Once Upon A Time

My husband and I went here to get a birthday gift and I’m so glad we did. Our knowledge about kids gifts is pretty minimal and the staff was wonderful in helping us find something appropriate. They also have free gift wrapping — score! The nice thing is that they have a wide variety of price ranges, so there is something for every budget. Most of the toys seemed to be handmade and educational (also possibly organic). One of the most terrifying experiences for me is going to a Toys-​R-​Us for children’s gifts and this was almost enjoyable in comparison. Definitely check them out if you are in need of a baby or child-​type gift!

I was really excited to buy my daughter her first pair of shoes. I went into this store and couldn’t decide. I mentioned to the lady at the store that I couldn’t decide between the 2 pairs and said that I’ll just get both. I went home happy and went to put them on my daughter (13 months at the time) and she refused to keep them on. Oh well I said, I’ll have to wait longer to get her into shoes.
The next week I went back to the store to return them and lo and behold, the lady behind the counter says, sorry, only store credit. I was shocked! This was the same lady helping me previously. I was like, had I known this, I would have only bought one pair because I didn’t know how my daughter would react to having shoes on. She said, «we tell people the every time they buy something IF WE THINK THAT THEY WILL RETURN SOMETHING.» Huh? Did I not previously tell her that I couldn’t decide which one since it was my daughters first pair? «Sorry, even if we didn’t tell you the policy, it’s written right here on the counter» pointing to a piece of paper in some plexiglass holder with about a half a page of black and white writing that most people do not see. Maybe you want big red letters or something more obvious??? «It’s hard for a small business to survive when we give refunds.» My comment to her was, «it’s hard for a small business to lose customers and you just lost one.»
I am all for shop small and support local businesses even when paying a bit more to do it, but not this one! I hope you read this and beware!

Incredible selection of toys especially wood toys. A bit pricey but worth it to support local!

By far the cutest and best-​curated baby boutique I’ve been to in the Seattle area. If you’re tired of seeing all the same old, same old, mass-​produced baby stuff that you see at Babies R Us, Target, etc., this is the place to come to find truly original, high-​quality stuff that you’d otherwise have to hunt down on specialty online stores or Etsy. Seems like the perfect place to buy a truly original baby gift or something very special for a 1– or 2-year-old’s birthday party. I will be mentioning this boutique to all the soon-​to-​be moms I know.
The store offers new items only (no consignment) and has everything from organic baby clothing, burp cloths and swaddles to the cutest shoes to well-​chosen books (i.e., beautifully illustrated, non-​Disney, good mix of old favorites and new) to finely crafted wooden toys and dolls. The closest thing I’ve seen to this on the Eastside is Wee Tots in Bellevue, which is *almost* as good and worth a visit for people with more eclectic taste in baby items.

Very rude and awkward sales people — following you around is a bit overkill and you lose the quaint store experience. Install cameras and stop following around! Others in my PEPS group will no longer shop here. Cute store for last minute bday gifts — very strange ownership/​management.

I’m usually not on Queen Anne very often, but when I am I love to look around in this cute shop for my little girl. Sometimes I buy something, sometimes I don’t.
I think today was my last visit. Like a few other previous reviewers I got the feeling that the employee suspected me as a shoplifter. I was followed around the whole time until I got so uncomfortable I left. I understand that shoplifting is a huge problem. And I’m sure this store has it’s fair share of it by the two level layout. Maybe they could have more cameras or learn to be more discrete in their watching of shoppers? There has to be another way besides eyeing potential customers during their entire visit.
And yes it is pricey. Everything sold here can be found online at a much lower price– which makes this a great window shop only.

I really like this store because they have a lot of really nice and good quality clothes and toys you can’t find at a lot of other places. It looks small on the outside but there are 2 levels and they have a lot of stuff and it is well organized throughout the store.

This store has the unique off brand kids items that are both educational, and on the environmentally good side (a lot of wood toys). You might call it a bit granola-​y! That said, their stuff is quality and not found in other stores.
There are two levels and the rain boots (need them in Seattle) and rain jackets were what we came here for. The styles were fun and the only reason this place isn’t 5 stars is because the service was a bit lacking and they did not have the size needed in stock.

Adorable children’s store! So many cute and unique things you won’t find anywhere else. It’s a little bit pricy but it’s definitely worth the shopping experience and finding an adorable outfit, great book or a cool toy.

ok i wouldve gave this place a 4 star rating tipping towards 5 just for the feel of the store alone. But the girl that was working the register that day seemed like she suspected us of stealing and followed us upstairs pretending to be «arranging» things. I was there with my two toddlers and my husband and i liked the quaintness of the store and the products they sold here. i was expecting more clothing for boys as another reviewer said so if you are looking for little boys clothes id skip this place but they have a fairly nice selection of shoes. we ended up buying a pair of pink rainboots with owls on them for our 3 yr old and they retailed for $ 40 which included tax which is a little high but expected for such a stylized little store very quaint and cute place though

One of my favorite stores in the area, filled to the brim with great things for kids. I used to frequent the Bellevue Square location, but since it closed I try to get over to the Queen Anne location when I can. It’s a great place to find See Kai Run shoes.

