On Valentine's Day, I came in with my 1.5-year-old baby on my back to shop during the last 5 minutes before closing. The associate was so nice that she let us shop until I found what I was looking for; not that I was looking for something particular. Although, I did find some really cute clearance items. These were only one-size left items, so they go for 50% off. With a sleeping baby on my back, I didn't want to try on this super cute dress I bought. I almost thought it was a dumb idea since it was not refundable, but went with my gut feeling to just buy it! The lady told me that the particular brand tends to run small, so I bought the last size larger. When I got home, I was thrilled that it fit me perfectly! Awesome customer service. read more

I like it! It's more Misses or Jr's on the fashion/size tip, but they do have cute trendy clothing and accessories I can see myself wearing, ( I'm a non-busty size 9/10) especially all the cute dresses! I liked the BB Dakota stuff they had, and they carry some Kersh sweaters, which, for sort of plain looking cotton blend sweaters, have become an everyday basic that last surprisingly long in my wardrobe. They had a good sale on fancy name brand jeans (only going up to waist size 31-32) and my Mom got some cute/silly flannel pattern PJ's on sale for around $34.00. She was pleased. They also had a lot of winter coats on sale. I like smaller stores like this because they don't overwhelm me and the prices are good/fair. I'll come back to support this local business when I need more leggings, leg warmers, maybe a cute top to wear out, accessories, a dress for an event, or to check out the sale section upstairs. They also carry Hollywood Fashion tape products including nipple concealers. Yeah nip concealers! read more

I have a booty. It's a blessing and a curse and a direct result of being Latina. Strangers have slapped, grabbed and outwardly commented on my butt. Sometimes it's fun and sometimes....it's not. Dress shopping is never fun. The first thing I do is the "booty check". Am I flashing butt cheeks if I bend over just 10 degrees? Mini dresses are cute but dammit they don't cover my rear end at all! Crush had the cutest stinkin' dress!!! It's short but long enough that I won't pull a Brittney! I walked in 7 minutes before closing and the girl was a doll and helped me out and was super nice even though I ran over closing just a few minutes. read more

If you're a fashionista and have the moola to spend on super cute outfits, I would recommend checking out this little neighborhood boutique. They have adorable dresses, trendy tops, nice shorts, and lots more. The regular priced garb is featured downstairs -- but being a gal on a budget, I always head to the sale racks in the back, up the little flight of stairs. I'm also a fan of their sister store across the way -- both are a mother/daughter operation. read more

Super cute store that carries and array of sizes. I need the big boobie size in jackets and you know what, they go all the way up to a 14! The sales girl was super friendly yet not overly attentive, which I hate. Price wise it was SUPER reasonable, $100 for a dressy coat! I must go back with out the man , he always ruins the fun when it comes to spending. read more

The Sweet: This is a lovely boutique with some very nice designers and fabrics. Clothing prices range from $25 for knit tops to $50+ for dresses, skirts, etc. They have a nice selection of belts and other accessories as well. It's hard to describe the style of clothing here because it seems like they are trying to capture the taste of a lot of different women. Which is good, because you probably won't have a problem finding something there that you like. But I'd describe it as pretty classic pieces, that are age appropriate (30s+) with a bit of flair. Definitely very feminine and not at all edgy. Also, the girl that worked there was very nice and friendly. The Sour: They don't follow yelp...lol read more

Not only does this store consistently carry a wide array of seasonal clothes, beautiful dresses, accessories, high quality jeans and awesome sale items, I just had the best customer experience ever at Crush! I recently bought a really cute Gentlefawn dress and after my first time wearing it, the strap broke off. When I took the dress in to see if I could get a new one, the woman at the store seemed surprised and I could tell that this was clearly a fluke and this brand doesn't tend to have problems like this. After I found out that they no longer carried the dress in my size, I casually mentioned that I wanted to wear the dress to the Beyonce and Jay-Z concert, which was happening on Wednesday (I brought it in on a Monday). The woman immediately called her manager who agreed to repair the dress. The next day I got a call from Nikki, the manager, who apologized and let me know that she personally took the dress into a cleaner who would repair the dress in time for me to wear it to the concert! I was totally surprised, stoked to pick it up the next day, and had an amazing time at the concert. It was only a $90 dress but they treated it with such importance. I am thrilled to continue wearing this dress and will definitely be back! I've never had any issues with other clothing I've bought and love that Crush carries such a variety of items, I always find what I'm looking for! read more

