Deceptive, Unsanitary, and Unsafe for Kids -- Do NOT Go
I bought a Groupon passe for the "Rage Paint / Splash Room" for 2 persons at Heart Art in Santee, hoping for a creative bonding activity with my 10-year-old. Instead, it was one of the dirtiest, most misleading, and emotionally upsetting experiences we've had.
FILTHY + UNSAFE: The front room was chaotic and disgusting -- food scraps everywhere (from the owner's toddler throwing food throwing it), sticky paint and other staff all over the floor, nothing cleaned between sessions in the Splash room. It looked like a neglected warehouse, not a studio.
MY CHILD REFUSED TO PARTICIPATE: He literally said, "This place is gross," and wanted to leave. The environment was deeply uncomfortable -- even unsafe. As a backup, owner suggested that my son could do a quick canvas painting in the filthy front room, "so the session doesn't go to waste." He hesitantly painted a few strokes on a tiny canvas (worth maybe $5), while the full session cost $50. Later, she used this canvas as an excuse to deny any refund, saying "you used the service."
FALSE ADVERTISING & TINY SUPPLIES: The walls were so caked with old paint that new splashes were nearly invisible, especially under the dim UV lighting. The two tiny paint guns provided held barely enough for 5-10 squirts total -- no refills, no brushes, no meaningful materials. When I raised this, the owner dumped some paint on the floor and said, "You can just scoop it with a brush." Completely unprofessional.
REFUND REFUSED: I told the owner this session didn't work for me and I wanted refund. She proudly replied that "nothing was promised" and refused to offer any solution and was very angry.
ZERO ACCOUNTABILITY: No apology. No refund. No care for a child's discomfort. She told me to "take it up with Groupon."
BOTTOM LINE: Dirty space. Misleading service. Unempathetic owner. Unsafe and inappropriate for children. read more
