Neighborhood spot with a great selection of cards and gifts. I stop in often for last minute purchases.

Great little cute shop on Piedmont. I have come here 2x before to buy these super cute amazing message stones for myself and as gifts. They have tons of home stuff and gifts and toys for kids plus books and more. Support a small female Asian owned business. Owner Janet is usually behind the counter. Their candles by the door smell amazing. I'm waiting for her next shipment of the small version of the aptly named "entitled" candle to come in next month. read more

Surprise - Message stones - by the register - Toy Stores Near Me - Oakland, California

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Horrible service from a grouchy woman that did not seem to like customers that aren't elderly or white. Plenty of other shops in the area with better service and better goods. The whole store seems like it's covered in a layer of dust - including the staff. read more

Always passed by this store but never stopped in. It's a great spot to grab a card or a fun gift for someone. A lot of selection, well curated- there's a couple Oakland/ Bay Area specific items that seem like nice souvenirs. read more

EXPERIENCED DISCRIMINATION. I have brought my two young daughters (who are Black and South Asian) to this store several times over 15 years - and every time we come, we feel unwelcome, and the girls are followed around the store. Yesterday was the last straw - I confronted the owner after she followed my daughters to the back of the store, and she was not willing to accept any responsibility. We can't keep coming sadly and would ask others to encourage the owner to stop discriminating against children of color. read more

I love this shop. Always changing their products and gifts. The nice lady behind the desk is always so helpful and patient. Wide variety of unique items. My only complaint is the some items are a bit overpriced compared to other stores that sell the same things. read more

I love this shop - it has so many neat gifts that are perfect for all sorts of occasions. The woman who works there is very sweet. I come here whenever I need a last minute gift and don't want to just go on Amazon. A great small business to support! read more

Wasn't sure what to make of this shop when I first moved into the neighborhood, but two years later I don't know what I'd do without it! They have a very well-curated selection of cards, way better than you'd find in a drug store or supermarket. They also have a constantly rotating collection of random giftable items that have helped me out in a pinch on several occasions. Prices might be a bit higher than some other places, but good taste doesn't come cheap! read more

Surprise! is my go to for birthdays. They are always super fast and have a great variety of gifts, greeting cards, and balloons. The store is never crawling with people so I can always take my time picking out the perfect gift. I highly recommend this corner gift shop! read more

I love this shop! We get balloons here for birthday parties (once even for an up costume!) and I love perusing toys for my daughter, local gifts etc. unlike others I think their prices are totally reasonable for the bay, sometimes even more affordable than I would expect. I bought a gorgeous blush scarf for ~$20 that I wear constantly when it's cool. Highly recommend for baby and kids birthday gifts. Also I find the owner has always been extremely friendly!! read more

cizy beautiful loverly place ... so many things to look ... buy special gift for me friends ....... read more

Good for quick gifts - including a few local souvenirs. Greetings cards. Good prices.

Just a disclaimer, I'm more Macgyver than Martha Stewart. I'd rather buy a multitasking swiss army knife rather than a cute cheese spreader (unitasker). This store is full of expensive, useless knickknacks that are probably more form over function. I came by here with my boo and her friend from out of town after we went to fenton's ice cream. We were just strolling along and enjoying our ice cream when we noticed the name outside. This place really doesn't have anything different or out of the ordinary from the usual cutesy junk stores that I've been to. Oh wait, they do! They have a crappy unwritten policy of no food or drink (I'm not sure if it's for everyone). They singled me out and asked me if I would leave it on their counter while I shopped. Hmm, not a smart idea on your part. Imagine if Barnes and Noble wouldn't let you sip on a coffee while you shopped? Wouldn't you want someone to take their sweet (no pun intended) time to browse your selection of goods? Ice cream would melt sitting on the counter, so I just left the store while my boo and her friend browsed around. I'll never come back here ever again. How's that for sweet revenge? read more

If your looking for a gift for someone this is the perfect store. They have a huge selection of fun, interesting and beautiful items for anyone to enjoy ~ especially that really difficult family member or friend. I always get my cards and stationary here. The owner is very nice and welcoming. If you haven't checked out this store I highly recommend stopping by as it adds charm to Piedmont Ave. read more

I usually come in to check out the toys. I saw this interesting mood ring and I was just playing around with it. The owner saw me and she RUDELY said " IF YOU WANT TI PLAY WITH IT, YOU CAN DO IT AFTER PURCHASE". I said sorry and I walk around a little more and she kept staring at me probably thinking I was gonna steal. I don't recommend going here because the owner makes the costumer feel uncomfortable and she has bad customer service. read more