This is difficult to do, but I feel forced to write this. I hope the owner will read this. I was recently in the store and was asked to "check in my bag" with the salesgirl. I asked why and she said it was a new policy due the amount of people stealing items by stuffing them into their purses. Ok, I get it- but I never understand making honest customers FEEL like criminals just because there are criminals out there. Why should I trust that the salesgirl will not steal from my bag? Horrible service policy. I'm sorry, I won't go in again unless that policy is changed. On a second note, interestingly enough- I did witness a man steal some shoes from their sister store across the street on a previous day. so, I am certainly aware that crime is on the upswing. Still, that type of policy is insulting. Theft is a part of being in retail, unfortunately. read more

I love patronizing small stores. It is fun to meet the owners and learn the story behind the reason they are there. This place is no different - a woman's dream that was supported and encouraged by her women friends. (the reason I know this? my last visit yielded a nice chat with the owner) It gives the clothes a good feeling that money just can't buy. I have stopped in here a few times and always find something that I am looking for or want. Generally on sale! The clothes are on the "comfy" side - which I love. They are the kind of things you can dress up or down - not too up and not too down. Just right. Think weekend lounging with friends at a cool restaurant and enjoying drinks and a view...or at home entertaining where you want to be chic but not overly dressed. I stopped in here recently (the night before an important trip) needing (wanting more like it...) a couple of new dresses to wear to dinner/out and about. Liz (the owner) was really helpful and steered me in the right direction. I found two dresses that are fabulous! They also didn't break my wallet (but look like they could have). Someone else commented on the store policy of checking bags. I stopped in with my work bag (stocked full of papers) and a gym bag - I set both in the dressing room. Liz did ask if I would mind if she held my gym bag behind the counter. I was a bit surprised but also realize that she doesn't know me from atom and has every right to protect her business. I wasn't insulted at all. I was surprised - not insulted. Also - if she is implementing a policy - she is going to treat everyone the same and not "profile". So as much as I didn't feel like I fit the image of a shoplifter - obviously the way thieves are successful is they do go unnoticed or the store owner would instantly pick them out. Don't let an owner protecting her business put you off. She and her daughter are sweet and helpful. After you find your perfect outfit - buzz across the street to her other store Tootsies to complete your look! Tootsies is like foot-crack. Totally addictive. read more

This store is a cute fashion collection . I can understand why some may think this store is " high priced" however they carry brands such as Free people and other high quality designer brands. If you went into these individual stores you'd find the items at a higher price. I have looked already . This store is located in a great spot right next to the bart station and close to the famous Zachary's Pizzaria! The customer service here is great and the employees wear really cute clothes. They give great tips on what you might be interested in and over all are very helpful in your shopping experience. Im surprised that one person on here complained about the workers being on their cell phones. Its a clothing store , customers come and go . Im sure sending a few texts wont hurt anyone. Over all cute boutique with good customer service. read more

Bought my Oaklandish tshirt here and thought they had a great variety -- perhaps even some more in stock than some of the Oaklandish stores here in the city! Definitely pleased. read more

I am a long-time reader of Yelp reviews, but I did not sign up or start writing my own reviews until today. I am only doing so now because I had such a stellar experience and I want everyone to know how fantastic Crush is. No, wait. Not Crush itself, although it is a fabulous little boutique. The staff there is undeniably wonderful. The woman who helped me (forgive me! I never asked your name) was so helpful, thoughtful, articulate, and truly skilled at pairing the right dress with the right body. And after one look at me, she must have KNOWN that I needed help. After an hour of trying on a good six or seven dresses that she hand-picked for me, almost all of which (shockingly!) fit nearly perfectly, I left with a lovely French Connection dress and heck of respect. This place is not cheap... but you get what you pay for. Great quality clothes, lovely jewelry, and the most helpful staff a girl in dire need of a dress for a wedding could ask for. What a life saver! read more

I agree with Susan T. When I first walked in, mind you I am the only customer there, the girl at the counter doesn't say hi. She's too busy on the computer. I've had bad experience at Tootsies where no one greets you and they'll only acknowledge you're in the store until you ask to try a pair on. Well! not so different in Crush. Wow, makes sense that they're owned by the same person because the service is exactly the same. I didn't want to try anything on after realizing that I could get the same thing in HM or dare I say ... Forever 21. The pieces they have are not of great quality. For instance, Kensie Girl? really? Theres just an expectation of class when you're a boutique in Rockridge, and Crush doesn't have it. I wont be going back and it would be a waste of your time if you go. read more

