Hooked On Toys & Sporting Goods — Local services in Wenatchee

I have been visiting this store since childhood. It's as magical to me and my kids as it ever was. I've personally witnessed 2 of the owners doing incredibly charitable things. Bear with me. These stories are worth it, but I'm on mobile.

The first unprompted kindness I witnessed was last Christmas (2017). I know this event and the details are all true because one of the owners was unbelievably generous to me. I had purchased a new Ruger 10-22 at Hooked on Toys because my 3 boys had come in with me earlier and begged me to buy a small rifle to teach them to shoot with.

Well, when I came in to pick up the rifle, the owner (so bad with names sorry) recognized me. He came up and said hello. (Always so nice) I was trying to justify buying a 25 round magazine because of how much fun it provided over the stock ~8 round magazine. He emphatically agreed with me and and wandered off.

Ultimately, I put the magazine back because it made an already expensive gift moreso. Somehow the owner saw me put it back, grabbed a 25 round magazine, put it up front and told our cashier it was on the house. I never saw him again that day. He simply did a fantasticly nice deed and disappeared so I couldn't make a big fuss about it. I was deeply moved by such a simple gesture. Ever had Walmart do that?

The second event I witnessed was another selfless, true, unbiased, no special interest, act of kindness. This occurred during the trip to the store where my boys begged me to buy the rifle mentioned above, or they could be flip flop Ed, lol. Hooked on Toys held a cops and kids toy give away where a school bus full of school kids (range 5-ish to 14 maybe) of Wenatchee area public school kids, hand picked by their teacher of the poorest, most deserving kid from each grade. The kids get off the bus to their very own INDIVIDUAL police escort!!!!!! There was a police man or woman for every single kid. Then they all went shopping. Through a charity, who asked to remain uncredited, and individual officer donations all combined to $50 for each child to spend on toys for themselves for Christmas because there was reason to believe they wouldn't be receiving any other gifts.

Well guess what Hooked on Toys did? -aside from organizing the whole thing. They matched the ENTIRE monetary donation so the kids got to spend $100 on themselves!!! There were no reporters. No flyers .Nothing. If I didn't happen to be in the store during the event I would have never known it occurred. GUESS WHAT ELSE? That's not even the very best part! While I'm standing there talking to the organizers of this magnificent display of humanity, I witnessed a 13 or 14 year old boy standing in line with his officer and the boy was holding what looked to be about $100 worth of obviously girls toys, young girls toys at that. The boy was looking at the floor so hard you wanted to give the kid a shield to help him hide his shame. The owner, different guy than the first story, is talking with me and has already begun moving before I can even notify him what I'm seeing.The boy is putting his things on the counter as quietly and politely as he can so no further attention is forced upon him. The owner understands all of what is happening well before the rest of us do. [This is what later convinces me how this kind of subtle, charity sideshow is so routine for these guys it's mind-blowing.] The owner deftly ushers the kid out of view of prying eyes. Turns out, this kid had 2 baby sistrsi at home who weren't going to be getting anything for Christmas. Can you believe this?! At this point, I'm so blown away with how incredibly beautiful this whole situation is I'm stunned. Even my kids are quiet. This dirty, poor kid who probably gets bullied every day of his life finally gets a break and what the hell does he do? Spends all of the windfall on his little sisters. GUESS WHAT THE OWNERS OF HOOKED ON TOYS DO?! They buy all the stuff. Then they order the officer to escort the kid back to the toys and buy at least $100 worth of things for himseld. They ordered the officer! And the...

Don’t believe other reviews lauding the “excellent customer service” of this overpacked and understaffed store. I’ve purchased many items at Hooked On Toys over the years, and for what it’s worth, the selection is hard to beat. But today I stopped in looking for a new shotgun. I saw a couple that interested me, but the guy in the hat behind the counter was with someone else so I patiently waited my turn. Several times other staff members came in the area, spoke with the guy in the hat and/or other customers. The guy in the hat even looked directly at me three different times, and still my presence was never even acknowledged. And don’t blame the COVID plexiglas screens for obscured vision...if I can see them clearly they can see me too. They aren’t one way mirrors and I wasn’t wearing a guille suit. And the kicker: two guys, obviously buddies of some sort with the gun counter staff, walked up to the counter five minutes apart and were immediately greeted and asked what they needed. Unbelievable. Avoid this store at all costs and tell your friends and family to do the same. Unless you’re part of their select “in” crowd, your business...

Awesome little store! I give them one star less because the prices are a bit high and the flow of their check out process is a bit slow. They have a lot of toys for young and old. Trying to find what you need is another story. The store seems disorganized and cramped. You find yourself walking in circles at times. I've seen toys and games I haven't seen in years. They have a ton of fishing, camping, and hunting supplies. But it's priced to benefit the store owner not the customers. They also have boat/marine supply and toys. Just about anything to have fun. If you need help with something, good luck. They are usually running around in circles just like the customers. Their employees are nice and usually wear a smile. Just remember, their enter and exit doors are the left door. Depending on which way you are going. It is fun to explore the store if you have a moment. Feels like being a kid again. That always deserves four...