My mother and I've been loyal Michaels customers for years as full-time artists and hobbyists,…read moreunfortunately the customer experience at this store, specifically at the Vista Store in Torrance, has declined significantly. I hope my feedback warns other customers and helps management understand what's happening at the store level. A few days ago, I went in to quickly pick up an online order after receiving both email and text confirmation that it was ready. My name wasn't on any of the pickup bags, so I asked for assistance. A manager briefly looked around, said he would check by the registers, and then proceeded to count cash in the register instead of helping me. After I approached him again, he passed me off to another employee who also couldn't find the order. I eventually noticed a bag with my name on the floor behind the register. They scanned it, and I left. When I opened the package later that night, I realized not only was the bag dirty--with a footprint on it--but the product inside was the wrong brand. I had ordered a specific brand on sale, and they substituted an Artist Loft item without informing me. The receipt label didn't match the product at all. I returned to the store the next morning, where the female manager told me they had substituted their own brand because the original item wasn't in stock. That explanation made no sense--if a customer orders Prismacolor, you don't replace it with Artist Loft. When I questioned it, she impatiently said, "Well, I'm returning it for you," with no apology, empathy, or effort to acknowledge the mistake. Not only did I waste over 30 minutes during the initial pickup, but I also had to make a second trip to return their error. A simple, sincere "I'm sorry" would have gone a long way. While I was there, I asked about another pending order. They told me if the item was on the shelf, I can get it. Even though the item showed available at this store, we couldn't find any. I ended up canceling it. More waste of time! Later that afternoon (4:11 p.m., Dec. 3), I called the store because the website was now showing the item in stock. The person who answered the phone cut me off with, "No, I'm too busy," without any courtesy or suggestion to call back. The level of rudeness at this store has become consistent and noticeable, even my young child has commented on it. This pattern of dismissiveness, errors, and lack of customer care is extremely disappointing. I hope regional or district management takes these issues seriously and restores the professionalism and positive atmosphere Michaels was once known for. (I've never shopped at Hobby Lobby until recently, and the vibe there is completely the opposite. It's warm, friendly, and the price of same brand products WAY cheaper than Michaels!!!) A few additional concerns for fellow customers: Many art supplies are significantly cheaper at Hobby Lobby, Amazon, or Dick Blick online. I genuinely prefer supporting local stores, but not at the expense of higher prices and poor treatment. When returning online orders paid through PayPal, you can request a cash refund. Store employees stubbornly claim they can only issue store credit, but when I called to ask, customer service confirmed that is NOT true. I now have over $100 in store credits! And I'll tell you next why I wouldn't opt for Michaels store credits. At the Redondo Beach location, an employee scanned two store credit receipts--each worth over $80--and told me they had no balance. He even asked if I wanted to throw them away. I later confirmed this was his error, but when I brought it up during a future visit, the same staff member simply shrugged while leaning on the register with his leg up. He no longer works there, but the value of those credits was never recovered, and I never received so much as an apology. Another ongoing concern is price inconsistencies. As someone who shops at Michaels often, I know the prices and watch for coupons like most loyal customers. However, the prices on the shelves frequently do not match the prices at the self-serve kiosks. I've asked for assistance on this four or five separate occasions, and it's surprising that the issue remains unresolved. Even worse, staff often appear visibly irritated when the discrepancy is pointed out. Right before a recent 40% promotion, prices on many items were increased in the kiosks but not updated on the shelf displays. I picked up a few items, excited to finally use the long-awaited 40% discount. At the register, everything rang up at the higher price. When I asked about it, I was told that "the overnight crew forgot to change the tags," even though every version of the item was still marked at the regular price on the shelves. In the end, it would have been cheaper to buy the items at their regular price with the standard 25% coupon than during this so-called 40% sale. I wondered why I still shop there. I guess because we are creatures of habits!

It has been some time since I've been in a Michael's. I used to love crafting but it has taken a…read morebackseat in priorities. I went because I had a specific need. I asked a clerk for assistance and she just said "look back here and if you can't find anything, look in the craft area," as she walked away. Hmmmm, I looked where she had pointed, couldn't find anything and then had to search for the craft aisles. I roamed around aimlessly for some time. It was not easy. I finally found the craft aisles but had questions and there weren't any clerks around. As I headed to the checkout, I looked up my account on the app. No clerks at the front but the self checkout was open. I checked out and left with no other human interaction. It's a shame how the retail industry has changed. Ok, bye.

