Our Story
Shop Houston's Best Toy Stores
Big Blue Whale + On The Park
For a truly unique and nostalgic retail experience, we invite you to visit Big Blue Whale in the Heights and On the Park in Kingwood. 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.
Kingwood Location
On The Park
In early 2019, Vanessa and Jim acquired On the Park from Karen and Fred Rosenberg, the couple that lovingly created the shop. The beloved candy and toy store has been a Kingwood staple for nearly 25 years. Vanessa and Jim were honored to take over On the Park and preserve another place where childhood and imagination could be celebrated.
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, and acquired the beloved On the Park in Kingwood, TX. 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!
ANGELA COOK
General/Big Blue Whale Manager
A familiar face to Big Blue Whale fans, Angela has worked with Vanessa at the Heights staple since it opened the summer of 2014. Mom of Henry and Guilly, she is your go-to person for recommendations for active kiddos or those interested in planes, trains and automobiles! With her background as an art teacher, she also has excellent suggestions for budding Picassos.
