Awesome service + friendly, talented owners + beautiful work = 5 stars. I recently bought an awkward-sized print (11'' x 14.5'') and in a bout of decorating OCD, decided a perfectly even frame for it was mandatory. I went straight to this spot because it's 5 minutes away from me, and because Yelp told me that the Price Range is "$". When I walked in, Tom was framing an autographed E-40 photograph for nearby La Penca Azul (formerly La Piñata), which I found adorable and badass. I felt a swell of Bay Area pride at the sight of several homegrown gems connected at once. Gotta love local talents. Admittedly, I'd never had a custom frame job done before, and didn't bother making price comparisons. So when Tom asked me what I was looking for, and what I was looking to spend, I replied "Um... The cheapest frame that will match my apartment? For uh... Under $75??" I was clearly an uninformed customer, and he easily could have taken advantage of me. Instead we sifted through less expensive frames until I picked one that matched my furniture, discussing the intricacies of my name in the process. He asked what color mat I wanted, and at this point I just replied, "I trust you." He quoted $65 if I paid up front, which seemed pricey, but again I had nothing to compare it to. Plus I didn't feel like driving to Oakland or Emeryville, and he was so charming, the place so friendly, that I just followed my gut. And I'm happy I did--I later found out a friend of mine got a similar job done through Aaron Brothers and paid $90! Guess this "$" grade is justified. He estimated a week to finish, but called only 3 days later. When I showed up after closing time, he let me in anyway. Great service, and great frame job (complete with expertly matched mat) makes for one happy camper. I'll be back with my tapa cloth :) read more

I've been going to this Mom and Pop Frame shop for 10 years now and I just found out they are moving down the street. The owners, ,Tom and Helen are really nice people and really know what they're doing... very professional. They are completely honest about prices and will even tell you not to order something if they feel it's not needed. Helen is very artistic and has great suggestions on framing. My frames have always turned out perfect and I've never had a complaint! It's hard to find good, honest people these days, not to mention excellent work. Thank goodness they're not moving out of Alameda! read more

I took four or five pieces to them and the price was alright, but darnit, you're NOT supposed to use glue on the backs of paper art!! I thought everyone knew that, but they don't. read more

Had two prints framed at this store. The first was with a plain black frame, noticed they gave me the wrong/cheaper frame than I selected and PAID for. I let it pass even though I paid for a more expensive frame because it turned out nice. Went back a second time (stupid me) this time there was/is a wrinkle in the print, which is noticeable even in the frame. Last straw, can't recommend them. Compared to other local framers, decent price, but go at your own risk. read more

Tom was incredibly helpful and did a beautiful job framing my Master's degree. He even redid one of the mats when I asked him to cut the corners a tad differently. It turned out beautifully, and I could not recommend them more. Michael's does a good job, but no one is better than Tom. Buy local and support these good folks -- they do quality work, at a good price, with good timing. Highly recommended. read more

My frames are still on order, but I wanted to praise this shop now while it's fresh on my mind. I was really nervous about trying to frame some artwork I recently bought. I had no idea what type of frame or matting I should try for. Tom spent AN HOUR going over possible combinations with me and my husband. He would hold up the frame sample next to the art and we would run across the room to look at it from a distance, then we would hold it up for him so he could look at it too and give us his opinion. This is exactly the kind of help with framing I'd been needing, and which I've found no other place. Who takes that kind of time? We picked a frame I think is going to look great on my pieces. Thanks so much, Tom! read more

Excellent quality framing! Helen has a kind nature and great customer care. Fair and reasonable pricing.

Best frame store. Tom and Helen are both amazing people to work with. They are super nice and passionate about their work. They always work their hardest to give customers the best deal possible. I could not recommend this business more. They are awesome at what they do. read more

~It's Christmas Eve (Day) and I'm in a jam ! One of the presents for my parents is a large photograph of my Daughter. I ran down to Beverly's in the new Towne Centre and they didn't have a frame that fit, i realized my picture was a odd size....Panicky, I remembered seeing a little frame shop one night while stumbling out of the Lost Weekend. I raced over there and met Tom he said he could do the job and when did i need it "next week?" hahaha... I told him "Today" he laughed and got moving quickly he called his wife and told her about my emergency and he told me he would call me in a few hours. And what do you know? A few hours later he called me, the frame and workmanship were excellent. Tom and Helen have earned a customer for life and it is no wonder why they have been in business so long. read more

