Play Toys and Books Brings Chicago-Themed Gifts to Hyde Park for First Holiday Season

By Socialhood News · Il/Chicago/Hyde Park · December 6, 2025

Hyde Park welcomes a new shopping destination just in time for the holiday season as Play Toys and Books celebrates its first winter in the neighborhood. The toy store, which opened earlier this year at 1502 E. 53rd Street, fills the void left by Toys Et Cetera, which closed after serving the community for half a century.

The shop offers a variety of Chicago-themed toys and gifts, including CTA trains and buses (

9.99), 1,000-piece puzzles featuring iconic local foods like Maxwell Street Polish sausages and jibaritos ($29.99), and stuffed toys of Barack Obama (

9.99). Adult shoppers can find items like Frank Lloyd Wright-themed backgammon sets ($29.99), making the store a one-stop destination for holiday gifts for all ages.

Play Toys and Books is part of a local chain with additional locations in Logan Square, Wicker Park, West Loop, and Andersonville. Hyde Park residents can visit the store Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., adding a vibrant new option to the neighborhood's diverse shopping landscape.

Sources:
1. https://blockclubchicago.org/2025/11/17/shop-local-2025-a-hyde-park-woodlawn-south-shore-and-south-chicago-gift-guide/