giving back has always been important as well: During the holiday season, TP Toys made sure more than 100 local families were sponsored so that no child woke up on Christmas morning without a gift. “We do a lot for the community,” she adds.

76 Years of Play

Miller’s Toys

Mamaroneck

Fourth-generation owners Brooke and Taka Andrews are preserving Miller’s 76-year legacy as a destination children’s store, having evolved from a bicycle and baby carriage shop to one that carries toys from around the world, plus outdoor play equipment and game tables. “We also have one of the last standing children’s shoe businesses; people come from far and wide to get their little toddlers fitted for their first walkers,” Taka Andrews says.

What sets Miller’s apart, he believes, is its expertise in recognizing which items are cherished across generations. “Specialty stores like ours are typically not offering flash-in-the-pan trendy items,” he says, “but toys that have staying power in a child’s room that can be revisited over and over for continued joy.”

Recent bestsellers at Miller’s include Jelly Cat stuffed toys, as well as quirky Japanese figurines called Smiski. Large BMX-style SE Bikes are also in high demand, especially among parents eager for their kids to play outdoors.

- Partner Content -

Largest Toy Store in Westchester

Toy Box

Mamaroneck

Owner Nick Tarricone understands that anyone can buy a toy online. But he believes it’s the customer experience an independent retail shop offers that makes all the difference.

He credits his dedicated staff—eager to assist and wrap gifts—with creating that special touch. “Everyone knows our employees by name, and we’re always ready for birthday parties. Saturdays are the busiest days,” Tarricone says.

In operation since 1977, Toy Box considers itself a pure, old-fashioned toy store designed for children, “not their parents,” and carries the largest selection of items of any such shop in the county, he adds. “We have a huge variety—kids love the brands [we carry] like LEGO. It’s not just about selling toys, it is really about the way we treat our customers.”

Specialty stores like ours are typically not offering flash-in-the-pan trendy items but rather toys that have staying power in a child’s room that can be revisited over and over again for continued joy.

Vibrant and Joyful

Funky Monkey Toys & Books

Scarsdale

- Advertisement -

With bright colors, jungle-vibed décor, and lively music, the atmosphere is part of the draw to this family-run store full of trendy items and classic toys. “In a place like Scarsdale, where community and character are so important, small businesses help keep neighborhoods vibrant and full of charm; we love being part of this community and giving families a place to discover, play, and make memories together,” says owner Jared Greenman.

Among the sought-after items are the Nero Basketball—a silent indoor ball that lets kids dribble, bounce, and shoot quietly; and The Zip String, featuring a motorized string that creates cool tricks, loops, and stunts. “Both toys inspire creativity, encourage movement, and deliver endless fun in unique ways,” he says.

Timeless Appeal

G. Willikers

Katonah

This shop stands out from massmarket retailers by focusing on classic, high-quality, and educational toys. Meghan Bazaar, owner of the charming and ecofriendly downtown Katonah shop, acknowledges that choosing toys online can feel overwhelming, so she strives to provide very personalized service. “We have really knowledgeable staff who have either taught pre-school or have been with us a long time and know how to help find the very best gift for a child,” Bazaar says. “Also, we have had amazing and loyal customers for 13 years who realize how important it is to support their local downtowns.” Find unique Danish toys from Maileg and French dolls from Corolle, next to popular items like Thinking Putty.

Generations of Customers

The Briarcliff Toyshop

Briarcliff Manor

With the dedicated support of Briarcliff and its surrounding communities, The Briarcliff Toyshop has thrived for more than 30 years, according to store manager Denise Edwards. “People have said to me that they do not want to order online, they want to touch and feel the toys and they also want to support local business,” Edwards says. The shop is known for specialty toys that encourage learning, plus games, books, gizmos, and gadgets.

“Getting to know our customers, plus their children and grandchildren, and learning their likes and dislikes have made the business rewarding,” she adds. “We have Bruder trucks from Germany—everybody loves them—and with Magna-Tiles, kids like to show their creativity, and we also have lots of arts and crafts.”