I seriously want to buy everything every single time I walk into Lil’ Thingamajigs in Ellicott City, lol. This little shop in the Princess Shopping Center on Baltimore National Pike is a full-on kawaii wonderland, the kind of place where you go in for one thing and somehow end up with a whole haul.
It’s packed wall to wall with anime figures, collectible blind boxes, stationery, skincare, and pop-culture merch shipped straight from Japan and South Korea. Whether you’re treating yourself or hunting for a genuinely fun gift, this one’s worth putting on your list. Here’s what you’ll find inside, plus a couple of tips so you shop it right.
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What Makes Lil’ Thingamajigs a Standout Gift Shop
What sets it apart is the curation. This isn’t a dusty gift shop with the same keychains you’ve seen a hundred times, it’s a tightly packed little store that leans hard into Asian pop culture and actually keeps up with what’s trending. Lil’ Thingamajigs has been doing this since 2007 and has grown into a small chain with locations across Maryland, Virginia, and Pennsylvania, so they really know their audience.
The Ellicott City spot sits in the Princess Shopping Center right next to Chin Xi’an, and the shelves are stocked with everything from Gundam model kits to K-pop photocards. If you love a store that’s equal parts nostalgic and current, you gotta add this one to your list! For another only-in-HoCo shopping stop, Matcha Time Gift Shop makes a fun pairing.
What You’ll Find at Lil’ Thingamajigs
Collectible Blind Boxes
The blind boxes are the main event for a lot of shoppers, mine included. If you’re new to it, a blind box means you don’t know exactly which figure you’re getting until you open it, which is half the fun and half the reason my wallet’s a little scared. They stock the brands blowing up on TikTok, think Sonny Angel and Smiski, plus whatever else is trending that week. It’s the kind of thing where you tell yourself you’ll get one and somehow walk out with three.
Anime Figures and Model Kits
For the collectors, there’s a solid wall of anime figures, from static display pieces to Gundam and other model kits you build yourself. It’s a great spot to find something specific or just stumble on a character you love. If you’ve got a builder or an anime fan in your life, this section alone is worth the trip!
K-pop Merch and Stationery
The K-pop and stationery corner is a whole thing. They carry K-pop albums and merch plus a whole wall of stationery, so think cute pens, stickers, and notebooks, the works. It’s perfect for a little treat-yourself moment or a thoughtful, affordable gift.
Plushies, Skincare, and More
Rounding it out are plushies you’ll want to squish, Korean skincare, trading cards, Nanoblock, and a rotating mix of home and desk odds and ends. Basically, if it’s cute and a little bit Asian-pop-culture-coded, there’s a good chance it’s somewhere on these shelves.
What Is a Blind Box, Exactly?
If you keep seeing blind boxes everywhere and feel a little lost, here’s the deal. A blind box is a sealed package with a collectible figure inside, and you don’t know which one from the set you got until you open it. Sets usually have a handful of standard designs plus a rare secret or chase figure, which is what makes people buy box after box hunting for the one they want. Brands like Sonny Angel, Smiski, and Pop Mart’s Labubu turned it into a whole hobby. At Lil’ Thingamajigs, the blind-box section is one of the most popular spots in the store.
The Vibe and Experience
The vibe is joyful sensory overload in the best way, bright, colorful, and stuffed with things to discover. My tip is to go on a weekday if you can, because it gets pretty busy on weekends and the aisles are cozy. It’s family-friendly and genuinely fun for all ages, whether you’re a serious collector or just along for the cute. And since you’re already in the plaza, do yourself a favor and grab hand-pulled noodles next door at Chin Xi’an, one of my favorites in the area.
Good to Know
- Location: 📍 10045 Baltimore National Pike, Ste A13, Ellicott City, MD 21042 (Princess Shopping Center)
- Hours: Mon to Thu 11am to 9pm, Fri to Sat 11am to 10pm, Sun 12pm to 9pm
- What they carry: blind boxes, anime figures and model kits, K-pop merch, plushies, stationery, Korean skincare, trading cards, and more
- Parking: free surface lot in the shopping center
- Tip: weekdays are calmer, weekends get busy
- Good for: gifts, collectors, and a fun browse, and it’s family-friendly
- Locations: part of a small chain with stores across MD, VA, and PA
- Website: lilthinga.com
Is Lil’ Thingamajigs Worth a Visit?
Yes, especially if you love anime, K-pop, or the thrill of a blind box. It’s affordable, it’s genuinely fun, and it’s one of those places that makes an ordinary errand feel like a treat. It’s an easy add to any Ellicott City afternoon. If you’re into cute local shops, it makes a great pairing with Simply the Best, and I always leave with something I didn’t plan on.
Have you guys been to Lil’ Thingamajigs yet? Tell me what you’d blind-box for in the comments, Nomsters, and send this to the collector in your life who needs a new favorite shop.