Everyone has that friend who goes crazy in a stationary store, and I am that friend. The next time…read moreyou need a gift for that friend, go to Hammerpress! Hammerpress has a super unique collection of paper goods, candles, soaps, and cards, which makes it a great location for a niche gift. They have beautiful cards for all occasions. There are tons of fancy pens and hand-painted, recycled-paper journals. I droll over all of their carefully curated candles and unique perfumes. This is not a cheap place to shop for a gift, but it's worth it! The recipient of the gift will feel so special and artsy. There is usually plenty of parking on the streets of the West Bottoms, unless it's a First Friday weekend - then expect to have to stroll a far distance, but Hammerpress is located conveniently close to some of my favorite antique shops.

I've been a fan of Hammerpress since they opened their first print shop in the Crossroads, way back…read morein the early aughts. As a college student I'd look forward to an excuse to trek to KCMO from Lawrence to shop here and pick up some local goodies. They've been doing this so long, you could probably even make an argument that they were kind of the original shop local spot here in the city. Flash forward and Hammerpress has migrated from their OG location to further down SW BLVD, and now to this new spot in the heart of the West Bottoms. It had been a while since I visited so I wasn't sure where they had moved to, but it seems fitting that they'd end up in the West Bottoms as many of the artists that once had studios in the Crossroads have migrated that direction as well, and it seems true to both their craft as printers, and their vibe as artists to be in yet another cool, up and coming, hip neighborhood. All of this being said, this new spot is by far their coolest. From the arched entryway, to the bright interior, you're going to find everything you've come to expect from Hammerpress. Beautiful art prints? Check! Locally made greeting cards? Check! other stationary and art goodies? check and check! Next time you need a card go check them out - you won't regret it!

I love this place. Everything is so nice. I was traveling out of town and found a beautiful…read morewedding gift and card. I will always stop here!

ella was great! so knowledgeable and helpful she was able to find the exact notebook that checked…read moreall my boxes! would recommend :)

A lovely little shop! My group discovered it on a walk from our Airbnb to grab a coffee. The woman…read moreworking was so friendly, and the shop was darling to poke around! They had a great variety of different pens and giftable items. Huge selection of cards. I especially loved their little section that contained a lot of stickers and postcards themed around supporting the USPS!

This is an absolutely fantastic store!! Well curated and stocked with pens, pencils, notebooks,…read morenotepads, stationary, stickers, washi tape, cards and postcards that are so fun to look through. I can always find something to give as a gift for so many occasions - I especially love their candles, and they have the most perfect cards, gift bags or wrapping paper available to complete the gift right there. With two convenient locations, there's no excuse not to stop in. If you love stationery, thoughtful gifts, or just want a place that will make you smile while you browse, this shop is a must-visit.

Where do you buy gifts if you want the recipient to think you're clever AND have good taste? Where…read moredo you go if you want to visit an inspiring retail shop? Not many better places than the museum store @ NAMA. I've been to the NAMA several times, but somehow I've never noticed this awesome gift shop tucked under a stairwell. I'm kicking myself for not going here whenever I needed a gift. I know what you're thinking...a museum gift shop? 4 stars? Seriously? LAME. I generally agree that gift shops blow. They're usually for stranded or overly excited museum tourists to blow money they shouldn't be spending. Many times these places are even tacky. I'd argue the NAMA museum store is very light on the tacky nonsense. Most of the stuff I saw there I'd like to own or found interesting. There is a overwhelming selection of awesome art history texts here. LIke WOW amount. Multiple books solely about peeps like Bruce Nauman, Cindy Sherman, David Smith, et al. If the shop was a wee bit larger I could see myself spending days here just browsing through all the fascinating art history books. Unfortunately, the size of the area doesn't lend to extensive browsing. Any & every "rock star" artists of the last thousand years is represented. Seriously impressive collection. There is also an extensive stationary & cards department as you enter. What struck me most about the gift selection is the amount of unique--almost quirky stuff. My sister has a salt and pepper shaker that i always wondered where she got it and sure enough here it is for sale at NAMA's Museum Store. The Museum Store is the type of place you'd go if you appreciate paying a little extra to shop inside a building designed by Steven Holl. It's a place to find gifts, books, & stationary with a touch of muted eccentricity. Not your everyday store with not your everyday items...

The Nelson-Atkins Museum, Rozzelle Court and The Museum Store for me is like getting a really big…read morehug of joy and happiness. It's the best trifecta in town. For me, I grew up in a very blue collar, factory, warehouse part of town. Going to the Nelson as a kid was life changing for me. It showed me that there was a different kind of life out of what I was surrounded by. Not that one is better than the other, just an expansion of possibilities. So I do realize that I have a heart string attachment to this place, but with perspective, I still feel all three aspects of this museum are exceptional and should be explored by all. The Museum Store (gift shop) is very well done. It's perfect for unique gifts, local gifts and not-as-readily seen mass produced retail items. They have an outstanding book selection with focus on art, artist, architecture and design. They also have a strong and unique card/ stationary area. Gifts for all ages and all people are easily found here. It's a great store to find a unique and personable gift at, all within the amazingly gorgeous walls of the Bloch building. Maybe that one gift you buy here will change the life of some young person you know too. If that's not a reason to shop here than I don't know what to tell you.

