Written by Isabella Aranda Garcia & Gia Miller
Founded almost 40 years ago in Saratoga Springs, G. Willikers’ Katonah location opened 12 years ago when owner Linda Ambrosino’s daughter Meghan moved to Katonah, and they agreed it would be a great spot for a second location. Selling everything from BRIO trains, Corolle dolls and Slinkies to Crazy Aaron’s Thinking Putty, Squishables and nontoxic nail polish, G. Willikers has a toy for every occasion. Their customers range in age from “literally babies not even born yet to 100,” and there are even puzzles and toys for adults (Playforever cars are a popular decorative item for living room and office shelves).
From floor to ceiling, G. Willikers is filled with toys that inspire imagination and creativity. There are no screens for sale and only a select few items require batteries or must be plugged in. The reason the shop isn’t filled with toys containing lights, cameras and noise is simple: That’s exactly how our world is these days.
Fun Facts
Their customer service is also charmingly old-school. On your way to a birthday party and forgot a gift? Give them a call with the child’s age and likes, along with your price range, and they’ll select a gift, wrap it and have it ready for you when you arrive (along with a photo for you to see what you bought). They’ll also wrap and ship your gift anywhere in the country.
Runner-up: Hip-Kid, Chappaqua
This article was published in the January/February 2025 edition of Connect to Northern Westchester.
To view all 2025 Connect to the Best winners, click here.
Gia Miller is an award-winning journalist and the editor-in-chief/co-publisher of Connect to Northern Westchester. She has a magazine journalism degree (yes, that's a real thing) from the University of Georgia and has written for countless national publications, ranging from SELF to The Washington Post. Gia desperately wishes schools still taught grammar. Also, she wants everyone to know they can delete the word "that" from about 90% of their sentences, and there's no such thing as "first annual." When she's not running her media empire, Gia enjoys spending quality time with friends and family, laughing at her crazy dog and listening to a good podcast. She thanks multiple alarms, fermented grapes and her amazing husband for helping her get through each day. Her love languages are food and humor.
Isabella Aranda is a designer, writer and social media specialist with an M.A. in emerging media from the New Media Institute at the Grady College of Journalism & Mass Communication. Driven by curiosity and inspired by timeless modern design, she blends creativity and strategy to craft compelling narratives that engage diverse audiences.
Her expertise spans digital marketing, content creation and UX design, with notable achievements such as co-creating the Georgia On Your Mind podcast and leading digital campaigns that significantly boosted engagement. A Venezuelan immigrant, Isabella brings a multicultural perspective to her work, enhancing her ability to connect with and inspire others.
