Spot Check: Wishes
Wishes is a specialty toy and game store that you may not be aware of because it is buried in the Everett Mall. You can’t see it from the road so you may forget about it. Wishes is one of my favorite stores in Everett.
Wishes has been around for 8 years and I’ve purchased a lot of gifts there. They offer high-quality toys for babies and kids. The kind of toys that you are going to be able to pass down to family and friends when the kids outgrow them.
If you know a Harry Potter or Seahawks fan, they have you covered with everything from themed dominos to puzzles.
Oh and the puzzles. There are so many. The front of the store is filled with just about every kind of puzzle for older kids and adults. There is also a fantastic section of puzzles for littles at the back of the store. This is a fun area where you can let the little ones roam, away from the tempting lure of the open mall.
One of my favorite sections of Wishes is their board games. There are aisles of board games with beautiful artwork on the covers. It is like an art gallery. There is so much creativity put into these high-quality works of art that it makes me feel like I’m supporting an artist and entrepreneur when I purchase them. There are also 19 versions of Monopoly, if you are looking for one in particular.
Wishes has a fun selection of stuffed animals and puppets, lots of STEM toys, buckets of wood train track pieces and arts and crafts kits. They even have an impressively merchandised book section stocked with all of the current must-read books.
If you are into Magic, Battletec and Dungeons and Dragons, Wishes has everything you need including a gaming room for hosting events.
If you need to pick up some gifts this holiday season, I recommend stopping at Wishes first. It is nice to be able to check out quality first hand while supporting a great local business. If you have time, take a spin through the Everett Mall because while it is an eclectic mix of stores, you’ll probably find another store that piques your interest.
If you are in a hurry to swing the toy store, go in through Party City and you will find Wishes in the mall directly across.
To get you started on holiday shopping, here are some of my top gift recommendations.
Stomp Rockets are loved by all ages, especially adult males, so make sure to launch in a wide-open space or someone is going to be climbing on the roof.
Water Wow! is my go-to gift for littles. A small brush filled with water reveals hidden pictures in these books. Kids LOVE them and if the water gets spilled, it isn’t very much.
Snap Circuits are a great learning toy. I’m big on toys that interest both kids and adults so they can play together. Snap Circuits fit the bill.
Happy local shopping! What other local gems do you like to shop at? Tell us in the comments.
Wishes
1402 SE Everett Mall Way
Everett, WA 98208
(425) 265-7005
If you need more shopping ideas, check out our gift guides.
Linda War Bonnet represents south Everett on the Live in Everett Team. When she isn’t working, she is running the Westmont-Holly Neighborhood Association. You might spot her walking her dog in the Holly neighborhood.