It’s Comic Con weekend in San Diego.
Check out these Toy Stores in the area that are open all year long.
Every July hundreds of thousands of collectors flock to San Diego to trade comics, buy exclusives, check out panels, and get a sneak peek at what’s coming down the pipe. But whether you want a break from the big con this weekend or are visiting the area on one of the other 51 weeks of the year, there are a bunch of toy spots worth visiting.
Article by: Dave at Toy Store Guide
@toydelorean on Instagram
The closest to the CON.
Now or Never Comics. Usually a 6 minute drive from the convention center, it is probably faster to walk during Comic Con weekend. Especially since there is so much to see on the streets between the two. Now or Never is two floors of fun, with the second floor jammed packed with toys.
The Super 7 Super Store.
Right around the corner from Now or Never Comics is Super 7’s San Diego store (Their flagship store is in San Francisco). The retail location transforms itself for SDCC making it an extension of the con that you can experience without a ticket. The rest of the year it’s still quite the experience for any fan of the company. Add to the fun that collectors have been known to find figures long thought sold out at retailers. When Super 7 finds old stock they often decide to release it to the two locations without announcing anything.
The Boutique.
Replay Toys Boutique. Boutique might not sound like the right word for a toy store but step inside and you will immediately understand how apt the word is for this toy shop. The owners do an amazing job of having things for everyone from serious collectors, children, and anyone looking for silly gags. They recently moved locations and we are excited to stop by their new digs.
Team Rocket…
TC’s Rockets. San Diego’s biggest Toy Store. A fan favorite by locals and tourists. TC’s has a huge selection of toys, comics, and collectibles. Add to that enough room for gaming and tournaments and even their own Pizza & Sub shop right next door.
Addicted to plastic?
Toy Addicts got you covered. Smaller than TC’s but jammed packed full of toys to feed any toy hunters addiction. We have found many hard to find figures at Toy Addicts for prices that were too hard to pass up. It was at Toy Addicts where we first noticed how much prices of different toy lines can differ around the country. FaceTime calls back east were necessary so fellow collectors can virtually shop.
Both TC’s Rockets and Toy Addicts are less than 20 minutes northeast of Comic Con International and about 10 minutes from each other. If you head to one then don’t hesitate to hit up the other. But Toy Addicts is closed on Sundays so plan accordingly.
No Ticket, No Problem!
The Ninja Xchange Collectible Expo. As excited as we are to see what SDCC 25 has in store for us, this year we are more excited to finally check out the expo. Over 70,000 square feet and almost 100 vendors are set up every weekend. Personally I search for retro or vintage toys, which can actually be hard to find and be more expensive inside the convention. Space inside San Diego Comic Con costs a premium and vendors need to maximize space and products to make a profit during the weekend, not to mention it’s a comic convention and not a toy convention.
Keep an eye on the Toy Store profiles for updated pictures and to see what we grab throughout the weekend, either at SDCC or at the surrounding Toy Stores, check out @ToyDeLorean on Instagram.
