Staff knowledgeable and helpful in answering questions and making recommendations. Will be back due…read moreto the excellent customer service. Love that there is something for everyone in this shop to be creative.

Flax Art & Design is hands-down one of our favorite art supply stores in San Francisco. Their…read moreprices are refreshingly reasonable--especially when compared to big chain stores--and we always find great deals on printmaking supplies and imported paper. The selection here is top-notch, and it's clear they really cater to artists of all levels. Whether you're hunting for specialty tools or unique paper stock, this place delivers. Plus, the store has a creative, welcoming vibe that makes browsing a pleasure. If you're an artist or maker in the Bay Area, Flax is definitely worth the stop. Support local--you'll find what you need here, and probably something you didn't know you needed too!

Large selection of Chinese art supplies with a very helpful service for figuring out what to buy!…read moreDefinitely worth a trip!

At time of writing, the address has not yet been updated on Yelp (I just put in the change request)…read more= current address is 535 Grant St at the back of a souvenir store. So glad to find it - loads of quality supplies for calligraphy / ink painting and a nice guy who demonstrated (and let me try) different brushes to help me make my decisions. Lovely experience. Will definitely be returning for materials in the future. Recommend!

I was so impressed by the friendliness customer service of the staff at this location!…read more I came in looking for a gift for a friend, and couldn't find an item that was listed in the website. Jay found me wandering the aisles and asked if I could be helped. She asked about what I came in for, my friend's interests, checked other store catalogs, offered to have items shipped. She had dozens of recommendations and a clear depth of knowledge of all sorts of mediums and inventory within the store. My vision was understood, and I left with a gift in my hand that I felt satisfied with! Thank you Jay and Ben and Chelsea for making it such a pleasant shopping experience!

I stopped in today looking for something that appeared to be out of stock. Jay was so helpful,…read morechecked their inventory and in their stock to see if she could find it. Unfortunately it wasn't in stock, however she took the time to call their other location and asked someone to put it on hold for me. I also ended up finding a couple of other treasures at this location, for a lower price than I was able to find them online. Thank you Jay for your help! There are so many cool things to check out here, I will definitely be back!

I came here with barely knowledge of what I needed to start oil painting but there were plenty of…read morestore employees walking the store able to be my personal shopper assistant and make me feel welcome and taken care of and not taken advantage of. I wasn't upsold on anything and felt like I left with so much more knowledge which came for free! Greg was the person who helped me Ava what a nice guy and expert on this stuff. They carry many brands and options and I don't think the prices were outrageous. Art isn't cheap!

Buying art supplies can be overwhelming as a noob. Grateful to the staff for helping even though I…read moredidn't ask. They must have saw I needed it. :) Got advice on which paints to buy, what to skip and was checked in on a few times. Great customer service!

Reminiscing of when I use to peruse around quaint shops such as this one was a true delight. There…read morewere cards, toys, gadgets galore despite its unpretentious size. I would definitely love to spend more time here.

After reading all the review i still went. I was looking…read moreto find if they have Pokémon cards for Gift. I waited outside because it saids in the door be back in 15 min. When the person open the door i greeted him but did not respond back. I was asking him prices but i can tell already that he doesn't have any interest with all my questions. Very Rude when i ask the differences with all the Pokemon boxes because i have no Idea and i wanted to compare prices because it is not cheap. Zero Customer Service for a Toy Store in a very nice community. I hope all the moms with kids will be treated well in this store because this store is surrounded with all beautiful private schools...

While staying in San Fran, I took a stroll from my hotel to Chinatown in search of food, souvenirs,…read moreand a little exploring. A big thank-you to Feed Mei Mei on YouTube for introducing me to this adorable shop. The moment I walked in I wanted to buy everything. The store is filled with unique novelties, stickers, books, greeting cards, artwork, and gifts that capture the nostalgia, humor, and experiences of being Asian American. Every corner had something that made me smile or brought back a memory. The prices are a bit on the higher side, but you're supporting local Asian artists and creators. Be warned it's very difficult to leave empty-handed here!

On Waverly is all about supporting the AAPI community and local Asian artists…read more There's something for everyone - fun risographs, SF and Asian pride paraphernalia like clothes, totes, stickers, pins, books etc. There's even MJ sets for sale. I love coming in here and seeing how creative the community is. Also there are events they hosts too.