Since I live close to Crush, I can stop by frequently to see what's on sale. I hate shopping, but I love every dress I've ever purchased from this store. Though more often than not, I leave empty-handed, every now and then I find something cute and reasonably-priced on the sale rack that fits me perfectly. This is quite the challenge as I am really short and always have trouble finding things that fit. I rarely look anywhere else in the store though because it's just out of my budget. This isn't exactly a raving review, but if you're in the area, the sales rack in the back left of the store* is definitely worth checking out. It's well organized and you never know what you might find! Keep in mind that all sale items are final sale (no returns). *FYI: A few years ago, Crush moved across College Ave to a different storefront so it is now located next to Tootsies. The store is only 1 floor now so there's no upstairs sales section like other reviewers have mentioned. read more

Crush is a pretty good store, not one that I'd go crazy over, but one that I'd visit again if I were in the area. They had some great dresses and tops, and a good selection of jeans. I didn't really see anything that I really liked though, but that may have just been the current collection of clothes. Items that piqued my interest either were out of my price range or did not have my size, but they were still cute. The second floor housed the sales items (40% off I think). Clothes there were really cute too, but even at 40% off the original price, they were still pretty expensive for me. I did however get a cute Kensie top for about $15 on sale. The dressing rooms were well-lit and spacious, so I'm really happy about that. The girl at the counter was friendly, but seemed preoccupied on the phone. She was either talking to another employee or her boss, so it didn't bother me at all. I definitely recommend stopping by here if you're in the area. read more

I love this boutique, and have had incredible customer service each time I've visited. Items are pricy, but the quality and styles available are well-worth the splurge when you want to treat yourself with something feminine. I'm not sure why others think the service is poor- I've had nothing but great experiences here, particularly when Nikki is in. read more

The Goods: Dresses Great place to look for cute shirts and especially for dresses, which is something I wish I could find more of in the East Bay (SF with Ambiance x 3 seems to have an abundance of quality places to shop for dresses). Four stars because you have to be prepared to spend big bucks for some of their stuff (dresses range from $80 - $300). It seems some items are overpriced and I tend to go snow-blind and start to think that $65 for a white T-shirt is a reasonable purchase. The Service: Overall...very good, but depends (of course) on who is working. The owner / manger (?) is in there a lot and is very helpful. It's too bad that some of the employees are unprofessional (no greeting, on the phone, talking loudly to a boyfriend who has stopped by for 45 minutes) - but I've had far more good experiences with employees than bad. read more

The sales girl is usually pretty unhelpful but the clothes are really cute. They're extremely overpriced though. Id love to see even more variety at lower price points. They wouldn't make it in a place like Houston. read more

i'm a dress girl. short or long, a-line or empire waist, i love dresses. ask any of my friends, you will usually find me in a dress, unless i'm wearing leggings, which barely count as pants anyway. i own exactly two pairs of jeans - one pair of skinny jeans i bought simply to try the trend, and a pair of bootcut jeans from the gap that i've owned since college, and am quite certain would now fit only one of my butt cheeks. i just like dresses, what can i say? they're preeeettttyyyyy! i needed to kill some time in rockridge the other day before a hair appointment, and stopped into crush on the advice of Liz C., another dress aficionado who is always telling me how much she likes this place. i'm going to have to agree with some of the other yelpers here; a lot of the merchandise was way out of my price range, but there were absolutely great finds for those with time to browse, especially upstairs in the sale section. now, i love dresses, but i worship dresses with pockets. and amongst the sale racks, i was able to scare up an adorable gray and black mini with an open back, cinched waist, and pockets for only $20! yay! (yes, i just yayed over low-priced clothing.) crush has a sister store across the street, tootsies, that i managed to stay away from, lest i spend more money that i should be saving for say, rent and food. overall they have cute clothes, some of which have bloated prices to keep this boutique shop afloat. but it's usually worth it to give small places your business, and crush has some affordable diamonds in their otherwise expensive rough. read more

