These local costume shops are perfect for outfitting your little ones this Halloween—and beyond
It’s time for your family to begin pondering one of life’s big questions: what should we be for Halloween?! And, these days, it’s not enough to come up with a one-night-only disguise for Halloween trick-or-treating. All October, dozens of family-friendly Halloween events promise to get kids into the spooky spirit, with costumes highly encouraged. Thankfully, we have you covered with some of our favorite local storefronts and pop-up places to shop for costumes, accessories, and festive décor. Whatever your family needs to complete their costumes, keep the Halloween spirit alive with the help of these shops—many of which are open year-round and can help you with many a theme-party looks!—in both the city and the ‘burbs.
For a Vintage Vibe: Lost Eras
The cool speakeasy of costume shops, Lost Eras is a hidden gem with a throwback twist. It houses a showroom full of vintage and antique collectibles, and is known for renting props and costumes to theater and movie sets (Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, The Untouchables, and Public Enemies—yep, Robert De Niro wore their clothes!). At Halloween, they add to their stock and go gangbusters. If you’re looking for funky décor—Halloween or otherwise—Lost Eras has a lot to choose from.
1511 W. Howard St.
Rogers Park Online:losteras.com
For Treasure Hunting: Chicago Costume Company Don't let its small facade deceive you: Chicago Costume is crammed to the rafters with costumes, makeup, accessories and anything else you need to transform your look. Kiddies will go bananas for the selection of Disney, Star Wars, superhero, and comic book-themed costumes. This is one of just a handful of year-round costume shops so don’t panic when your little superhero needs a new costume in January. Too busy to shop in the store? Purchase online and have your costume shipped to you or pick it up for free at one of their two Chicago locations.
For a Spooky Setting: Halloween Hallway Known for its robust selection of adult costumes since it was founded in 2007, Halloween Hallway also caters to kids with four Chicago locations (River North, Wicker Park, Downtown, Lincoln Park) that are open during Halloween season only. We love the overabundance of accessories. They take decorating seriously and some of the décor (zombies, vampires and other things that go bump in the night) might be a little scary for little ones—yet super-duper cool for big kids!
For the Procrastinator or Late-Night Shopper: Fantasy Costumes This year-round costume headquarters is a Chicago classic and known for helpful service. So helpful, in fact, that for the last few days before Halloween, they stay open 24 hours a day to satisfy all those last-minute, eleventh-hour switcheroos that parents love so much. Kids will love the Fortnite costume selection—and with so many adult costumes, your whole family can dress up together! Fantasy Costumes goes above and beyond in the accessories department, so expect to find an enormous selection of makeup, wigs, masquerade masks, and other do-dads to complete the transformation.
For Kids, Pumpkins & Pets: Spirit Halloween North, south, east, west—no matter where you turn, Spirit is like your friendly-ghost neighbor. With costumes for everyone (including pets!), a dedicated pumpkin carving area, and a "glow" section of accessories that will last well beyond Halloween, you'll find everything you need here. Because many locations are seasonal brick-and-mortar stores, open only during the holiday time, check their site for up-to-date locations.
These pop-up shops and “spirited” year-round storefronts are our top picks for where to buy your child’s Halloween costume this year
It might seem early, but smart NYC parents know it’s time to start thinking about, and acquiring, your kid’s Halloween costume. Not only are there dozens of local Halloween events positively begging for attendees to arrive in disguise all month long, but things sell out fast in this city. Wondering where you can get a cool getup without spending a fortune? Need a highly specific, hard-to-find item to take your kiddo’s ensemble to the next level when it comes time to trick or treat? We can help. From spots to get gently-used, discounted costumes to huge stores that specialize in Halloween to empty storefronts now infiltrated with Spirit Halloween pop-ups, you’ll have no trouble finding an Elsa cape, a Minecraft mask, or a Bluey costume before the aisles start to get picked over.
Spirit Halloween
Invading empty storefronts throughout the five boroughs (seriously, every single one) Spirit Halloween is a convenient place to hit up for Halloween costumes for both kids and adults. The seasonal chain stocks full costumes, accessories, masks, makeup and more—and has more than a dozen locations throughout the city, although most are located in Manhattan.