Recovering a lost art…read more When I receive an email, it is a bland communication of information. That's all! When I receive a handwritten letter or note, it is rare and conveys importance. It is rare because common people choose not to go to the trouble. Only exceptional people choose writing. A beautiful pen, especially a fountain pen, will add joy and dimension to your writing. The Pen Place is superb! I have been going here since 1998 and have never walked out unhappy. I am glad they are in our area!

I placed an online order from Pen place and had to call back to make a change to it. Adam was super…read morehelpful and gave me advice on another ink I could choose. He also helped me find the right refill for my vintage st DuPont roller ball pen. Service was 10/10 very happy. Thanks again

I love this store so much! It's smaller than a bigger one that recently opened in Overland Park but…read morethey have a better selection and better quality items in my opinion. I went to the other one on opening weekend but was rather disappointed. Don't deal with those crowds and support this cute Korean gift store. On my most recent trip, I bought an awesome tea cup with a built in tea basket for loose leaf tea. I bought an assortment of cute stationary and office items as well. Some fashion hair barrettes which I do think were a bit overpriced but other items were very reasonable. I regret passing on some cute slipper shoes. I'll take pics on my next visit. The store is packed with cute, kitschy, Korean gifts. I was there with a group of people and could have spent more time looking around if my group were not in a hurry. I'll go back when I can meander around even longer!

I came in for the stationary and it completely met my expectations! Most of what was in the store…read morewas kpop related but it still had face masks, stickers, hair clips, and other fun things! They were playing kpop on a TV while shopping making it a fun experience. Everything stationary wise was priced pretty cheaply and I thought the kpop stuff was pricey but I don't know much about how much that stuff usually costs. Overall a nice selection and vibe would recommend for any pen lovers out there!

The staff were very friendly and the value was pretty good, but I was disappointed by the selection…read moreof stationary sets and non-planner stickers. I had hoped to find a wider variety of both things, and while I was able to find stickers to meet my immediate needs I left empty handed when it came to stationary. That said, they did have a lot of cute things, including things I wasn't expecting (like those miniature diorama-like puzzles that are often displayed on bookshelves, cute glassware, and nice candles to name a few). I'd love it if they had more stickers, A3 binders (not just covers that you use pre-bound inserts in), and more stationary sets. So if you're looking for stickers (other than planner ones) or stationary SETS, you might be disappointed depending on your needs. If you're looking for journals, planners, A5 covers (not the binder kind), wrapping paper, or gift boxes then I think you'll like what they have!

Theres a huge selection for almost any kind of stationery you need! If you catch them at the right…read moretime, there were some great deals for planners and pencils! It was perfect for the upcoming year and exactly what I was looking for. Staff was attentive and helped us consistently with what we needed!

Super cute little gift and stationery shop. I stopped in while I was visiting family over the…read moresummer and was happy to see they have an online store now too. I tried to 'shop small' as much as possible this year and I found some really classy Christmas ornaments and other little gifts from their online shop.

From the owner: Discover beautiful things that make every day special. Enjoy…read morebrowsing our carefully selected gifts, decor, baby, and fine stationery items. Everything we offer we would love to give, receive or use in our home. Additionally, all our pantry items are sampled to ensure high quality and great taste!

I'm in a "green" industry and I wanted business card that reflected my values. I was afraid of…read morelooking cheap and unprofessional if I made something myself, so I searched craigslist and found these guys and the cards they print on recycled cereal boxes. While they do cost more than standard business cards, they stand out due to their thicker cardstock and sharp apperance. They feedback I've recieved has been great; people really enjoy the random cereal box designs on the back. I even had the head of my organization trading with someone else for one with a better image. Simon was a pleasure to work with throughout the process and I'm planning on coming back for all of my business card and stationary needs. If you're on the fence over the price, just put in a small order, you won't be dissappointesd.

Really cool stationary. Not typical. I went to the gallery opening in April. Fun owners. I hope…read morethey are still in business.

Such a cute little store. It's definitely not my cup of tea, but I went with a friend and they had…read moreso many cute things to look at. From beauty items to posters, collectibles, plushy's and stationary. It's just very cute all around. They had some music playing in. The vibe was pretty cool. Didn't really have an interaction with anybody because we didn't purchase anything, but everyone working seemed friendly and in a good mood.

This is such a cute and well organized shop. There is stationery lining two aisles right as you…read morewalk in and Korean skin care products in the far two aisles. Everything I could be easily found, and workers there are so nice! They will help you find anything and rang us up quickly. All the stationery I looked at was reasonably priced and quality seemed to match the cost. I definitely recommend to stop by and browse what they have.