Auntie Em’s Miniatures

Lots of Pedal Cars & Great place to buy old high quality toys for an awesome price! I bought a metal tonka truck in pretty good condition for my son for $ 10 — it was my favorite toy growing up and now my son will get to have one of his own! She has lots of high quality toys from the 50’s and older as well — granted these cost more $, but I am sure the price is very fair. I can’t wait to bring my son and future daughter on the way in person to check out the dollhouse stuff :)

This is either a 5-​star or a 1-​star shop, depending on your perspective. Let’s start with the argument for 5 stars.
This store has a really amazing amount of dollhouse miniatures, ranging from the usual Town Square sets to Bespaq to some of the Reac modern pieces to more Reutter Porzellan than you can shake a stick at (not that you should be shaking a stick around porcelain dishes! don’t do that thing!).
If you’re looking for food or accessories that aren’t the standard items in the Hobby Builders Supply catalog… wowza. More than you’ll know what to do with, plus all the usual Chrysnbon dishes and metal paintable blanks.
There is also a comparatively large selection of 1:24 (half-​scale) furniture and houses, and if you’re looking for some of the English house kits that are harder to find in the U.S., look here! It is also sometimes possible to find unusual items from estate sales.
So if you have the money to embark on a large and elaborate dollhouse project — or an entire community of large and elaborate dollhouse projects — in your sunny Arizona retirement, you will love this store. You may as well just buy your retirement cottage within an easy walk, as downtown Glendale is pretty cute.
Now, the 1-​star problem. If you have ever said you couldn’t afford a piece you were looking at – not that it was too expensive in itself (which I NEVER say because people need to make a living!), but that your budget wasn’t big enough for it – forget ever again having the owner make eye contact when you shop, much less open a case for you. After receiving this treatment on three later visits in which I had money and was eager to spend it, I’ve given up.
Since we’re on the subject of prices, it is possible to find bargains (especially on partly assembled house kits), and sometimes the prices aren’t notably higher than «eBay plus shipping cost.» The shop’s also in a quaint antique/​tourist district, though, so you would be wise to go for the sake of the extensive selection and not dwell over-​much on whether you got a great price.
That all said, if you’re in the store’s target demographic of older women with generous budgets, this store is not to be missed. I have seen the owners bond intensely with the regulars, so it’s possible to end up with a great relationship where you get advice on your big projects, too.