When I shop for gifts outside of my neighborhood (East Hollywood), Retreat is my go-to…read more Diane, the owner, has curated a wonderful collection of jewelry, art prints, cards and fun gifts for virtually any occasion. Despite this shop's relatively small size, it is packed with goodies. My go-to is always the card section, where I invariably find a card for an upcoming birthday or, even better, the perfect card for a friend who could use a pick-me-up or a good laugh. My stationary drawer is packed with Retreat cards that I've got on the ready and I am very grateful. There is a great range of options in terms of price. You can find very fun patches and charms for around ten dollars. If you are looking a bit higher-end, there is a lovely collection of jewelry: but you are definitely paying for quality work that will be appreciated. Diane and the various employees are invariably friendly and eager to help you find something perfect for your friend or family.

This used to be one of my favorite shops, and my mom's too, but we recently had a strange and…read moreunpleasant experience. The person working there (possibly the owner, though we're not sure as we'd never encountered her before) was very rude and dismissive towards my mom. My mom was talking about her recent flight and some news she had heard about flying, as she had just arrived from out of town to visit me. The woman with short blonde hair suddenly interrupted, saying, "We DO NOT talk about that in here, NOPE! NO!" If you don't want to discuss a topic, there's a polite way to steer the conversation elsewhere. You don't need to be dismissive and rude, especially to customers. My mom felt terrible and shut down immediately. We left and won't be returning. It was a really bizarre and disappointing experience that ruined our visit.

My all time favorite shop. Wonderfully curated and selected products that's unique, beautiful and…read moreinteresting. Price point is also good. This is my go to place to shop for gifts.

Homage is a pleasant gift shop among a number of OTHER gift shops such as The Gold Bug and Retreat…read more Fortunately, with the exception of cards, they don't overlap too much in terms of their merchandise. Homage carries a lot of work by independent artists and artisans, including fine jewelry and ceramics. They also have a very large collection of fragrances in the forms of perfumes, room sprays and reed diffusers. The last time I was here was with an out of town friend who was really tempted to buy a handmade pair of gloves. She ended up not getting them and called me regretting her decision. So, this place is great for worn accessories (scarves, jewelry, gloves...etc.) and beautiful housewares. The prices are maybe a bit high, but the quality of the goods is pretty high. So, while I much more rarely buy from Homage than Retreat or Gold Bug, I would still recommend a look around.

Great location and lovely shop. Lots of eye candy and unique finds for self or as gifts. The owner…read morewas present but failed to greet me. Seemed like he was preoccupied with merchandising. His shop assistant was sweeping and kind enough to say hello. There was one other person in the shop and seemed to be a personal acquaintance or friend as the owner and she spoke often to one another. Meanwhile, I buzzed around and thoroughly enjoyed both the many trinkets and decorative displays. Even the outside entry was cute and inviting. I'd pop in again if ever you n the area. I think if Carmine would have engaged a bit, I would have been more apt to browse a bit more and make a purchase. There's some adorable retro-style magnetic timers and gorgeous gold goldfish I was eyeballing. Maybe next time. Five stars for Vibe and unique finds. 2 stars for friendly and welcoming atmosphere.

Ran into this place by accident when I finally found parking down the street. Beautiful little shop…read morewith unique and beautiful curated home decor, candles, pillows, jewelry and body products.

Wow, this is no ordinary gift store…read more There are quite a few shops selling home wares, cards, candles and other gift-y items on Mission Street in South Pasadena. This place, however immediately stands out. When I passed by the store the first time I was struck by a collection of headwear: a beaded cap from the Congo and a hat from the Miao people of China and Southeast Asia. I'm an anthropologist, so I was hooked. This store has an incredibly curated collection: folk altars and santos from Latin America, bronze Buddhist statues and jewelry from around the world. The owner is quite a world traveler and it shows in her collection. Definitely a place for the culturally curious. Along with the numerous artifacts are small gifts: some wonderfully fragrant soaps (my favorites were rose geranium and patchouli/sandalwood), beeswax candles and some interesting kitchenware. People might find some items pricy...however, having done some research, most things are very reasonably priced for the quality. Definitely recommend.