Abracadabra NYC Abracadabra NYC is another Halloween costume store that’s open year round (and, hence the name, also specializes in magician supplies). Whether you need a single item like the perfect hat, wand, or pair or fake teeth, or a full-on, out-of-this-world head-to-toe getup for your child, this bi-level Flatiron District superstore has got you. Our advice: go early in the season, because it gets very crowded here as Halloween grows near.
Beyond Costumes Be prepared for your mind to be blown. For a next-level spot that also serves Broadway, television, and movie productions, head north to Beyond Costumes. They recently moved, and at their new location, you can opt to either rent from the store’s extensive costume selection or shop its retail collection. Customize your look with Beyond Costumes’ offering of accessories including wigs, hats, props, masks, make-up, recreational prosthetics, and jewelry. Need more intel? The store has an excellent FAQ section on its site.
Village Party Store To support a local NYC small business (and stock up on all the party supplies you could need), head to the Village Party Store. Originally located at the corner of Greenwich Avenue and 10th Street, the Village Party Store moved to its current Eighth Street spot after a tragic fire in 2010. There, it continues to serve both the party decor and Halloween costume needs of New York City families and beyond. Make a note for you next big bash: this spot is a great place for balloons and balloon arrangements of all kinds.
Frank Bee Costume
One of the titans of the Halloween costume retail business is also a hometown hero. The Frank Bee Costume Center brick-and-mortar HQ is located in the Bronx, and it’s got all the hottest licensed characters, including Star Wars costumes and loads of Thomas the Tank Engine costumes, for sale. In fact, they claim to have the largest selection of costumes in the . . . universe! Don’t worry if you can’t make it to the Bronx: the store offers most products online as well.
Your Neighbors
Sure, this isn’t a shop, but we can reasonably guarantee that there are lots of costumes in your vicinity right now just itching to get back on the street for a night of fun. (Hint: they’re in your neighbors’ closets.)
Using data on a selection of jobs that equate with all of the daily tasks that come with being a stay-at-home parent, Salary.com came up with a median annual income for 2021. And, drumroll please… stay-at-home parents should be making a whopping $184,820 a year. This amount was up over $6,000 from the pre-pandemic medium.
So what’s the job description of a stay-at-home parent? Salary.com pulled information on several different positions including accountant, CEO, coach, dietician, event planner, janitor, plumber, psychologist, teacher—and many more to come up with the salary fitting for the demanding role.
Of course, ask any stay-at-home parent and they’ll tell you that you can’t put a price on being able to stay home with the kids.
All that inside air starting to feel a little . . . stale? Whether you’re trying to green your space and purify your air with houseplants, looking for flowers for someone special or want to become a member of the plant-of-the-month club, we’ve hand selected a few of our favorite sources for plants and flower delivery, directly to your door. Read on to check them out.
Bloomscape
Whether you’re looking for a trio of plants or one big parlor palm, Bloomscape delivers the right plant directly to your door. Choose your plant online: you can filter by collection, light needs, care level, pet friendly and more. Plus they offer 24-hour advice from the Plant Mom to help you choose and maintain the perfect indoor plant for your space. You can also choose the color of the pot when ordering. Shop specific categories like the easiest indoor plants or pet-friendly plants.
The Sill ships plants directly to your door with care card and online access to answer questions about finding the right houseplant for you. They offer a nice array of orchids along with popular houseplants, and they even offer faux plants for people who just can't even with the living thing. You will also find botanical gifts including art and bath products, including adorable things like a Botany Cross Stitch Kit for the true plant nerd in your life. In addition, The Sill offers a monthly plant subscription where you receive a new potted plant each month! Prices vary.
We love the idea behind Plantgem, the online plant retailer working with farmer-florists to bring artfully curated seasonal collections of unique and on-trend plants to the home gardener. Shop their shipping now section to find ideas for Valentine's Day or give an IOU and go for the garden kits that come with 15 young plants—3 plants of 5 different varieties—that take the guesswork out of planting a harmonious garden (they ship in March).
Looking for fresh, festive arrangements that are anything but FTD? The Bouqs is your new favorite service. Whether it's for the holidays or you want to order up from their birthday line, you'll find the right flowers arriving fresh to your loved one's door. You can also find floral subscription boxes to keep things fresh!
If you’re looking for a fresh floral arrangement delivery that isn’t average, Bloomsybox has got you! Just shop the arrangements and select your delivery date, flowers are shipped within 2-4 days of being cut and arranged to guarantee your blooms look great. Want to level up? You can sign up for a floral subscription service and get flowers every month! They also have a small-but-wonderful selection of potted plants and orchids.
