Hobby Shops near El Monte, CA

“My LGS is better than yours.

Discovering Magic was well…Magic. I swooned head over heels for a game of cardboard and commanders. I have only been able to walk the great halls of this game with the aid of the incredible staff at The Game Cellar.

I’m a deck-building maniac so when I need Dragon Sleeves, they’ve got me. When I need singles to round out my play strategy and themes, they’ve got me. When I’m looking to crack that last pack and hit it big, they’ve got me.

You never fear the fall when there’s someone to catch you. Believe it, if they’ve got me they’ve got you too.”

“I've been here a few times now and each and everytime I have been met with super friendly staff. I am working on a Pokedex binder and they helped me out with really fair prices and took the time to talk to me about the cards. They have air conditioning so I feel like I am able to browse for extended periods of time. They also offer drinks and snacks (I saw some sodas and cup noodle) for very low prices for their customers as well. W Store.”

“Great store and all but small glitch is parking ...have to figure out where the heck to park and lots were full ....drove around for awhile and when finally leaving I did see a big lot for multiple stores.... ?”

“I live in Georgia and have purchased from Evasive twice so far. On the 1st order I made a mistake and needed to talk with someone. I was able to speak with an employee quickly and the have First Class customer service. I bought the hard protectors for Thrilljoy Pix. I was impressed as the HIGH QUALITY of the protectors. I was also shocked given the price as it was low, especially for such high quality. Evasive is my go to shop! They ship quickly and pack with care.”

“My boyfriend is really happy with his new TRX‑4M. He already has the TRX‑4, but he’s been wanting the mini so he can take it anywhere. I got it for him as a surprise birthday gift, and this store made it so easy. They held it for me, and I really appreciate how professional and helpful they were. My boyfriend is very happy, and this made his birthday even better.”

“You’ve seen the TikToks. You’ve seen the Instagram posts. You’ve read the reviews—it’s all true. Toyz in the Box is the best place in Cali to find just about any figure you’re looking for. From Marvel Legends and Mezco to S.H. Figuarts and all kinds of imports, they’ve got it covered.

They really take care of their customers, restock frequently, and I get my figures way faster than from other spots like BigBadToyStore.

Huge shoutout to Toyz in the Box for always looking out for me!”

“I’ve known Manny, the owner of Playdays Collectibles for a few years, and my experience has always been very positive. I’m not going to lie and say that Manny always has everything I’m looking for, but I can honestly say that I’ve never walked out of Playdays Collectibles empty handed.

To conclude, Manny is a great human being, he is very welcoming to everyone, and the environment is very pleasant, and the prices are reasonable. I highly recommend Playdays Collectibles to all Diecast collectors and enthusiasts. You won’t regret your experience.”

“Dark Side Games is a decent spot for local game enthusiasts! They have a surprising selection of D&D and Warhammer items and supplies - as well as MTG packs and specialty single cards along with other game supplies.

They have two separate areas with gaming tables - a smaller section in the front near the entrance and a larger section in the back with a bit more decor and ambiance. They hold weekly structured MTG meetups and for other games as well (for a small fee) and their event schedule is easily accessed on their website.

We came in with my son in search of MTG cards and had fun browsing their selection. Staff were friendly and knowledgeable. Prices were on par with other gaming stories in the area. Store and play areas were clean with some interesting custom decor items.

They’re located in a shopping plaza with plenty of parking. Would be a great place to host your own card gaming sessions or join an established local specialty card gaming community!”

“Pretty cool shop! There’s a section of Gashapons in the back with some really cute figurines. About $3 for a token and lots of figurines. Definitely recommend checking out if you’re coming to/from Frank & Son Collectible Toys.”

“I went here last Thursday as part of an adventure looking for LCSs in the Whittier area after recently moving. I was very happy with my experience. The shop is clean and inviting, with a large selection of bargain cards, raw cards, and slabbed cards across both sports and TCG.

Their inventory was solid, with a majority of modern cards and even some “junk wax,” which I can’t help but buy whenever I see it! The two working that day were Rich and (I know I’m going to spell this wrong, sorry!) Kaylin. They were both very friendly and easy to talk to.

While checking out, I mentioned to Kaylin that I was buying the junk wax for my son’s birthday party so his friends could open packs. He went out of his way to give me a few shop-assembled packs of baseball cards and a pack of penny sleeves to help get them started. That was incredibly thoughtful and meant a lo, it’s awesome to see people who care about getting younger kids interested in the hobby.