Surprise is a locally owned small business on Piedmont Avenue. It is a great store for picking up cards and a present for someone ranging from a baby to older adults. They have a wide selection of affordable thoughtful gifts, but the best part of this store is they wrap your presents for free unless you request special paper or ribbons. Even if you don't purchase an item from them, for a nominal cost, she will wrap it for you. I believe presentation is as important as the gift. Every time I bring something that has been wrapped from the store, it already exudes excitement and anticipation. I used to go into this store every other day, not only to check out the merchandise but because the proprietor was dog friendly and would give my dogs treats. Recently ( less than a month ago) my dog died, and I rarely went into the store because I have been depressed, but I had a last minute gift that needed to be wrapped. Janet, the proprietor handed me a small gift because she heard of my dog's passing. It was a picture frame and a stone with the engraving "Always with You" and a small dog print next to it. Of all the condolences I have received, that little engraved stone just resonated so much with me, it brought me so much comfort. I have since made a small memorial for my dog with the stone next to it. So these are the reasons why I love Surprise and thankful it is close to my neighborhood. read more

Surprise! Not kid friendly. After getting dirty looks and being followed at a distance, I was told to "pick up my kid as there could be glass on the floor." Cute store, horrible service. read more

I LOVE this store---it's probably in my top three fave shops on Piedmont. Although it is small it is filled with tons of cool stuff that is organized so neatly and appealingly. The shop is on a corner do there is always a lot of light. They have wonderful greeting cards not just sarcastic or only designed for a small section of society, You'll find a card for your most cynical friend, your demure grandmother, your blasé co-worker or your wacky best friends. They also sell charms, earrings, bath and beauty products, stuffed animals, Archie McPhee trinkets, humor books, and lots more. I've always found the staff here very friendly and helpful even when I don't buy anything. In fact when they didn't have what I needed they gave me suggestions on other places to buy them. I've seen them do this for several others too. read more

Wandered into this store years ago and loved it. Now I drive over here specifically to shop for gifts. She has so many great items. I always find something (or several things) just right for my friends. So worth while! read more

whenever i'm in the area, i stop by Surprise to find gifts for my friends' kids ranging from ages 0-8... and it's always a HUGE hit!!! The store carries a lot of fun, novel items for kids, and i always have such fun time browsing through the selection. Surprise has a lot of random knick-knacks that are fun and great as gifts! i also love their selection of bags, wonderful smelling lotions & candles, cards, and jewelry! i'm a fan!!! read more

Surprise is just fabulous! I'm someone who loves to browse through greeting cards (and who buys rather too many of them as a result) and this is a super wonderful place to do that. There's so much other interesting stuff to look at too. And they're SO customer-focused! Today, I was running late and had to pick up some last minute party supplies for my Dad's 99th (!) birthday celebration. I had already been to 3 other places looking for party hats and confetti (yeah, I thought they'd be easier to find too) when I stopped at Surprise. I asked if they had these and immediately the owner sprang into action, showing me their party supplies which were perfect. Thanks so much - from my Dad too! read more

A little chaotic, but this little store has been a fixture on Piedmont Ave for a while now and you can find things you need for parties, birthdays, gifts etc. It's quite interesting to browse in there and often you'll find something unique for a friend or family member. I just find it a little cluttered that's all. read more

I love this place! I come here whenever a someone's birthday is coming up. I should say a 'special someone's bday'... because the non-special folks get a Trader Joe card (I actually really like TJs cards too). I go here when I need Papyrus or a pop up card or something to kick shit up a notch :) ...something where I feel justified spending $4.99 on some bent up cardboard with a special greeting within. I do agree with another person's comment about feeling watched. I've only felt that way when the Asian lady is working..not the White lady. I hate that shit because it makes me feel like I'm doing something bad, which only puts out a weird vibe and probably makes me look guilty for not doing anything wrong in the first place. Regardless of the one lady who does all the hawk-watching, I still love this place and it's over-priced because it's on fuckin Piedmont Ave. But, ya know that coming in here so, suck it up and pay up..or shut up. I'll be back in October for mom's bday...best believe. read more