This tried-and-true floral delivery service has some cool features you might not have noticed before: they have an array of affordable house plants, tons of flowers and gifts and even botanical gifts based on birthdate/astrological sign.
Botany Box is a curated succulent or cacti box with four easy-to-care-for plants that can be purchased online for direct delivery. The plants come pre-planted and arrive at your doorstep, ready to bring a burst of energy and color into your indoor spaces.
For ease of use and fast service, 1-800-Flowers always ranks in the top, but their bouquets aren't always the most custom or unique. Their plant selection is top-notch, especially for affordability! You'll find houseplants like the popular Money Tree and the impossible-to-kill Snake Plant along with blooming bulbs, seasonal plants and more.
While succulents might be having their moment, we know the bonsai are going to make a surge in the plant world with everyone at home. Bonsai Boy offers a slew of options in all price points from bonsai trees under $30 to beginner-friendly options like our favorite, the Hawaiian Umbrella Bonsai tree.
Beyond the usual dozen long-stemmed roses, UrbanStems has uber-cool arrangements (with succulents!), flower subscriptions and plants. Or go right to the goods and shop their Valentine's Day collection.
Xiao long bao, house-made noodles and pork buns galore—take your little dumpling to one of these SF dim sum spots.
Fun, soft, small and delicious—dim sum is perfect food for kids. They can gobble them up with their little fingers, no silverware required. San Francisco boasts the oldest and largest Chinatown in the country and we’ve rounded up seven of our favorite spots there, from fancy and modern to small hole-in-the-wall dim sum bakeries.
This is for sure one of the most sophisticated dim sum spots around. At lunchtime, you can enjoy some of the most creative dim sum in San Francisco like the delicious squid ink dumplings. At night they also offer hot pot with an extensive selection of meats, seafood, veggies, house-made noodles, and around 10 house-made sauces. If you are not sure of which dim sum to try, order the sampler and get the most colorful selection of dumplings in the Bay.
Good Mong Kok is an excellent and affordable bakery for when you want your dumplings on the go. Try their steamed pork, shu mai, har gow, steamed chive dumpling and beef shu mai. The dumplings are plump and generous and packed with flavor. There is no sitting, but you can have a dim sum picnic at Washington Square park nearby.
This trendy, modern and affordable dumpling restaurant makes its home in Mission Bay. They make amazing xiao long baos (soup dumplings!) and focus on local and fresh ingredients to create their traditional dumplings. An added plus is their heated outdoor patio. Keep the kids occupied while you wait by watching the dumplings being made fresh before your eyes.
This San Francisco staple has been preparing some of the most authentic dim sum for over ten years. There are not a lot of tables and if you come on the weekend be prepared to wait. But, the wait is so worth it. Feast on spicy pork and chive dumplings, plump and delicious shrimp and soup dumplings, and make sure to order their famous green beans!
Good Luck Dim Sum is known to be one of the most consistent and affordable dim sum spots in the city. Try their siu mai and shrimp dumplings—so juicy and delicious! And their pork buns are to die for (and a kid fave). There are a few tables in the back but most people take their dim sum to go.
736 Clement St. San Francisco
Wing Lee Bakery
Wing Lee is a classic Clement Street take out dim sum spot. What they lack in ambiance they make up for in tasty food. The shrimp and leek dumplings are outrageous—large shrimp pieces, tender, crunchy and so fresh. Also try their siu mai, pot stickers and bbq pork buns. So good, simple and inexpensive. Bonus: they are super fast, great for feeding those hungry little mouths that can surely not wait.
Do your favorite local candy store a solid and stock up on delectable delights from their aisles this Halloween. And if you’ve already bought your give-away stash, we suggest sneaking over to treat yourself from one of these Atlanta sugar shacks. Keep reading for our favorite Atlanta candy stores, below.
Collier Candy Co.
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Inside Ponce City Market, this sweet shop with a vintage feel—right down to the squeaky floorboards—has an impressive collection of old-fashioned confections (remember Boston Baked Beans?) alongside some more interesting options.
Even Sweeter: Feeling adventurous? Try the Seattle Chocolate Company's milk chocolate truffle bar.