First off I want to say I DO like the products offered in this store, I often find items that I like, however they are quite expensive. Regardless, I will no longer spend my money here because the service (primarily the owner)... I'll explain. I have purchased many things in this store in the last two years, everything from designer jeans to cute accessories. Last year around the holidays I purchased several bracelets from the store, they were leather & have cool sayings on them like "speak kindness" & "make a difference" these bracelets were $24 each I gave them as gifts and I kept one for myself. The stitching on the one I kept unraveled, I put it aside & figured I'de deal with it when I had a chance. Fast forward a few weeks, I'm exploring college ave with a friend & we stop at Crush, I find a cute shirt, it's on sale for $30 bucks & I'm at the register getting ready to check out when I see the bracelets & I'm prompted to ask the owner about the one that fell apart. I ask her if they have a warranty (like through the company that makes them)? She replies with a "no", I ask her for the contact information (for the company) figuring maybe they would allow me send it back to have it fixed or exchange it since I didn't have it long anyway. She (this is the owner I was speaking to) tells me "no, I can't give out that information" and proceeds to ring me up for the shirt. I said can you tell me the name of the company that makes them? Figuring I could look it up myself & she again said no. It wasn't like she was like "I'm sorry for selling you a bad product". It was pretty clear that she had no interest in the whole "customer service" thing that day. As a result of her total lack of interest in my super cool now unwearable bracelet I decided I would hold off on ringing up the shirt, I had decided that I don't want to spend my money at a store where the "owner" not only refuses to assist a customer with a defective product, but actively blocks them from receiving support from the company directly. I have no idea why she wouldn't give this information, but I'm not willing to spend large quantities of money on products that fall apart and an owner who "doesn't care". That's my story... it's why I WONT shop here anymore, it's not about the $24, it's about the idea of spending larger amounts of money on other products and having a owner who doesn't value the basic tenants of customer service. So yea, Booooooo to Crush, There are a bunch of other equally cool stores on college that I'll spend my money in the future. read more

I came here after my disappointing visit to Pretty Penny. Crush had *a lot* of cute dresses, most of which were well out of my price range. There were, however, some lovely, affordable items, and also a room of sales in the back. I ended up with a $32 flowy white cardigan thing, with a semi-lacy back. Not too bad, though I realized I could probably get a similar thing at Forever21 for $5 less... read more

Bad customer service in a shop with some nice, but overpriced clothing. Difficult to get the attention of the sales person, even though the store was empty as she was too busy taking snapshots to notice someone needed help. When she discovered a mistake made by a salesperson another day, she made no apology-- brushed it off without even the usual attempt to rectify the error. read more

Over priced, underwhelming. Who charges $80 for a thin cotton tshirt with uneven seams and poor stitching? Also, not handicap accessible...seriously??? read more

WAY OVER PRICED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Went to Sway in Berkeley and found the exact same clothes for MUCH CHEAPER! If you like the clothes here, don't even waste your time and go to Sway on Telegraph in Berkeley. The owner is an anxiety ridden pyscho who drives everyone away, including employees and customers. Do not be fooled by shopping here or the sister store across the street, Tootsies. read more

This shop is not only adorable but offers excellent service! Jillian was very sweet & helpful! Will definitely be shopping here again soon!

I love this boutique for their sales section! I can usually find a cute and affordable dress for sale. Very chic and trendy and the owner is also very friendly. read more

This store is great. Although the price tags can be a little steep, the quality of the clothes and the helpful staff makes it all worth it. Definitely a little neighborhood gem. read more

If you're small or petite this is a great store. If you wear anything above a size 10 - or have a large bust probably not. The sizes run small so be prepared for a self esteem slash if you think you're an 8 but fit into a crush 10. No much fit me here at all. Except gems of course. read more

I made out like a bandit at Crush. Many other shoppers did the same. Crush offers high quality clothes at affordable prices. I bought names like Kensie and Kensie Girl. Crush also sells Betsyville purses, Tarina Tarantino jewelry and jeans from Justin Timberlake's line. If you need shoes, the salesgirl will direct you across the street to Tootsie's, the sister store! My salesgirl was superfriendly, as were my fellow shoppers. I will visit one a season, if possible. read more

very cute boutique. I love their clothes. I do agree with everyone, that when I walk in, usually I'm the only one in the store, I'm ignored until I ask them something and they are always more than willing to help me after that, but then go back to their computer again. When you do get service, they are very friendly and answer your questions. I've been here more than a handful of times on my way home from BART and most of the time leave the store with something in hand. read more

I went into this boutique for the first time today not really expecting much but apparently I walked in on the right day. There was a huge display table of William Rast jeans for 70% so I picked up a pair. I scored a pair of W.R. Jeans for $52. There were also several sales rack of 70% off clothing sorted by size. I got a cute scrapbook hoody for only $22 that retailed for $64. They had a lot of cute dresses, and tops so I think their selection was good and their sale prices were even better. I'm not one who likes to talk to salespeople when I am shopping so I could care less if they talk to me. But they did get me a fitting room within minutes of me walking in to the store for my handful of jeans. I liked this store and will be back in the future for awesome deals on designer digs! read more

I think that Crush on College is awesome. I have shopped there since it opened so I am sad to hear the negative responses. I love their clothes. Mackenzie is one of my favorite brands. And they have a different variety of styles from alternative to classy cocktail dresses. I like this store because I am a very casual person and they have simple designer pieces as well as more adventurous. The owner Nikki has always been helpful. If something isn't flattering she will let you know. She really doesn't want you to walk out with something that looks hideous on you. If you like this place then you will love its sister store Toosties which is owned by Nikki's mom Liz. Check it out! You will not regret it. read more

