Our Story
Shop Houston's Best Toy Store
Big Blue Whale
For a truly unique and nostalgic retail experience, we invite you to visit Big Blue Whale in the Heights. Owned by Vanessa and Jim Wodehouse, both shops are magical spaces to find classic, hard-to-find, and handmade toys. Lines you will find while browsing our shelves or online shop include Bruder, Hape, Playmobil, Steiff, Faber-Castell, Lego, and much, much more.
How It All Began
Established in 2014
Realizing the neighborhood could use a specialty toy store that appealed to both kids and adults, Vanessa and Jim opened Big Blue Whale on 19th Street in the summer of 2014. It quickly became the go-to spot for Heights parents to find birthday and holiday gifts. This year, Houston Chronicle readers voted Big Blue Whale “Best Toy Store,” in Houston.
Our team is here for you.
Vanessa Wodehouse
Owner
Vanessa and her husband Jim opened Big Blue Whale in the summer of 2014. Since then she has also created a women's gift shop, Mary & Moss, located across the street from the toy store on 19th. She loves any and all animals (especially her own zoo), recommending children's books and her family typically has a puzzle in progress on their coffee table!