Ponce City Market 675 Ponce De Leon Ave. NE Online:colliercandy.com
Chef Brulee’s chocolate store offers 38 of the most beautiful, delicious artisan chocolates you will ever taste. You have to try them all, but if you can only pick one, don't miss out on the leopard-dusted creamsicle chocolate.
Even Sweeter: They make custom cakes, so if you're in the market, make a trip to the store to see what they can do.
1140 Alpharetta Street #500 Roswell 404-953-0369 Online:chefbrulee.com
This whimsical candy store makes homemade gummy bears—everything from pineapple to grapefruit and even champagne for the grown-ups. Decadent truffles, old-fashioned soda and other candies can be purchased to satisfy your sweet tooth. Kids will love peering into the glass display to pick out their favorite pieces. Lolli & Pops carries sweet treats from around the world and some made locally.
Even sweeter: Pick up a gift tin for your friends with a sweet tooth. It makes the perfect hostess gift.
4400 Ashford Dunwoody Rd. NE Perimeter Mall 770-551-7120 Online:lolliandpops.com
Sugar Factory Atlanta
iStock
Sugar Factory’s 800-square-foot Midtown Atlanta retail confectionary features a signature floor-to-ceiling candy wall with more than 500 types of sweet treats, including a selection of novelty and bulk candy like the brand’s world-famous Couture Pops. Completing the confectionary, the café will offer coffees, hot chocolate, frozen hot chocolate, homemade specialty rainbow doughnuts and pastries, in addition to homemade gelato and ice cream.
Even sweeter: Check out the gummy bear chandelier before you go.
1080 Peachtree Street NE Midtown 470-428-4395 Online:sugarfactory.com
It’s Halloween time, and the little ghouls in your house are already changing their mind on costumes five times a week! Whether your tiny trick-or-treaters want to be a vampire or kitty, pirate or alien, keep up with their latest plan by browsing these stores across Portland. Bonus—you can keep it local and keep costs low, too! Read on for more great shops and stops.
This long-lasting store in SE Portland is your home base for all sorts of party supplies year-round. Come Halloween, it's costume central! They've got shelves on shelves of ready to wear costumes, along with makeup, wigs, accessories and more for a design-it-yourself look. As a bonus, you might come away with extra décor for your spooky front door.
A sweet secondhand store in SE Portland that is full of unique finds any time of the year. Check out the kids section upstairs for a selection of unique ready to wear costumes. Or for something more crafty you'll find bins overflowing with fabric, sequins, and other bits and bobs that you can use to create a masterpiece. And after the big night you can sell or trade things back to them!
It's the "Giving tree of stuff," as they say inside.
With two locations in the SE and NE, this shop is the place to go for families looking for cute options at affordable prices. Beanstalk offers a wide selection of costumes from newborn to 10 years. They have everything from those cute ladybug, pumpkin, lion, monkey and elephant costumes that are one or two piece cozy fleece to bigger kid costumes of princesses, fairies, ninjas, astronauts and pirates. Along with resale items, this cute shop offers locally made goods and new items including wings, tutus and wands. And don’t worry about fitting this into your busy weekend—Beanstalk is open seven days a week. You’ll also find plenty of stroller parking and play area for the little ones.
This SW favorite consistently wins awards in parenting magazines for their top-notch selection, quality, and service. And now they've added a second location! Most costumes are under $10 and there’s a wide selection for infants and toddlers all the way up to youth 16.
6308 SW Capitol Hwy Portland, OR 503-548-4668 or
7323 SW Barnes Rd Portland, OR 971-888-5151 Online: hoot-n-annie.com
A Woodstock neighborhood gem, this consignment store has used and some even locally handmade costumes. You can bring outgrown costumes in to sell, trade or consign them while you shop for next year's batch. You’ll be amazed at the selection of quality used children’s goods in all categories, alongside sweet clothing finds from favorite brands like Hannah Andersson, Tea, Kickee Pants, Boden, and more.
This cute resale shop in the Clinton neighborhood is bursting at the seams with kids’ Halloween costumes. You can buy, sell or trade here, too, but if you're stuck at home, don't worry: you can shop their Instagram feed! They regularly post new items, which you can purchase online for delivery. Easiest costume shopping ever!