I brought a newspaper article of a family member to be framed as a gift....best work ever! The owner suggested a fantastic looking frame to go with it. And the price was cheaper than other frame shops that I have been to. I'll be sure to come back again! read more

I called this place yesterday to ask what time they close and I was told that they close at 5:30 pm. I told the guy that I won't be able to get there till 5:40.....he said "Don't worry, I'll wait for you." I thought that that was really nice of him. So I get to the store at he was there waiting for me. Tom was even nicer in person! He was very personable and helpful. I've never been to a custom framing shop before and I wasn't sure what my options were. After examining the rolled canvasses that I needed framing for, Tom walked me through my options very patiently and showed me different types of frames to choose from. He also gave me a great deal! I paid less than expected so I was happy. It was really a very cool experience and I can't wait to see the final product. This place will definitely be my go-to place for custom framing. read more

I've come here a few times to get posters and pictures framed. They treat you with courtesy and respect, and are very detailed with their work. Most importantly, they were honest with their prices. read more

Great little shop. Tom is fun to work with whenever i bring my Disney sketches in to be framed. He takes pride in his work and they always come out to something i hang up in the living room read more

Alameda Custom Framing did a great job on the pictures I brought them: helped me choose great frames and mats, made the prints look beautiful and charged what I think was a decent price - I didn't shop around, saw all the good reviews and figured I'd just go ahead and bite the bullet as it was more important to have a great outcome than super cheap prices. Very personable, attentive customer service and good communication. read more

Affordable place for framing. It is a "mom and pop shop". Tom is an older gentleman, sweet and his prices for custom framing are the cheapest that I have seen in that area. I had 2 of my diplomas framed there. Total was $220 total for 2 diplomas, custom framed with matting. It took about 7 days. They called me when it was done. I printed out all the Yelp reviews of the store and gave it to Tom when I picked up my frames. He was so happy to read all the great reviews about his store. He has a "Yelp" sticker on his door but he told me he does not know how to access it and he's not really familiar with the Internet. So was pleasantly surprised to read all the reviews. read more

Once again we're blessed with the high level services of Alameda Custom Framing. It feels great to know we can trust someone with our special framed pieces. We are so proud to have their work hung on the walls of our home. read more

Yelpers steered me towards this lovely store, and I can say that I will never drive to Berkeley again to get my framing done anymore. The owner, Tom, was so delightful, personable and super friendly. He helped me frame my lovely print of Windsor Castle by suggesting a standard frame with some custom touches to ease the cost (which did by a lot since I was expecting to pay $100 and only paid half). The end product was beautiful! read more

Thanks to a kind yelper we found the new locationand are so thankful. As reported, Tom took wonderful care of us and our prints. We will definitely be return customers. read more

I've had 14 pieces framed here in the past few weeks, and I can see why they get such high reviews. Great work, tremendously friendly service, and a good price. woohoo, indeed. read more

Tom is a super person and always pleases us. We've had many a painting framed here. I highly recommend them. He's very honest and accommodating. HIs framing is excellent and precise. I highly recommend him. read more

Tom is awesome, his work is outstanding and his prices competitive. I would recommend Alameda Custom Framing to anyone

My husband and I found Alameda Custom Framing after finding the place on Yelp. Before going to Tom, I went to another framing place and was quoted a ridiculous price for framing. Tom was really nice and helpful. He showed us frames ranging in different prices and even talked to us about the type of glass we might need. He quoted us a VERY reasonable price and we were thrilled. We were told the picture would be framed in a week, but we got a call from Tom 3 days later letting us know he had just finished our frame. I went to pick it up today and didn't realize how big and heavy it was going to be. Tom carried it to my car and also padded and secured the picture frame in my car for me. He was really helpful and seems to really care about his workmanship and his customers. I will definitely go back again and would recommend him to everyone. It is also nice to see a mom and pop store do well. Thanks Tom!!! read more

