Meet our advertisers: Izilla Toys

When Jude La Rene and Jennifer Schneeweis opened Izilla Toys two years ago they had someone special in mind.

“We wanted a family business that our five-year-old son Isaiah could be a part of too,” Jude explained. “We wanted our store to reflect our family’s values. We view imagination and creativity as the highest forms of play, so we choose to carry toys that encourage those values.”

A refreshing alternative to big-box toy stores, Izilla Toys is located in a “little house with a big yard” in the Madison Park neighborhood of Seattle. In the fenced yard you’ll find playhouses and a sandbox for children to play in, and on the porch you’ll see a dollhouse and a train table for your little shopper’s enjoyment. Inside the store you’ll find the small rooms of the house have been preserved for you to explore and discover an eclectic selection of quality toys.

Izilla prides itself in promoting toys that encourage creative play. They carry high quality brands such as Haba and Brio, and Kettler trikes. They’ve recently added Woody Clicks to their collection. Jude explains, “They are very sweet little wooden vehicles that kids can take apart and put back together.” From arts and crafts, to lifelike puppets, wooden trains, and kitchen toys, Izilla Toys are chosen specifically to engage your child’s mind.

One thing you won’t find here are toys that represent weapons. Jude and Jennifer want to encourage children to make good choices for themselves, and be empowered by the difference their actions can make.

On “Allowance Day,” the last Sunday of the month, kids get 15 percent off purchases made with their own hard earned cash. And 20 percent of the day’s sales go to local children’s charities. “We want to foster kids’ involvement in giving back to the community,” Jude explains. Kids can also sign up for a special “Birthday Club” which delivers a surprise in the mail. Grownups who sign up for Izilla’s newsletter will receive valuable coupons.

Izilla Toys is located at 2840 East Madison in Seattle. Open Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. You can reach them by phone at 206-322-TOYS. Check it out! Chances are you’ll feel right at home.