The costume swap: because not only is it a great way to reduce costs, manage waste, and connect to your community, what else are you going to with that tiny pumpkin costume? Check out your community for informal costume swaps: places like your child's school, Buy Nothing Facebook groups, Nextdoor, and more are great places to start. Be sure your old Halloween costume is clean and free of stains and holes, ready to re-use.
If you can’t find one nearby, organize one of your own!
Whether you’ve been blasting holiday music since pumpkin spice lattes arrived, or you’re still adjusting to summer being over, we’re going to let you in on a little secret— right now is the PERFECT time to book a local photographer for your holiday card. San Diego has a fabulous selection of snap-happy, professionals ready to capture the perfect annual photograph. Click through the slideshow to check out a selection of photographers ready to help your family say, “cheese!”
Jamie Street has had a camera in her hand since junior high. So it's no surprise her family photography business is a one-woman labor of love that brings her happiness every single day. Jamie likes to make her families feel as comfortable as possible, from helping to choose a location meaningful to them and letting them have fun and interact, so they are comfortable in front of the camera. Jeni told us, "I love capturing timeless and classic portraits of families on film, but some of my favorite photos tend to be from documenting all of the dreamy, intimate moments of connection in between the perfectly posed shot." She shoots all over San Diego and even ventures to Los Angeles and other parts of California if needed. Be sure to book your holiday photos as soon as possible to ensure enough processing time for the film. Families can choose from mini or full sessions.
Jamie Street Photography 619-913-0763 Online: jamiestreet.com
North county photographer, Sarah Tolmay is a master at capturing shots that feel full of life. For holiday shoots, you'll get a 50-minute session and access to an online gallery of 100 high-resolution photos of you and yours. The hardest thing will be choosing which one makes the holiday card! Holiday shoots book quickly so contact Sarah today to hold your spot.
Pro tip: Sarah also offers puppy portraits that will melt your heart.
Get a cutting-edge photo shoot with local photographer Jen from Of Stardust and Earth. Her work is colorful, fun and fashion-inspired. A true portrait photographer at her core, Jen offers families an opportunity to dream up their own editorial. Book early and be guaranteed some candid moments that are anything by cheesy.
As a mom of two herself, Holly loves to shoot families. And shoot families she does! Based in Carlsbad (but available to shoot all over San Diego), Holly helps capture candid family moments and turn them into pieces of cool art with clever composure, lighting, and editing. This photog is great working with families -- especially young kiddos -- making sure they are comfortable in front of the camera. She can even work with your family on what to wear, types of props, and great locations. Her sunset beach shoots for the holiday season fill up quickly, so make sure to book early if that's the look you want.
Tiffany's goal during your photography session is to capture you (and your crew) in a way that is both authentic and candid. The hope is to forever preserve those special moments with your family. Her photos are stunning and pure and will make you smile for years to come. Capturing a family's true essence in all its glorious mayhem is a gift and the perfect way to celebrate the season.
Hillary -- the "Hill" behind Stills by Hill -- is an expert at taking portraits. She started photographing kids when her oldest niece was born 17 years ago and has since found her niche in shooting newborns, kiddos, and family portraits. If you'd like unlimited time, a location of your choice, and custom art, a regular portrait session is available. Limited edition holiday sessions are on-location, up to five subjects, and are 20 minutes long. Special note: pricing goes up as it gets closer to December so book early to save money!
We love a good ALDI shopping sesh as much as anyone, and September will be no different. With autumn around the corner, the grocery is stocking up big on treats, seasonal items and must have fall foliage. We’ve rounded up our must-have items that hit ALDI stores starting Sept. 1, so keep scrolling to see them all.
Feel like you see LEGO everywhere you turn these days? NYC is deep into the summer of LEGO, thanks to a new LEGO store in Rockefeller Center, a fresh LEGOLand Discovery Center in New Jersey at American Dream and the opening of the long-awaited LEGOLAND Resort in Goshen, New York. That’s a lotta LEGO! Get the scoop on the new spots below, as well as the best places to buy LEGO in NYC, from official stores to shops around town.
LEGOLAND New York Resort
LEGOLAND New York
At long last, LEGOLAND New York is open! The Hudson Valley park is located in Goshen, New York, less than a two-hour drive from NYC.
At 150 acres, LEGOLAND New York is the brand's largest park, featuring seven LEGO-themed lands to explore. Attractions include theme park rides for little and bigger kids, the chance to create with Master builders and attend ninja training camp, tinker in the robotic LEGO center, and visit Miniland, a massive LEGOscape featuring the landmarks of 10 cities nationwide. At Disney they trade pins, here it's minifigures—bring some along, or buy them at the park!