Overall, an excellent experience, and I will definitely be back!”

“Out of towner who visited for an event. The store has two very different halves. First, the game space was more spacious than normal but had the normal game store "things stacked everywhere" vibe that you either love or hate. The second half was the store portion, which had an above average selection without having too much. Ever walk into a game store with so many games you just don't know if any of them are any good? Not that here. The selection is that appropriate balance of curated and broad. Appreciate the stores willingness to host events and keep the hobbies alive, and for that alone I'd never give less than 5 stars.”

“First time ever coming here. I had a wonderful time checking everything out and even getting some stuff I had been looking for. Definitely recommend checking it out.”

“⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I love coming to DXN Provisions! ? The staff is always welcoming, helpful, and super knowledgeable. They’ve got plenty of space for tournaments, so events never feel cramped, and the prizing is honestly amazing ??. There’s also plenty of parking, which makes every visit easy and stress-free. They almost always have exactly what I’m looking for too. Highly recommend this spot to any TCG players! ?✨”

“ROBOT4LESS has a small but well-curated selection of Gunpla kits, with some very competitive prices. The staff are friendly and the overall experience was pleasant. That said, a few items felt overpriced compared to other shops.”

“A group of friends stopped in to check it out and was really impressed with how the hobby has become. We rented some slot cars there was 6 of us on a very large track and fast cars as you would assume chaos followed i haven't had this much fun in many decades at a slot car track i wish I lived closer”

“I cannot say enough good things about this fantastic business. I met the owner (Daniel Lenhart) for the first time on my second visit. He introduced himself right when I walked in and made me feel very comfortable. My grandfather had recently passed away and left me his card collection. I decided to bring them in to get graded. I told Daniel how much this collection meant to me and he told me not to worry about a thing and that he was going to take care of me. And that he did! I was able to get my cards graded in 4 weeks! I highly recommend this place for anyone who appreciates great business.”

“New to TCG's and this shop has been so helpful everytime I visit, answering all my dumb questions and guiding me in the right direction. Looking forward to playing in my first event this Friday!”

“I took my childhood toy that I received as a gift 64 years ago for repairs. Owner Charlene was such a joy to meet and her knowledge of vintage dolls was phenomenal and the selection of Dolls for sale is vast.Charlene and her team did such a outstanding repair on my toy ( Stuffed Animal) and was able to match perfectly some of the fabric. I am so thankful my toy was able to be restored. I highly recommend Dee's dolls. Thank you Charlene and your team ?”

“Love this place, as a starter model train collector, I highly recommend this place for beginners. They have a huge section of scenery, starter sets, books, track pieces and more!”

“The girl who helped me was rad and really went out of her way to help me although she was clearly busy. I was being extremely indecisive and she was patient and accommodating. What more can you ask for????Oh I know.Reasonable prices and expectations.This is not a knock on the customer service but whoever is pricing these comics is out of touch with the community. I don't run a store so I can only imagine how hard it is to keep your inventory priced properly day-to-day. But they make apps for that I know because I have one to manage my 3,000 books or so.Also when I attempted to sell / try to trade in some books for either store credit or cash... I offered them Grails and the guy told me that he wasn't interested in buying them because they don't sell which I know might make me sound like I'm being overly confident or egotistical but trust me they were fire books and when I listed them they sold immediately. All I'm saying is we all know in the comic book community it's a give and take I feel like maybe the store might be going through a hard time but they could be doing so much better with the kind of customer service they have in store. I hope you take my comment as careful constructive criticism and not an attack on your shop I'm still giving you four stars for a reason.”

“Located in a little nook somewhere between Los Angeles and San Bernardino, Card Arena is a true treasure — and well worth the trip, especially after a weekend visit to Frank and Sons (only about 10 minutes away in City of Industry).

The setting is clean and modest — and easy to miss, even with a GPS, so be sure to poke around — but the environment and staff couldn’t be warmer, kinder, or more helpful.

Allen and Steve took the time to review the dozens, possibly hundreds, of my top Pokemon cards. They ensured the cards were protected with the proper sleeves and inserted into a clean binder. They even took the time to identify which chase cards were in mint condition, which cards had slight dings or imperfections, and which weren’t worth the hassle of grading. (I should note I have a disability with my arm and hand; they literally handled — very carefully and professionally — my cards with the utmost n respect.)

