Zucchini’s Tricks’n’things

This place is awesome! You can find some cool tricks AND get tips on how to execute the tricks. My kids LOVED this place, and ended up coming back later in the day to buy more tricks.

I love this little magic shop and can’t believe the variety of magical merchandise Brian the owner has. I have been frequenting this shop since before 1976 and he has changed location a few times over the years, but still has kept the MAGIC going in this store. A great place to visit while visiting Cannery Row in Monterey.

Mind… effin…BLOWN. The guy working here is epic! Also, they got the patches I’ve been looking for… awesome! Will be back!

It’s rare that you get to meet an owner of a business that has been at same location for 30+ years! My kids love this place and Brian (I think that’s the owner’s name) is so friendly and remembers names and info. A must see at Cannery Row!

If you are ever near Cannery Row and are in the market for a gag or novelty gift; this place has you covered on so many levels. They carry everything from exploding golf balls to oversized coins to magic tricks, all at a reasonable price, and if you stick around; you are bound to see the salesman demonstrate a couple tricks. I’ve been coming here ever since I was little, and as time goes by they seem to keep getting better and better.

The owner of this magic shop was insanely rude. He told my girlfriend and I to get out because we didn’t buy a magic trick, and all we were trying to do was ask a question. We stood there for literally three seconds before he told us to leave. We didn’t interrupt. We were not rude. This is not how you run a business. He also had my previous review removed. I’m guessing this isn’t the first time this has happened. I wonder how many other negative reviews were taken down. Anyway, telling us to get out was uncalled for. Very unprofessional. We then told him that there was no reason to be rude. He replied, «Get the hell out». In front of children with their mother standing right behind them. Take my advice, spend your money elsewhere. He’s lucky to have customers with a business ethic like that.

If you find yourself on Cannery Row and you are in the mood for magic, this is your place. Lots of cute tricks and fun stuff on the shelves. Zucchini is terrific with kids of all ages. We bought a card trick, then he invited us to step down the counter for a «secret magician’s consultation» about the trick. Huge fun, you really must pop in.

Love this place. A great place to get some funny gags and you get to see some sick tricks. The guy at the counter is really nice! One of my favorite tricks is the pen and the changing penny/​dime.

A Monterey staple.
Zuchini is so great with kids and with teaching tricks. I have been stopping by his magic shop for over 20 years. He is also a great local with good insight into the great places to go for food and fun.

If you like magic and happen to be near by, this is the place to visit. I recently visited New York after being in Monterey. I can tell you I prefer Zucchini’s Tricks’n’things store by far. The guy is amazingly friendly and helpful. The store is small but I still managed to stay there for almost two hours chatting and learning. Great place to visit! I hope it is still there next time I am in the neighborhood.

Always fun & entertaining coming to this magic shop w/​the family. Owner provides excellent service & we are always greeted with a smile! One of the things our children look forward to when coming to Monterey. He shows great tricks & when you buy them he also teaches you how to do them! Our family loves this place & it’s always a highlight to our trips to Monterey!

There isn’t many Magic shops around any more, so when we were in Monterey and saw this one, the Boyfriend just had to go in.
The very kind and entertaining gentleman behind the counter was very friendly. The store is small but it was cool to look around, we found out Flash paper is illegal to see in CA, boo!!!
The only reason I gave this shop 4 stars and not 5, is … I was tired and wanted to get our items and go, but of course we had to wait for awhile because he was entertaining a few costumers in hopes they would spend some more money, I can understand but we were ready to spend a little and wanted to go home.