The store offered a limited variety of different brands, that were way overpriced, However this review is mostly aimed at the employees working at the store. First off I am a woman of color and when I first entered the store I found it odd that not one of the two women working in the store greeted me with a hello or even bothered to look up form their computer screens to at least acknowledged that anyone had entered their store. As I continued to browse along and see some of the items and clothing I noticed that one of the women at the cashier was suspiciously eyeing me and giving me nasty glares as I picked up and examined some of the rings for sale. When I moved to look at the watches and politely asked the Cashier woman where the brand was made She looked up irritably from her computer screen and spat out the brand name, without even answering my question or helping me further, instead she resumed her place on her computer screen. At this moment I felt as if both women had made it very clear that I was not welcome here, I quietly put down the watch and exited the store, and as I left the store they acted as if I no one had even entered in the first place. However I was truly shocked the moment I looked back in the store and saw the two women sneering and nastily glaring back at me from the cashier. I was truly very upset with this and believe this to be one of the worst experiences I ever had in a store. It is a shame that this store employees people who treat others like this. I will not return and I hope that others see this so they too can avoid situations and experiences that I had while shopping in Crush on College. read more

I really love this boutique and I always find stuff when I am here. I really appreciate the mix of styles--all their items really stay on top of trends, yet are still affordable. I once bought the cutest dress here to wear to the opera and it was only around seventy dollars. The staff has also always been helpful and patient. I also hate to see this store getting slack for the new checked bag policies. Shoplifting--as this store experienced it--can really decimate a small business. In fact, a couple stores on College recently closed due to shoplifting. As a community that tends to support local business, we ned to understand when small stores take these measures to protect themselves; it is silly and short-sighted to feel insulted. read more

Cute stuff! I love that I can find J Brand and Free People brand clothing at a locally owned store!

So I happened upon this store a few days ago, I had not been shopping on college ave in a while and stopped in. The sales associate was on the computer, I think myspace and did not even look at me when I walked, she was on the phone apparently having a disagreement with someone, it did not sound like a business call and she did not get off the phone when I came in. I asked if I could try something on, she was very short with me and pointed at one of the dressing rooms. On my way out I asked if the place was new and she let me know that it was almost two months old, and it was her store that she shared with her mother, she also told me that they own tootsies. I was horrified, how can one expect to do good business if the owner is rude, unprofessional and probably one of the worst sales associates that I have ever encountered. The new store has just as bad customer service as the origional store, jeeze I think I'll go to Viva Diva where the associates actually help customers. read more

My mom had been hassling me for weeks about when she would finally get to take me shopping for a dress for my friends' upcoming summer wedding, so finally we made it to college to check out a few boutiques. After a few misses, we stumbled upon this store, which, despite having opened over a year ago, I had never seen before. When we walked in the sales girl gave us a friendly hello, and after telling her that I was looking for a dress to wear to a wedding, she told me about her brother's wedding that she had just been to and pointed out a few great dresses that they had. After trying on a bunch that I wasn't quite satisfied with, she talked me into trying on a bright yellow dress with a cut that I loved the moment I saw it but a color that I thought I could never pull off. With her encouragement to "just try it on and see," I found the dress I will be wearing to the upcoming July wedding. Hurray for Crush! I'm looking forward to going back to explore the many non-wedding options that caught my eye but I forced myself to ignore for the sake of pursuing the task at hand. read more

I came across this store for my first time a few days ago and the clothes are adorable! I picked up an infinity scarf for way less than the one I saw at Nordstrom. The clothes are stylish and cute. I will be back there the next time I am in the neighborhood. read more

It's a bad sign when I walk into Crush and tell the salesgirl I'm doing "damage" today. Being a Crush regular, she knew exactly what I was looking for and pulled some new dresses for me to try on. Sure enough, she hit it out of the ballpark. I've been going to Crush since it opened and love the variety of clothes and prices. I don't shop at department stores because I don't want to walk down the street seeing someone else wearing my dress so Crush takes care of all my fashion needs: dresses, going out tops, work tops, jackets and jeans (specifically my favorite- J Brand.) I love supporting local businesses and find their variety of merchandise and brands more appealing than any chain store. I also pick up cute inexpensive accessories and if you catch them on sale days, you will definitely score a deal. Everything I wear from Crush I get asked, "Where did you buy that?" It is a must go to store for any fashionista (or those trying to be.) read more

where all my favorite clothes are from outstanding service too!