Though they specialize in Magic and One Piece, Card Arena had some rare Paldean Fates blister packs and beautiful singles at extremely reasonable prices.

I cannot thank the staff, especially Allen and Steve, for their extraordinary patience, insights, assistance, and general kindness.

Overall, one of the best (and most price-friendly) card stores you’ll ever find. Card Arena respects and cares about their customers with as much passion as they have for their products.

THANK YOU!”

“My wife loves coming to Michaels getting supplies for project for her school and personal things she like to make. She can find everything in Micheals for projects and personal things. The prices are incredible affordable for any price. The staff are very helpful and also knowledgeable.”

“This is the place to go for your coins. Watched him explain to the people before me, and of course the what and why of his pricing of my coins and it was more than fair. I hope I don't have to sell anything else, but if I do, this is the only place. Thank you.”

“First time coming here got my stuff signed by Kirk Gibson last year and the service was awesome. Lots of stuff to buy for all Dodgers fans.. Thanks Luis & Carlos”

“Great place to get your stuff for bday parties. Their service for inflating balloons with helium is excellent. The community should use that service so we dont lose this business. It is so useful when party urgency arises. Thank you michaels for such friendly staff.”

“Cool shop , has tons of Disney , Pokémon , and memorabilia would recommend, as for sports cards their selection is small , lots of old cards , don’t carry anything from current year”

“I was looking for a place to get balloons for my daughter's 2nd birthday. They had a good selection online and I opted to come here. They had deals on purchasing numerous balloons. The lady helping us was very sweet in assisting us. A gentleman helped us with inflating the balloons and he did a fantastic job. We did not have to wait for this at all. Got 2 free balloons due to previous rejected purchases.

Amazing deal we bought 6 regular and 1 big balloon for $25/30. It was nice to be able to see all the balloons beforehand. It was my first time purchasing balloons, will definitely come back for this and other needs.

Have been here before a few years ago for a custom frame purchase. They were the most reasonable and excellent results. Still have the frame in great condition.”

“I stopped by OG Collectibles in Downey the other day and honestly, it was a really good experience. The shop is clean and well-organized, which makes a big difference when you’re digging through cards. They’ve got a strong mix of stuff: current Pokémon and Magic sets, plenty of sealed product, a decent vintage section, singles in binders, some sports cards, and even a bunch of Funko Pops lined up.
The guy working there (long hair, laid-back vibe) was helpful without being over-the-top. He didn’t hover, but when I asked about a couple specific cards I’ve been looking for, he actually checked the back and came out with them. No pressure to buy, just straightforward. The woman behind the counter was friendly too, answered my questions about grading and pricing without making me feel like a total newbie.
Prices seemed reasonable for the area, nothing crazy inflated like some spots in LA, and better than what I’ve seen online for certain things after fees and shipping. I ended up grabbing a few singles and a booster pack, spent more than I planned but walked out happy with what I got.
It’s a legit, no-nonsense collectibles shop with a chill atmosphere. If you’re in the Downey area and into cards or pops, it’s definitely worth checking out. I’ll probably swing by again next time I’m nearby.
Solid spot. 5 stars, no complaints.”

“I bought some gold bullion and had a great experience. Jason was really helpful and easy to work with. He answered my questions and made the whole process simple and straightforward. I’d definitely come back again.”

“Spent about 5 hours at Super-G on my first visit yesterday 1/15/2026. I was in town for work from out of state and brought my 1:28 scale Mini-Z to check this place out. Track fee was $20 for the day for usage of both tracks. There is a very good inventory of Mini-Z aftermarket parts at the counter- I ended up buying some parts for myself and a chassis to take home for my boys. There was plenty of room to work on my car and my neighbors in the pits were very friendly and offered some great tips to someone who is relatively new to competitive RC racing. Even though their cars were much faster than mine, they accommodated my stock class car. The track is the largest foam track I have driven on so far, and it was fun to work my lap times down using the lap timing transponder system I purchased here. I enjoyed watching the 1:10 drifters on the drift course too. It was a very neat atmosphere, and the drivers here have some absolutely beautiful cars. I was able to dip out for a bite to eat and return right back to where I left off due to the wristband re-entry policy. The only point of confusion was the google navigation pin for this location is the unused back entrance. A sign up front identifying the business would probably be helpful for future first timers. All considered 10/10 experience, I will definitely come back to this spot.”