Bottom line: LOVE it! Worth a 2 hour drive! Free live and personal front stage magic show that baffles the mind AND free private lessons to go with any trick purchase!
We stumbled across this place while doing the touristy thing in Monterey a few years back, and BOY AM I GLAD! This place is a GEM in itself! Now we make the trip with Zucchini’s on the TOP of the list! We live about 2 hours away and head down there about 3−4x/year. NEVER have we been disappointed! We’ve stopped doing all the other touristy shops by now… they’re all the same; but Zucchini’s is a MUST no matter where or what else we have on the itinerary.
Each time we go, the owner shows us a minimum of 5 tricks — ALWAYS baffling! And admittedly, each time I buy at least one of them! ;) He then takes the time to give a personal one-​on-​one free lesson on how to perform the trick you’ve just purchased.
He’s a one man shop, struggling to make it — just like we all are, and he supports others who are struggling… nice genuine guy! He gives personalized attention and live free magic shows to all who enter… just a wait a minute, and you’ll be next! He has an amazing amount of patience! That in itself is Magic to me! ;)
It’s chock full o tricks n fun stuff appealing to the child eye and hand! But, it’s also a tiny place that’s difficult for people to get around when kids spread toys and magic tricks out on the ground to play… I’ve personally experienced the owner asking that my kids clean up after themselves, and I’ve seen him ask other parents as well. He was not offensive… totally polite about it! He is always focused on the free show he’s providing and is a one man shop, so no time to be cleaning up after our kids. I get it! Totally worth it!
We love this place when in Monterey for a romantic weekend, and when taking a family trip! Our kids 6, 8, 10, and 13 also LOVE it and beg to see Zucchini!
I suppose I can stop with the praise now… but there’s sooooo much to say!
**update** Just an FYI — the owner didn’t have Josh M.‘s review removed. I flagged it for inappropriate language — multiple instances of profanity. As a mother and as a person who doesn’t appreciate the use of foul language to get a point across in a public forum, I flag posts when necessary. Apparently, Unilocal determined my flagging was warranted and removed the post.

Great store, one of the few around that has prof. magic supplies.
Wonderfull folks, great attitude.
Jeremy

I’ve been going to Zucchini’s for over thirty years. It’s one of my favorite places in Monterey to shop for gifts or just to have fun. The owner is very entertaining showing off his magic tricks and gag gifts. He obviously has exquisite taste in novelty gifts. This place is a treat for young and old.

My S.O. has a thing for those metal puzzle tricks you have to pull apart, so he was ecstatic to look for some here. When we walked in, the man behind the counter was showing some other customers fun magic tricks. I watched from the corner of my eye hoping I would get to see one too. We immediately dove into sorting through tricks and gags. A lot of fake «poop» sold here. We found the «goldmine» of those metal puzzles. So we took them to the front to purchase and the man behind the counter immediately began showing us magic tricks. YAY! Good sales person, cause we ended up spending $ 40 on gags and little magic tricks. It’s a cure little store with a lot of that tourist junk, but totally worth a visit.

A rather cluttery store, full of «stuff», some which are junky (poopie-​cushions, those metal buzzer things you put in the palm of your hand to shock someone when you shake their hands, plastic doggie poop, etc). The owner stands behind the register and performs magic tricks with cards, pretend cigarettes and other stuff.
The kids had to get one of those trick decks that cost me $ 15, OUCH. I bought a tiny plastic camera for my nephew, for only $ 2.50. It cost us $ 4.00 at the Disneyland magic store a few years ago! You fill it with water, give it to a friend to take a picture of you and when they depress the button, it squirts water on their face/​eye. I have great memories of this item when my kid was way younger and he did that to his friend and she chased him at Town Square whilst laughing.
I love their magnets — one with Barbara Bush looking at the Senior Bush regretting she didn’t support pro-​choice. Or, a pic of the Senior Bush and Dubaya side-​by-​side, «Dumb and Dumber». There’s typical touristy junk in the rear of the store (mugs, paper weights, etc), the trick stuff is mostly in the front of the store. At one point, the owner was getting irritated with the little kids (below 8 yrs old) who were making a mess of stuff on his floor & he politely asked the parents to pick up after their kids. Yeah, kids love these magic stores.

bad dont go there. just because i am a 10 year old kid im still a person. i was in line and the cashier aperently didnt notice me