There is something about walking down the Ocean City Boardwalk that makes you feel like a kid again. From the bright lights, the sounds coming from the rides, or the smell of fresh caramelized popcorn and saltwater taffy. Or maybe it is simply seeing all the colorful toys and treasures packed into the shops along the boardwalk.
From classic toys to the latest trending collectibles, squishies, stuffed animals, games, puzzles, gag gifts, and everything in between, the Ocean City Boardwalk has no shortage of ways to bring home a little piece of summer. While some of these stores are better known for other things, their toy selections are part of what makes wandering through the boardwalk shops so much fun.
Air Circus is one of those stores that catches your attention before you even walk through the door. Located around 11th Street, there always seems to be something happening outside, whether it’s bubble machines, barking plush dogs, walking toy dogs on leashes, or other fun outdoor toys. The fun and thrills do not stop at the entrance.
Inside, you will find plenty of the trendy squishy toys that seem to be everywhere right now, including fun designs like dumplings and even a squishy stick of butter.
There is also a prank wall filled with silly gag gifts, from fake mustaches to fun nerd glasses. Growing up, I remember my dad always pointing out those types of toys when we walked by because he was a total jokester himself. Those little moments are part of what makes a boardwalk toy store memorable — sometimes you are not even looking for anything, but you end up laughing at something you find.
Air Circus also has a dedicated kite selection, including plenty of colorful options right along the beach outside the store. I remember getting kites there as a kid and being amazed by how high they could actually fly. There is something about watching your kite disappear higher and higher into the summer sky that feels like a quintessential childhood beach memory.
Surf Mall is another Ocean City classic, and even the outside of the store feels like an experience. With its movie-theater-style entrance, walking inside feels almost like stepping into a retro world. There is plenty to explore, from clothing and accessories to posters and collectibles. Of course, toys are part of the fun.
One standout is “Slimeology”, where you can customize your own slime with different colors and add-ins. For kids — and let’s be honest, plenty of adults — getting to create your own slime is half the fun.
The store also has a large collection of Funko Pops, featuring characters ranging from Batman and the Joker to countless other favorites. Then there are the mystery and surprise boxes, where you don’t know exactly which toy or character you are going to get until you open it. Add in the collection of squishy plush toys, and you could easily spend plenty of time browsing before deciding what is coming home with you.
Right next to each other in front of Playland, Jilly’s T-Shirt Factory and Candy Factory make for a pretty perfect post-ride stop.
Of course, you can find plenty of Ocean City-themed shirts and sweet treats, but don’t overlook the toy selections. There are fun plush toys, including bubble-tea-inspired characters, plush chip bags with stuffed-animal kittens popping out, and other colorful items that are just as tempting as the candy. There is also the Jilly’s French fries mascot plushie, which makes for a fun souvenir to remember your boardwalk day.
There is something very Ocean City about walking off a ride at Playland, grabbing a piece of candy, and then finding a little toy or souvenir to take home.
The “World’s Smallest Toy Store” – the name really does say it all. Tucked between other stores around Ninth Street, World’s Smallest Toy Store may be small and narrow, but that does not mean there is not plenty to discover.
Growing up, I knew the store was tiny, but somehow that was part of the experience. I remember going in with my mom and feeling like the space was almost our own little world. It was small enough that it felt like you could explore the whole store without anyone else around — even though, in reality, you probably could not fit many people inside at once.
That is part of the charm. In a boardwalk filled with large, flashy stores, there is something memorable about the tiny shop that makes you slow down and see what treasures are packed inside.
When most people think of Shrivers, candy and saltwater taffy probably come to mind first. But growing up, I thought of Shrivers as having some of the most fun treats that could double as toys.
There are candies shaped like meals, food, and other objects, and as kids, my friends and I could turn them into part of our own imaginary games. We’d use them to “feed” our dolls or play restaurant. Other candies come packaged or shaped like fun objects, making them feel like a two-for-one: something sweet to eat and something fun to play with first.
Shrivers does not stop at candy. The shop also has branded taffy plush toys and other Ocean City-themed stuffed animals that make great keepsakes.
But if you are visiting during the summer, don’t miss the famous taffy balloons. These things are massive. I remember getting one as a kid and feeling so cool walking down the boardwalk with this giant taffy balloon that seemed almost twice my size. It was impossible to miss — which, of course, was exactly the point.
What I love about these boardwalk shops is that they are not just places to buy something. They are places where you can create a memory.
Maybe it is picking out a kite and seeing how high you can get it to fly. Maybe it is opening a mystery box and finding out which character you got. Maybe it is making your own slime, buying a silly prank toy for someone in your family, or walking down the boardwalk carrying a giant taffy balloon.
That is the magic of boardwalk toys. Some of the things that seem small at the time become the memories you remember years later.
I do not remember every toy I had growing up. But I remember the kite I watched fly higher than I thought it could. I remember my dad pointing out the goofy prank toys. I remember squeezing into the World’s Smallest Toy Store with my mom. And I definitely remember walking down the boardwalk with a giant Shrivers taffy balloon.
That’s what makes Ocean City’s boardwalk shops so special. You might walk in looking for a toy, but you might walk out with a summer memory.
