You know those cute little gift boutiques you find when you're on a trip or vacation? This is one of them! It's such a nice addition to the neighborhood. The shop carries a curated selection of gifts, books, condiments, and just fun and cute things for your home. I'm particularly a huge fan of their condiment selection. They carry hot sauce from Sol Foods which I absolutely love so this saves me a trip all the way to Mill Valley. They also have really yummy chili garlic sauces from local brands. read more

Such a welcome addition to the Laurel! Super cute gift shop & art space that made bday shopping for a friend so easy. Joanne, the owner, has such a good eye for cute, trendy gifts, ranging from quirky pickle candles and tomato magnets (purchased! Love!) to locally made jarred goods and spices. I was able to find unique gifts for under $20 each. When I went today, they were getting ready for an art show of prints by local artist Nick Sirotich (Legit! As a fellow illustrator, I loved his work.) Black and red ink drawings of original characters and scenes. Sometimes you kinda go "uh oh," when you hear "art", but these were ones you'd want to hang on your wall. Good stuff! Internet shopping is convenient, but it's so nice to actually browse a small, local brick and mortar store that is beautifully curated. Will definitely be back! read more

Dear John - Tiny tomato magnets! So cute! - Gift Shops Near Me - Oakland, California

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I can't gush ENOUGH about how amazing this place is! I hadn't known about Dear John until I attended an event there and was immediately infatuated with the ambience, vibe, and the impeccable curation of offerings by Joanne, the owner! She has an incredible eye for tasteful, unique items - I had so many moments of discovering things I didn't know existed or didn't know I needed but that were SO specifically up my niche alley. It almost felt like a private shopping experience, that's how seen I felt lol. I left with a whole haul of items that I love, and I'm genuinely excited to go back again and again to check out more offerings and attend more events. Whenever you get a chance, go support this AWESOME black woman-owned local business, you will not regret it! read more

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YAYYYYY so happy Dear John opened up in the Laurel. The gift shop void has been filled at last! It's a very well curated book and gift shop that's got something for everyone and every occasion. There is a sweet outdoor area with lots of seating for community events as well, which is so awesome. So happy to have a go-to gift shop in the neighborhood! read more

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I've shopped here a couple times, mostly for beautiful gifts for friends or family l. Recently I came here to put together 20 gifts for my coworkers. I could have easily bought gifts on Amazon etc but I wanted them to feel elevated, special, and come from a local store. The owner is incredibly helpful and friendly and i was thrilled with what we put together. Thank you! read more

Dear John - Gift packets - Gift Shops Near Me - Oakland, California

I stopped by while waiting for brunch a couple doors down. I am familiar with the neighborhood as I grew up here and still visit family here. This is a wonderful addition to the neighborhood. It is woman owned and curated so well! There are plenty of books, accessories (hats, hair clips, jewelry, fun handbags), a variety of candles, condiments (I got the black sesame crunch), local Bay merch, and many gift options. Such a wonderful gift shop, and so much fun to sift through. Local art displayed in the walls and changed out every 6 weeks if I remember correctly. From what I understand they had just opened in the summer for a few weeks when I first visited in August, and the owner said that they are working on a gallery/lounge in the back, which sounds so cool and something I would love to return and check out. read more

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I love this super charming shop, so glad to find it in my Laurel/Diamond neighborhood! Packed with treasures, gifts, clothes, books, puzzles, things for kids, even some delicious food items. Need a gift? Go to Dear John. Need a gift for yourself? Dear John! The owner is lovely, too. read more

I accidentally stumbled into Dear John while I was in the neighborhood and am so grateful I did! I love few things more than a cute local gifts/book/clothing/homewares shop, especially one that is Black woman-owned. Such a lovely selection of cute, quirky, unique goods and at really fair prices. And the shop's owner, Joanne, could not be lovelier. She also uses the shop as an art gallery for local artists and as a community space. 10/10 recommend paying this shop a visit! read more

I'm so glad there's a shop like this in Laurel! They carry a little bit of everything, from books to spices and every gift in between. The purveyor of the shop is wonderfully sweet and is clearly trying to create an earnest community space in the neighborhood, I commend her. Neighbors should keep Dear John in mind before they reach for their Amazon app for a last minute gift. read more

I will definitely check this place out for holiday shopping...in my neighborhood n helpful n friendly on the call!

Locally owned with a beautiful selection and display of unique & practical items and gifts!

This is a true treasure. The type of place you feel drawn to pop into forever. The owner has put such thought and hard work into making this a special and unique store read more

Incredibly curated gift shop - thoughtful, funny, cute options. Highly recommend for gifts, birthdays, trinkets. Shop small!!