What can I say about this place that hasn't been said? Just read all these reviews and you know where to go. I started coming here about a year ago and never looked back. Like "Nicholas C." from one of the previous reviews, I am an avid collector of rock art posters. If you haven't seen a lot of these, sometimes they can be hard to frame because of metallic inks, foil printing, extremely bright colors, and other crazy stuff they do with these posters. Sometimes it's tough to get the right look. Tom and Helen are amazing. They both have a great eye for framing and getting that perfect look for your print. My first time in the store I showed up with a picture I had framed at another store. My kids had knocked it off the wall, breaking the glass and cracking the frame. Tom took a look at it, said "no problem" and a few days later it was good as new. And for less then half of what I was expecting to pay for the repair. The store is comfortable, the service is excellent, the quality is top-notch, and the price is right. I dropped off four more posters this morning and can't wait to get them back! What more could you want from the best framers in the bay? read more

Just picked up my order and I am psyched I love the frames! They look great! My husband and I brought in two oil paintings that were not normal dimensions. It was no problem at all for them. We were told the pictures/frames would be ready in one week and they ended up being ready a day early. Can't beat that! There are so many varieties of frames it's unreal. Helen & Tom have a great eye for knowing which frames would look good based on the picture we really appreciated their honesty & expertise. In addition, they were upfront about the prices of each frame even suggesting more cost efficient alternatives that looked similar to the frames we liked. It's rare and refreshing when people are honest and actually try to help you save money especially in this economy! The store is conveniently located about a block and half away from Park Street. The service,prices, and variety of frames is great. The icing on top is that the store owners are extremely knowledgeable and are as kind as they are cute. I will definitely come back to get more pictures framed there! read more

Alameda custom framing is the best! Expert framing. Tom is a true craftsman. exceptional customer service and prices that can't be beat. I've had more than 20 pictures framed and each one has been magnificent. read more

Tom and Helen are not only the nicest people you will meet but they are also the best framers I have been to. I am someone who collects signatures and memorabilia from professional athletes and musicians. I have been getting my frame work with Tom for years now and he always listens to my custom ideas and has great input. Sometimes I turn in a piece to be framed and say, "Tom, I trust you" and leave the creative custom frame work to him. I have always been happy with his results. I have had Signed Jerseys, drum heads, T-shits, photos, CD's and my latest piece a signed poster framed. I have had other posters mounted as well. From shadow boxes to mounts, every time I have been happy with their final product. If there was a 6th Star, he would have 6!!! read more

I recently had a papal blessing framed at this cute shop. The document already had a beautiful, rather ornate border; but I wanted it to be matted and framed as a special treat for a family couple who have been married for 75 years, Zoom party to follow. Helen helped me pick the frame and matting. She obviously has an extraordinarily artistic eye. I already had something in mind, but Helen gave me her great professional advice to polish the look. She was careful to help keep the price down. In the end, I chose to add a matt that harmonized with the frame, a more expensive frame and non-glare glass. Helen quickly figured a couple of prices different ways for me without my even asking. She was awesome--very kind and courteous, honest in her appraisal, and conscientious about my taste and budget. The final product was ready within only a few days--a great surprise and very helpful during these pandemic times when having to rely on the mail. The matting and frame are gorgeous, quite exquisite really, very professionally done, and fairly priced. When I picked up my framed document, I had the pleasure of meeting Helen's husband Tom and viewing some of Helen's beautiful personal paintings, which I missed the first time. This couple is an Alameda treasure. They are welcoming, friendly, and most gracious. Although my framing needs are limited, I will absolutely return when I have a need. I might even stop in for a visit! They are that sweet! I recommend this shop and these lovely owners unconditionally. read more

I went the store to frame my license certificate. The wife looks sweet but really a beatch. I required use some simple Nile on the back of frame, so that i can replace it myself every two years when it renew. The wife said you have to come back to replace every two years. I said i do not want to come back wast her time and wast my time. Then, the wife call her husband out and talk in Korea. I thought the husband may help me out instead he is really rude. He keep saying everybody is coming back every two years to replace, why can`t you!!! At the end , i want my money back, he refused and yelling at me "getting out of my store!" I said give my money back i will leave. He said he will pay me tomorrow. read more