Huge praise to Jen, the amazing owner of AR Workshop! Three gal pals got together for a creative…read moreouting and ended up making the most beautiful soft chunky blankets. The whole experience was engaging, calming, and honestly so much fun. We loved it so much that the three of us already made plans to sign up for another class. When a place makes you feel that relaxed, creative, and connected -- you go back! If you're looking for a unique party idea, want to learn a new skill, or just want a fun get‑together with friends, I highly recommend AR Workshop. Jen has created something truly special.

Fun laser wood painting workshop and a brand-new offering. We were basically the guinea pigs, but…read moreeverything ran smoothly. The artist/owner was very kind and even stayed longer than expected to help us get the results we wanted. It's clear they're constantly developing new workshops and trying to engage the community. Solid four-star experience. If you're looking for a hands-on studio activity to try something different, this place is worth checking out. It's on my radar now.

I will miss this location a lot! It seems like it was meant to be the flagship store for the…read moregreater Los Angeles area, but along with all other physical stores, will sadly be closing. Service at the cutting bar has always been stellar, with the staff in that department having a strong grasp of where items are located. When you go, keep in mind that selection will most likely be limited (when I went at the beginning of March, yarn, embroidery floss, and sewing thread were all gone). I truly wish there were some way we could keep the Joann brand alive, as many enthusiasts know that searching for fabric, yarn, and framing isn't the same when you shop online or go to other more traditional competitors like Michael's or Hobby Lobby. Thank you to the Del Amo store for servicing us!

Operating 850 stores, Joann Fabrics is the leading fabric and craft specialty store in the US…read more This location is inside the Del Amo Fashion Center in Torrance, CA., and is the number one ranked store in the country by total sales. It is huge (almost 56,000 sq ft), and is modeled after the open concept floor plan first introduced in Columbus in 2017 (which is 'only' 40,000 sq ft). It is connected to the indoor mall and there is plenty of free parking as part of the mall. It was definitely the largest craft store we've been inside. My daughter and wife were looking for lace/ribbon and found a multitude of choices. Once a choice was made, it needed to be cut and priced, which can be done at the 'cut bar' in the center of the store. There are kiosks on both sides of the bar, where you can enter your name to get into the queue. There are video screens showing your place in line. The wait wasn't too long (for either the cutting and the subsequent checking out at the registers).

This is one of the few places that still carries materials such as fabrics for making dresses or…read moreany other items that you want to sew together. They have a wide variety of hobbies and decorations for your home. Prices are great. Keep in mind, this store is a Christian company so the store is closed on Sundays. During Christmas, this place is packed with customers and will often run out of decoration supplies for your Christmas decorating needs, so go early in the season. Lines will be especially long during that time of year, even on the weekdays. You must have patience while standing in line. The wait can be a bit long.

Great products for home and crafts! I shop here very occasionally for project based purchases. Ie…read more making bridal shower keepsakes, wedding keepsakes, and framing completed jigsaw puzzles and more. Have also shopped here when I received a gift card for Christmas. Speaking of seasons, they have plenty of items for the various seasons and holidays. On a side note, it is a bummer that retailer Jo-Ann went out of biz by May of 2025. Glad to have HL at two South Bay locations currently. Another Elite yelper may have mentioned how the store layout is arranged by department category and is not numbered. Customer service is hit or miss. Most of the time, I have been on my own depending on which department. On the sales floor no one has approached me to offer assistance. The employees at the framing section have been helpful and efficient. Cashiers have been nice for the most part but their supervisors or leads did not give that same courteous vibe. Hours are 9am to 8pm and closed on Sundays. The Yelp 3 star average overall is accurate.

I am an architect and was extremely impressed on the diverse projects given to my five year old…read moregranddaughter. The projects showed me how her hidden talent can be expressed and she was given the opportunity to create and present that talent. It is an amazing program. Madison will be back for the next cycle.