You can go for the day ($69.99/kids; $79.99/adults) or rest your head at the on-site LEGOLAND Hotel for the ultimate brick vacation. You'll find LEGO-themed suites with a separate room for the kids here (pirate, kingdom, Ninjago, LEGO Friends, etc.), nightly entertainment for children, interactive LEGO features, a pool and more. Beginning August 6, two-day hotel packages with park entrance are available with rates starting at $98/person.
LEGOLAND New York 1 LEGOLAND Blvd. Goshen, NY 845-410-0290 Online: legoland.com
New LEGO Store Fifth Avenue, Rockefeller Center
Photo by Cindy Ord/Getty Images
As if the previous Rockefeller Center LEGO store wasn't impressive enough, the brickmaker has upped the game—and relocated nearby—with its new flagship store, now the biggest LEGO store in the country. Two years in the making, the totally reimagined store is packed with more opportunities to play with bricks, participate in brick-inspired activities and personalize your experience. Personalize a Minifigure, look for hidden treasures in the enormous Tree of Discovery, hop in the LEGO yellow cab, visit the classic Pick & Build wall, order up a LEGO mosaic of your face ($129) and more! Plus: huge LEGO builds of the Statue of Liberty and other NYC landmarks; superheroes like Spider-man, Captain American and Thor, and Ghostbuster faves the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man and Slimer! And of course, tons and tons of LEGO sets for all ages, from Duplo to Harry Potter and Star Wars to collector sets!
For an extra special visit, head to The Brick Lab, an interactive, 20-minute experience in which walls, floors, and ceilings come to life with animated content, lighting, sound, and music. The Brick Lab is for children aged 5+ and tickets cost $15.00 (for one child and an accompanying adult). Book in advance here.
LEGO store Fifth Avenue 636 Fifth Ave. Rockefeller Center 212-245-3248 Online: lego.com
June brought the debut of a new LEGOLAND Discovery Center at the American Dream Mall in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (And along with it, SEA LIFE New Jersey, an aquarium experience with an underwater ocean tunnel and more than 3,000 sea creatures from sharks, to seahorses to stingrays. Combo tickets are available, with the option to return another day for either attraction.)
Designed for kids ages three to 10, LEGOLAND in New Jersey is home to more than a dozen brick-themed attractions and activities including a 4D cinema, play zones, an interactive ride dubbed the "Imagination Express", a Miniland spotlighting New Jersey and NYC landmarks made up of 1.5 million LEGOs, LEGO Ninjago soft play, DUPLO for younger kids and build workshops. To see a map of LEGOLAND, click here.
Reminder: American Dream could keep your clan busy for days, thanks to the Nickelodeon Universal Theme Park, Dreamworks indoor water park, indoor ski slope Big Snow, a skating rink, blacklight mini-golf, a mirror maze and TILT a 3D street chalk museum!)
Tickets: $28.99/person, online purchase; $79.99/annual pass. Combo tickets with sea life are $43.00/adults; $38.99/kids Mon.-Fri., 10 a.m.- 5:30 p.m. (last entrance 3:30 p.m.); Sat. & Sun., 10 a.m.-6:30 p.m. 1 American Dream Way East Rutherford, NY 551-234-6381 Online: legolanddiscoverycenter.com
LEGO Store: Flatiron District
LEGO
Like its sister store uptown, the LEGO store in the Flatiron District pays homage to its neighborhood with incredible LEGO mosaics on the walls and larger-than-life LEGO sculptures. (Think the history of the area in LEGO, plus Lady Liberty’s arm and torch, a nod to when the statue was on display in nearby Madison Square Park.) There’s a Pick & Build here as well, a large selection of kits to buy, and a spot to make your own LEGO figures, too. Plus: building stations at kid-level for some freestyle creation on site. Bonus: there’s a LEGO lounge here, with comfortable seating and photo charging stations, because you may be there for a while…(P.S. don’t miss the contemporary NYC mosaics in the windows.) Read our write-up of the store’s opening here!