I had a large original drawing that had taken me 6 months to make framed here for the east bay open studios that I was taking part in. It cost $480 and was finished in a week. Great I thought fast and reasonable. But unfortunately I noticed there was bubbling happening all over the drawing I took it out if the frame and found that it was impossible to take the drawing off the matte board which they had glued down. I have never heard of someone gluing a delicate original piece of art to a board. It has taking me over an hour with a hair dryer trying to get it off. It has a number of rips and is completely crinkled I probably wont ever be able to sell it. They obviously know nothing about caring for art. I wouldn't trust them with anything original. read more

This is the best framing shop in the entire East Bay. For three main reasons: 1 Service, 2 Service, 3 Service. A quality, locally owned shop where you can be sure they care about your framing project and your repeat business. I've been taking my framing needs here for almost 15 years and have consistently received the best possible work. Don't go anywhere else. read more

Wish I could give Tom and his shop more than five stars. This is a wonderful framing store with two very intelligent and sweet owners. I went to their store looking to frame two prints, the prices were not only reasonable, but the selection was great. I would absolutely recommend Alameda Custom Framing! read more

I just had a wonderful experience with the business recently. They framed 5 pieces of work and they looked stunning. The couple's experience and attention to details really showed in the finished work. The woman was very patient with me and gave great advice during my moments of indecisiveness. They even load everything in my car for me. Very professional and great service. read more

This place does nice work but is crazy expensive. I had two posters mounted and framed. Poster size was 12 x 48 inches. I chose the cheapest frame they carried (plain black). $200 each! No mats, no special glass, no reconstruction. Did I mention this was 10 years ago? So, factor inflation into that price. read more

Picked up my frames the other day and I couldn't be happier with the results. The frames turned out perfectly and I couldn't have made the selections without the honest help and feedback of Helen and Tom. One art piece was purchased during my honeymoon and it had a lot of sentimental value which did not go unnoticed by Helen and Tom. They took absolute care of the work and my wife and I appreciated the extra effort. Prices are more than fair and timing was fast. Another local Alameda business I plan to support for many more years. read more

I came here because of yelp reviews. I had an open mind regardless of the reviews. But I realize after meeting Tom that the reviews were correct, he did give me a price for two prints that were very reasonable. I was happy with my two posters. read more

Thanks, yelpers! Because of all the excellent reviews, I dropped by today with two posters to be framed. Tom was awesome - he shook my hand at the end of the sale and seemed genuinely interested in listening to what I wanted and what I didn't want. When I told him about the praise his store gets on the internet, he was so modest and thanked me for my business. I cannot wait to see the finished product! read more

I was so happy to find the new location of Alameda Custom Framing. I have been a customer for some years now but they moved and I wasn't sure where they had gone. To my delight, I found them on YELP. I was thrilled to find Tom in his new shop. Tom and his wife have always been so friendly and helpful. Tom is more than fair with pricing and takes very good care of your art work. Tom really cares about his customers and going there is a lovely experience. I wish every business could treat their customers so well. Tom, you are GREAT! read more

I have been taking my photographs and posters to Tom and Helen for the past 10 years and have only wonderful things to say on their work and pleasant personalities...I have checked framing prices all over the Bay area and they always will beat anbody's work and prices ....Tom and Helen are perople of honor and you will find their service as fast and always professional.... read more

The reviews are true! I had a treasured pen & ink drawing that my mother did for me in 1984. It's always hung on my wall. I knocked it down by accident and broke the glass and frame. I searched for a framing store in Alameda on the internet and Alameda Custom Framing came up with incredible reviews about a wonderful man Tom and his wife Helen who run this store. So I checked them out. Tom helped me right away when I arrived. He and his wife are friendly, funny and kind. Tom understood that this was a sentimental piece and ensured me he would take good care of it. He gave me a very fair price on a new wood frame and it was done in a reasonable time frame. I am extremely happy with the results and it's back on my wall where it belongs. This is the place to go! You won't be disappointed! I would give 10 stars if Yelp would let me. Excellent example of customer service. :) read more

I had some priceless photos enlarged -- some to poster size -- to decorate my new home in Oakland. The photos were from the 1950s, and each needed a customized frame to do it justice. A dear friend introduced me to Tom Chai at Alameda Custom Framing, who has the eye of an artist. He selected the appropriate matting and frame for each photo that was understated but elegant. He gave me great service and a great price. And he is a charming gentleman -- old school but contemporary and hip. He is now my go-to man for any framing job! read more