We LOVE Art 2 Grow On! Our daughter has signed up for the Pee Wee Picasso class 4 or 5 semesters…read morein a row and neither of us have gotten bored with the class or curriculum. The kids start out with open play (play-doh, coloring w markers and crayons, a building station and painting), transition to storytime, and then end with an art project of the day that they can take home. The best is I don't have to worry about paint, glue, or markers getting all over my house or set-up/clean-up. Yay! The teachers are also really good. Miss Chelsea is our absolute favorite- my daughter talks about her all week and cant wait to see her every art class. I definitely recommend this class for kids 18months and up- and especially if you are a mom who hates cleaning up messes like me haha

This is my favorite location! Juan delivers the BEST customer service every time! Thank you Juan…read morefor going above and beyond to help me with the products I needed. I appreciate you and Michael's is lucky to have you as part of their team!

Came in looking for some fun arts and crafts and was able to score some fun items that were…read moreChristmas related but can be used all year as well but got them 60% off. They had a bunch of sale and of course wanting to get rid of all the Christmas stuff but you can def repurpose some items. The store is very well equipped with anything you can possibly think of, if you are a teacher and have a badge or ID of the school you work at you get a discount. One thing that was a bit on the downside was checking out. They have 2 registers open for cash but the rest you scan yourself out and use card. The line was so big and then some people were having trouble with certain items so it just dragged so maybe having a person help with that would help. But over all they were nice and helpful when you needed help with anything. Some times are busier than others & that's understandable..

Love, Love this gift shop. It is popular with both locals and tourists. Great location just steps…read moreaway from the Hermosa Pier and surrounded by many eateries and coffee shops. Metered street parking near by. And remember free street parking for a couple of weeks prior to Christmas. Check out the darling kids corner with unique games, books, activity books and more. Curious has a wonderful jewelry corner highlighting local artist, Dana's, jewelry. SHuge selection of necklaces, bracelets and earrings-all hypoallergenic nickle free. Unique card selection as well as home decor and more. You will always be greeted with a smile and offered free gift wrapping. Oh and don't forget to join their Curious mailing list to earn points.

Stumbled upon this cute gift shop while exploring Hermosa and Im so happy I did! Their welcome sign…read moresays "come in, we're high" and I knew I was in for a treat lol! Cute stationary, hilarious greeting cards, home decor, jewelry, and so many gift options. We had fun just walking around, browsing, and laughing at the funny things they had. I was actually looking for a buddha statue for either my home or my office and they had some here. We love that. Everything was fairly priced and the staff were friendly too. Definitely check Curious out if you're in the area - I'm already tempted to go back for a few things that caught my eye.

I bought a nice paper lamp from them! I love it so much! Arigato gozaimasu!read more

Mrs. Kihara had made 1001 cranes framed for my daughter and also center pieces for her wedding…read moreguests. I've bought many gifts and have loved and cherished them. Mostly origami items, but some items she has sewn and designed. You will enjoy her little shop and her personal touch to your purchased items! I can highly recommend this store.

Shout out to Jackie who was on top of the paint and playing the best music and we rocked painting!read more

Really disappointed in the customer service. Myself and daughter went in today (walk-in) to try the…read moreplace out. The front desk informed that there was a waiting list. That's it. Then add a dead stare. I had to ask how long is the wait? Response "I don't know". Then back to dead stare. I asked if I can look around. As we were looking around I heard someone come in and say they have a reservation. THIS is what I need to know! Not just dead staring at me. How hard would it be to say "X amount of people are ahead of you, but you can try tomorrow. I recommend going to our website and make a reservation". I didn't know there was a reservation system it was our first time. At the end, not going back. We were thinking of having our kids birthday party here but not any more. Will look for another business that actually wants our money.

Great, great store. I have purchased sewing machines, sergers and fabric from AAA Sewing and Fabric…read morefor many years. Salima and her staff are professional, super friendly and very knowledgeable. Her service department is fantastic and her new location is super easy to access. The store is super cute and her fabric selections are gorgeous. With COVID restrictions lifted, Salima is able to offer in house classes, along with her Zoom classes. It's so much fun to finally be able to get together with other sewing enthusiasts in person, whether taking a class or coming in to shop. You will love Salima, her mom Amina, her dad Amad, Lynne, Adela and Beto.

Took my sewing machine in to have the hand wheel replaced and have an overhaul of the machine. Took…read moreweeks to get it back. And they couldn't find a hand wheel, but never let me know before they called me to pick it up. So, I am not impressed.,