The LEGO Store Flatiron District 200 5th Ave. between 23rd and 24th St. Flatiron 212-245-5973 Online: lego.com/en-us/stores/us/flatiron
The LEGOLAND Discovery Center in Yonkers, New York is about a 30-minute drive from the city. This LEGOLAND features two rides, 10 LEGO build-and-play zones, and a 4-D cinema. No day is complete at the Discovery Center without a stop at the LEGO store located right inside. There you’ll find everything from LEGO City to Nexo Knightsand NINJAGO® plus exclusive sets.
New York City’s famous toy store FAO Schwarz returned to NYC with great fanfare in 2018, and this 20,000-square-foot flagship in Rockefeller Center continues its tradition of delighting kids of all ages. The 150-year-old institution is considered the candy land of toy stores and its selection of LEGOs is impressive. Marvel LEGO, LEGO Friends and LEGO Disney are the top sellers here. So if you’re looking for that perfect Disney Princess or Mickey Mouse LEGO, plus a chance to step on the legendary dance-on piano, you know where to go. Read our writeup of the grand re-opening here!
FAO Schwarz NYC 30 Rockefeller Plaza Midtown 1-800-326-8636 Online: faoschwarz.com
It’s no secret that Barnes & Noble sells a lot more than books but take note: some are great spots to buy LEGOs as well. Check out the big Barnes & Noble location at Union Square, which stocks sets for big and little kids. Plus: the hard-to-find Juniors sets (the ones that come in the cool briefcase!) for kids aged four to seven. Barnes & Noble also has its very own LEGO stationery sections where LEGO-obsessed children can find LEGO pencils, notebooks and stickers.
If your LEGO builder is downright obsessed with all things space and dinosaurs, the American Museum of Natural History store is your go to place. The museum’s LEGO selection is made up of Junior Jurassic World sets featuring different types of dinosaurs species, such as the favored T.Rex to the ultimate astronaut sets where your child can pretend to head to Mars with their very own Lego Mars Research Shuttle. The best part of the store is that it’s right inside the museum, making it a perfect place for your kid’s LEGO fix and a great indoor day of fun!
American Museum of Natural History 200 Central Park West Upper West Side 212-769-5100 Online: shop.amnh.org
At NYC’s oldest toy store, your main problem will be which LEGO to choose! Head to the back of the store, where you’ll find a LEGO-filled wall with sets for every age. If LEGO Friends is what you’re after, Mary Arnold has got it. They’ve stocked up on tons of sets featuring the popular animation series Friends of Heartlake City including the very in demand ‘Stephanie’s House.’ If your house is also known as Gotham City, then you’ll probably be looking for the latest superhero LEGOs. At Mary Arnold, you’ll find just about every LEGO superhero around and some DUPLO superheroes as well if you’re looking for something for a young child. Shopping for Ninjago fans? Mary Arnold is well-stocked with all kinds of sets for your little ninja warrior including the ever-fun Ninjago Spinners.
Mary Arnold Toys 1178 Lexington Ave. Upper East Side 212-744-8510 Online: maryarnoldtoys.com
At this Brooklyn toy store, they’re serious about keeping LEGOs in stock, as the bricks move at a fast clip here. Greenpoint Toy Center keeps customers happy by offering a wide variety of LEGOs. Inventory includes Star Wars and Minecraft LEGO sets to a huge range City LEGO. If your kid likes having the option of three different builds in one LEGO set, Greenpoint also sells a large selection of LEGO Creator sets including a plane, a boat and a car. The store is also currently well stocked with Frozen 2 LEGO sets if you’ve got a little Elsa at home who wants something special for the holidays.
Greenpoint Toy Center 738 Manhattan Ave. Greenpoint Online: greenpointtoys.com
Your ultimate neighborhood store, West Side Kids has been carefully choosing toys for kids for over two decades. They’ve got a comprehensive selection of LEGOs including Harry Potter, Toy Store 2 and Ninjago sets. West Side Kids is particularly great when it comes to choosing toys specific to your child’s age and that goes for its LEGO stock, as well. If you’re not sure what to choose or this is your child’s first LEGO, West Side Kids personnel will take the time to listen to learn about your kid’s likes and interests before recommending a set for them. For the expert builder, the store also carries sets for the ultimate LEGO aficionado ready to tackle a 10-hr project like the Harry Potter: Hogwarts Clock Tower.
West Side Kids 498 Amsterdam Ave. Upper West Side 212-496-7282 Online: westsidekidsnyc.com