Cute little place but nothing special. This place feels really cramped and I feel like I am in danger of tipping things over if I turned too fast. I came here a couple of times, but I it just don't appeal to me. Then again, I dont believe I am their targeted customer. This place has most of the essentials for cards and other stationaries. The owners are relatively nice. They just don't like it if you don't buy anything. Their items are also overpriced. I just dont want to pay more than 5 dollars for a birthday card. Their also charged me 1.25 per hellium balloon. Did the price of hellium just rocket up due to a shortage? Not to mention parking is horrible here. read more

Love this place, been coming here for years since i was a kid. Anyhow the owner is really sweet, she has a great personality and is someone you would give return business to. They have just about everything you would find in a gift shop, has plenty of unique knick knacks.. read more

Surprise - A nice toy zebra for my nephew and a back scratcher for myself.. - Toy Stores Near Me - Oakland, California

This is the type of store that I would normally adore for finding quirky, colorful gifts for friends. I was delighted when I entered! However, the lady behind the counter immediately began watching my every move. I was searching for scented candles for our newly-painted house. When I opened a jar candle to test the scent, the melted candle spilled all down the front of my shirt. They keep their candles unprotected from the sun. Without any apology, the lady simply looked at me as though I were scum. She begrudgingly gave me paper towels to wipe melted wax off my dress shirt only when I asked for them, and her main concern was checking whether her other candles were fine. To note, I was very polite the entire time, without making any type of fuss about the candle. I left shocked to have been treated like an intruder. I would never return here due to truly horrendous customer service. Based on my experience, I am surprised that other reviewers had such positive experiences. Perhaps the owner treated me differently due to my age (young adult). I will take my business elsewhere to companies that do not profile customers. read more

This was a cute shop, though I felt like the lady behind the counter always had her eye on me. So, I'm kind of iffy about coming back in here again. read more

This is a great store not just for teens but for adults as well. Incredible selection of gifts!

You would think this store is a nice cute shop with kid loving employees. BANG! SURPRISE!!!! All those hopes dissipate after spending five minutes in the store. The store itself is fine, a little cramped but still tolerable, and the variety of merchandise is wide... But the biggest problem with this store is the service. I visited surprise with my two younger brothers and my mom, and we had a very unpleasant experience. The woman behind the counter was very rude throughout our whole visit. The lade also seemed very uncomfortable with children, and being thirteen, the way the lady interacted with me and and my brothers was very off putting. I felt like she was always watching me like a hawk, waiting for me to break something, to make one mistake so that she could charge us for it. Every time I was examining something, she would tell me to be careful in a very irritated tone. While we were paying for our stuff, I felt like I just wanted to get out of the store because the lady's attitude was so bad. I hope that one day, they hire a new staff that is more warm and comfortable with children. What happened today was certainly a surprise, but we won't let it happen again. We will never return to this store. read more

When we lived off Piedmont, my husband (then boyfriend) and I made a point of shouting "Surpise!" at each other every time we drove by (which was often several times a day). The name still makes me smile. It has various little gifts like overpriced lotion for gardners and cute stuffed animals. This is the kind of place I enjoy browsing. I bought two of my favorite travel journals (http://ode.reinyday.com/travel/paper/) there. read more

Pretty broad range of gifts and cards. Reasonably priced Gund stuffed animals that are handy when you need a last minute baby gift. And speaking of last minute, I wish they would open earlier on Sundays. I can't tell you how many times I've needed a last minute card or gift for an event starting at noon and Surprise is not open when I need them! read more

I've always thought that this store was overpriced, but it's close by and I've occasionally been able to find something in a pinch. After today, I'm not going back. The major turn off is the service. You constantly feel like you're being watched (because you are), which is ridiculous, because if someone was going to shoplift something, it wouldn't be one of the cheap trinkets in this place. Today, I went in to browse after getting froyo. There is no sign saying food and drink are not permitted in the store. The lady behind the counter turned to us and told us to be careful with our yogurt. Oh, ok. You know, originally, I was going to smear my yogurt all over the merchandise, but now that you've told me to be careful, I guess I won't smear it everywhere. Seriously, though. If you're going to have a problem with people bringing food in the store, post a sign on the door. That way, you won't insult your customers by assuming that they are incompetent dirty apes who will fling their food against the wall as if it were feces. Also, their selection is limited, especially on special occasions or holidays. I went in looking for a card on Father's Day a while back and there were exactly five left. FIVE. In a card shop. On a holiday. You're better off going across the street to Nathan & Co. Nicer stuff for the same price and very cool card selection. read more