Okay, so I don’t have kids, but this place is awesome. I checked out the website first for recommendations before going into the store to buy a couple birthday gifts for a friend’s child. Although I could only vaguely describe what I was looking for once I got there, the staff knew exactly how to interpret my hand gestures and random words and find exactly what I needed. And, the toys were a major hit with all the two year olds at the party (poor birthday boy hardly even saw the toy), so not only are the staff great, but the folks who review the toys on the website also really know what the kids like these days.

Great selection, the perfect place to find a unique baby gift or to pick up those hard to find kid’s toys. I used to shop here more when my son was a toddler. Now I feel like the prices keep getting higher and it’s turning into exclusively a boutique, high end toy shop. Definitely not a place to take your kiddo with his allowance/​pennies to try to buy something. I do like that everything they have is pretty high quality and if you’re looking for those «forever» toys (a doll house, tea set, etc) then this is the place.

Greatest kids store ever! All quality wooden toys imported from lots of countries. Stuff for all ages. As a behavioral psychologist I read several studies indicating that the exposure of wooden toys to babies often leads to connection to the natural environment (as opposed to plastic toys)

What a gorgeous little confection of a store… so many beautiful little shoes, dolls, treasure– it was the stuff of dreams.
Most importantly, I was warmly welcomed to come in… and definitely will return

Sadly, I would not purchase another item from this store and would advise others not to do so. I bought a Janod fire station set from the store a few weeks ago. The set contained 15 pieces of wooden figurines. It only took 2 days before one of the pieces broke into two with no apparent reason, other than it was a defective piece.
I took the toy set back to the store the next weekend. Citing its store policy against taking back toys that have been opened, the store refused to exchange the defective set and refused to refund me. Instead, the store clerk told me to call the manufacturer and deal with the defective toy myself.
Surprised with this horrible level of customer service, I told the store clerk that this really makes it difficult for people like me to want to support our local toy stores. The response I received was, sorry, we are a small store and therefore we don’t have the capacity to deal with manufacturer problems. Really?! Why would anyone go to any store, small or large, to get less personal service, less customer service, but pay more money???
As a specialty retail store marketing higher end toys, this place completely does not get it. Even
has better service than this place. It’s a shame. I would NOT recommend anyone to buy any item from this store.

Fun fun fun! There are some really great and nostalgic toys here! I spent so long just looking around. Also, the owner was really nice and helpful.
Some prices were just over my budget.

This store encapsules everything that a children’s store should be, along with excellent customer service. This is the type of shop that you see in old movies. I have a multitude of nieces and nephews as well as many friends having babies so I find myself in here a lot. One experience in particular pretty much sums up what makes this store so great:
We were headed up to Vancouver and our friends’ baby was turning one, so we wanted to get him a gift. I left work late and at about 6:10 I called to see when they close. They closed at six, but said that if I was on my way, they would stay open for me. I was blown away. I arrived about 15 minutes later and she showed me the area where I would find a gift for a one year old. They have two adorable lines of toys from France and when I saw something I liked, she told me about the product (it was a cute bear with a story behind it) and showed me similar items. No up selling, no suggesting the most expensive item, just sharing; she was genuinely excited about what they sold. For me being there after closing, she was incredibly patient. She even offered to wrap the gift for me.
You won’t find toys here that seem mass produced, make loud noises or are branded with the latest movie characters. You do find things that kids love, that are unusual and well worth the price. I am a big believer that I would rather spend $ 40-​$ 50 once on something that will be used and loved than $ 10 on a cheap toy that will be used and then forgotten. This is definitely a place to find the gifts that will be cherished.

OMG, baby heaven. I’m not even exaggerating — they not only have the fru-​fru things that only aunts and grandmas buy, but the basics. One-​stop-​shop.
They have all the great baby strollers, check.
Nursing supplies, swaddle blankets, sleep sacks, the most AMAZING sock options, diaper bags, on and on. Don’t even get me started on the shoes… the most unbelievable selection ever!
So, needless to say, if you have a child, or know anyone who has a child or expecting one, get your booty over there asap. You won’t go wrong.

I remember the Christmas that I got Baby Alive. She ate. She pooped. I could feed her and change her diaper. Hours of fun. Except, I didn’t do that. Instead, I dressed and redressed her. Baby Alive went through more wardrobe changes than Mariah Carey on Cribs. But one day, my fondness for spending time with dolls dwindled. Now 15(ish) years later I’m getting the chance to dress Babies Alive. Or should I say Alive Babies. You know, real life chilluns?
Being an aunt to four and knowing people popping out babies left and right, I’m presented many opportunities to visit stores like Once Upon a Time. This Queen Anne Ave shop is packed two stories full of cutsie, ooh and ahh, goodies. Whether you’re feeling practical or fun, you’ll most likely leave the store with something for a practical, fun for your wallet price. In one stop, I was able to pick up presents for my boyfriend’s soon to be born niece, my 3 month old niece and my 7 year old nephew. Once Upon A Time has their shelves and racks stocked with something for every kid. I recently left the store with baby leg warmers, organic onsies, a soft pink, horse sweater and make your own slime. A successful shopping stop indeed.