Scrap is exactly what you think it is - odds and ends of art supplies (some new, mostly used or…read moreopen) for the crafty. There is also some original art for sale. Something for everyone to scratch that creative itch. There's a lot going on here but it's organized by category which is helpful. Also, there's an option to donate here which is always great! Agree with other reviewers that the area doesn't feel the safest and is a bit apocalyptic (barbed fence wires with no one walking around) but I think it adds to the charm of the place. Just don't recommend coming here at night and take an Uber/drive if you can as it's located in an industrial area.

I really love the concept of this place and what it stands for. Being able to donate art supplies…read moreand give them a second life is such a great idea, and I was excited to contribute. That said, my recent donation experience was honestly off-putting. When I dropped off my items, the person working the donation window was very dismissive and quickly waved me off without any acknowledgment or basic courtesy. It felt like I was being shooed away rather than thanked for donating. It might seem like a small interaction, but for a place that relies on community contributions, that moment matters. A simple "thank you" or even a neutral, respectful handoff would go a long way. I still appreciate the mission, but the experience made me think twice about donating again. Hoping this is something the team can address.

STAY AWAY!! She…read morejust talks colorfully and CHEATS you. She told a story about an antique which we believed and bought it for $25. Down the road we found the same item in bulk at $10. When we went back she was angry and talked to us very rudely and she even told us, you guys just paid a couple of bucks more, don't worry!!! We were very disappointed by her attitude. Not only that the item we purchased is of very poor quality , it already caught RUST and is fading. Very bad experience ruined the whole China town experience for us. She is just sweet as long as you buy something.

Buyer beware. I bought a red jade bracelet and down the street I found the same one for 1/2 the…read moreprice. I returned to this store within a hour and asked to return my items. I told her I found them for 1/2 price. She said "oh no returns". "I have a sign". She pointed it out. It was hanging on the wall underneath and mixed in with about 15 other items. The sign was about 2 inches by 8 inches. I told her she didn't say anything when I was making my purchase or point out the sign. This woman is very dishonest. Do not shop here. The moral is when buying an item in China Town go to every store for a price check and then return to the one with best price. Because the prices are very variable!

My favorite artist/vendor is Simone. She creates original paintings and printwork, and canvas bags…read morelarge & small, featuring brightly-hued and multi-patterned images of Frida Kahlo, a feline version named Frida Cat-lo, Mexican skulls, smiling cats, flowers galore, and even a Frida-like mermaid, "la sirena." You can tell that Simone is a true artist, and has taken much time and effort in realizing her creations. Everything is hand-made with care. The large canvas bags are put together with jean material, fabric from Mexico, hand-sewn flowers, hand-painted flowers and images of Frida. There are many gift ideas. I bought several small cross-body bags (two for me, one for my friend in Tokyo). You can remember your trip to SF with a painting of cats enjoying a romp in front of the Golden Gate Bridge. For the Frida admirer, check out her images and irreverent poetry adorned with hand-painted flowers and Simone's original "wall paper" background. Simone can usually be found on Market Street at Embarcadero Plaza, Thursdays to Saturdays: 415-806-7877 and petartistdiva@yahoo.com.

Beautiful arts and crafts! Have a tough time not buying something every time I go on Saturday's!…read moreRecently purchased wood art that I absolutely love as well as a handmade flute for my nephew who loves it! I would absolutely recommend going and checking it out! It's another way to support our local artists as well

From beautiful pens and handsome hankies to sunglasses, a Polaroid camera, lighters, and all the…read moreother delicious novelties, especially the pens and stationary from Paper Republic, this place never misses. I have to shout out Liz, who has been nothing short of exceptional. She never makes it feel like a sale. Instead, it feels like you're going home with treasure, objects meant to be used, lived with, and loved. She is incredibly knowledgeable, friendly, and charismatic. She's absolutely got it. Ever since I discovered Topdrawer on Union Street a couple of years ago, it has become one of my favorite day off destinations. Whether I'm returning for a new find or stopping in to pick up a refill, I can always count on a genuine connection with Liz, and that is what keeps me coming back.

Selection was impressive here - most of the things I looked at were Japanese, and very pretty to…read morelook at. I'd love to whip out one those fabulous Japanese lighters for instance, but they cost three times as much as a good zippo, so perhaps not. Lots of great stuff like journals and pens that would look good in an office, but who has an office any more? I wonder about the longevity of stationary stores, like muffler shops.