I noticed this store as I was driving by and knew I had to go in! It is a hidden treasure near the…read moreheart of South Pasadena. Great vibe with a unique collection of items. The store owner, Sue, was such a lovely woman to talk to. Will definitely be returning.

If you're a collector and want to add to your inventory or buy a gift, this store has plenty of…read moreHello Kitty, Pokemon, and Labubu items. Have fun with the claw machines and photo booths. The staff were friendly, welcoming and helpful. Browse at your leisure, they did not rush or pressure you to buy. As you enter, there is a shelf to the right of the entrance to drop off your beverage. No drinks allowed while browsing. We had brought some ice tea moments earlier and were guilty of trying to bring it inside! I think this rule is fair since you may bump into something and spill the tea! Street parking nearby or use the public lot around the corner. Sincerely, Rosemary

Shopping in Alhambra, Los Angeles, California…read more.. I had this shop bookmarked because it has cute stuff in it! Imizzu Gift Shop did not disappoint! The service, products, and prices were great! The owner and the young female cashier were very friendly and helpful! They let me try different outfits on my plushies to make sure that they fit! It was so much fun! The store has a photo booth, claw machines, and all kinds of merchandise... such a great selection! Go check them out!

Ten Thousand Villages is a fair-trade shop that carries merchandise from at least thirty-eight…read morecountries. It is woman-owned and displayed the LBGTQ+ Pride Flag in its window. Here you can find a wide variety of hand-crafted goods. And there is quite a myriad of objects on display. There are a large number of hand-woven bags, rugs and tapestries for use or display (or both). One wall is almost entirely devoted to jewelry. And there's a very large collection of pottery, including bowls, dishes and coffee mugs. This place is an excellent place to shop for those who are intrigued by foreign cultures. And the prices are extremely reasonable. And besides for being reasonable, you can find nice pieces in the under ten dollar range, well into the one hundred and fifty or more. There really is something for any budget. I was greeted when I entered the store and asked if I needed help...but was not asked every five minutes (something that I see as a major plus). Check out was a breeze with the clerk on duty. I will definitely come again.

I was on my way for groceries after my shift when I saw this cute shop that shares a parking lot,…read morebut with just about 20 minutes left until closing time. The manager Laurel was so kind and welcomed me in! She answered all of my questions and explained to me how to the items are sourced and selected for the shop. This is a BEAUTIFUL shop with the most incredible selection of affordable gifts and treasures. Bright, cheery, and well-organized. I didn't intend to buy so much, but I found something for each member of my family and a few friends, too. My favorites were the ornaments, children's area, kitchen items (aprons, dish towels) and the beautiful jewelry!! I had so much fun browsing and I am thrilled with my purchases. Thank you, Laurel! You are running a fab shop here in Pasadena and I can't wait to return!

Cool little gift shop with a lot of blind boxes to choose from, along with other fun experiences…read morelike taking photos with the photo booths available toward the back and playing claw machines. Very welcoming staff as well, Michael was very friendly and made our trip here a more fun adventure than it already was.

Great customer service, great vibe. Got two Naruto mystery box, haven't open them yet but the…read morecashier did offer to allow me to change my character if I didn't like it if I opened it in the store. I said no of course because a mystery is a mystery, but the cashier was very nice and sweet about it. He also gave me a mystery gift for free!! 100% recommending you guys to go visit!

Needoh hunting was a success…read more The dinosaur store is probably one of the best store I have ever walked into for kids. Always organized, clean staff is helpful and polite I love this place.

I was shopping for a graduation gift for my grandson. The dinosaurs are his favorite, so this was a…read moreno brainer! I found the store is larger than their frontage appears. Besides dinosaurs, there were girl's toys, Demon Hunter toys and several kid's books. The most fantastic thing is there is free gift wrapping and kind staff. Something unique I've never seen is that there is a stepstool at the register for kids to see the entire transaction; such a great idea!