This shop is the most beautiful one you will ever find. It is addictive and the best therapy when looking for the perfect gift for yourself or a special someone. I always leave with so much inspiration, I love it! JB is also a joy to see and we always have a good laugh. That man is a magician with decorating and for years was always right when I had a project in the works. If you don't see what you are looking for there, he will find it for you. Don't miss it!!! Marilyn J read more

It is a pleasure to walk through his store, especially at Christmas. He has the most beautiful decorations and items for the house and presents them in a magical way. read more

J Brown & Co is the best home furnishings shop in the metro area. The merchandise is elegant and gorgeous, designed for any fine home! John has beautiful and unique home treasures. John is the owner, pleasant and assists with knowledge of each item. He has a gracious spirit and allows the customers time to appreciate the stunning home decor -- there is so much to see and admire! I have shopped at J Brown & Co for many years and I will continue to enjoy the delight of the shop and purchase its lovely pieces! Judy D. read more

No one should shop here. The owner is EXTREMELY rude. More specifically, very condescending, pretentious, and likely believes he's God's gift to mankind. When asking a question, he interrupted me numerous times trying to cut me off. He then in the most condescending tone you can imagine, sent me out of the store. Even if you've had a nice experience with him in the past, no one with a conscience should continue purchasing from someone who treats others this way. read more

The owner of the store is a creep! He's rude, nasty and condescending. His stock is basically the same as 21 years ago and overpriced chotkies made in China. And anyone who gave this store 5 stars is undoubtedly a personal friend with this individual. If you remove "I love this man, and his store..They are both over the top" reviews, he would be lucky that he has a 2 star rating. Don't waste your money or time by going here. You get better customer service by dealing with an Amazon bot as well as selection and price. read more

This store is so elegant and enchanting. Once I walked in, I was instantly struck by the most pleasant candle I've ever smelled in my life! I couldn't leave without it so I bought it. The store is full of beautiful [treasure] home decor pieces, fragrances and furniture throughout the entire store; you're destined to find something unique and special. Mr. J Brown (owner) is the most humble and courteous man you could possibly ever meet. I thoroughly enjoyed peering at all the merchandise; however, Mr. Brown's warm and uplifting spirit made my experience all the more delightful. Excited for my next visit! read more

Hi I am the Gucci hat lady went to the store last Saturday bought a beautiful set of table napkin rings John was fabulous. His store was glorious and I love you. By all means go enjoy Live , laugh and love!!!! read more

My boyfriend and I had the BEST experience there! We ended up purchasing a framed Hermès scarf and the owner was so patient with us (we took about 2 days to decide whether we wanted to purchase it). He was also incredibly helpful and social, a true gem of a man. The shop itself has so many unique finds, it's hard to leave without buying something. We will definitely be coming back! read more

I love this store in Alexandria VA. He has the best Christmas decorations during the holidays. He has the best table decor for other events. He is a kind man and is always really helpful. I live in Florida now and this is my favorite store to visit when I am in town. read more

J Brown and Co is a Lovely gem of a shop. From the container gardens out front to the heavenly scents of the candles inside. This is a shop that says relax, enjoy your time here. The owner Mr. Brown is an absolutely wonderful gentleman. Helpful, gracious and kind. This is my go to shop for blue and white porcelain, nest candles, and one of a kind goodies. It's my favorite place on King Street! read more

John Brown has worked with us a few times over the years. I can not emphasize enough his talent, kindness, and attention to detail. He is a high energy guy who wants his clients happy ! read more

The store is truly gorgeous and the merchandise is all beautiful. From candles to furniture to elegant champagne glasses, everything in this little shop is something I'd want to have in my home. The owner is very friendly and he has a lot of knowledge about where things in his store are from and the history behind practically all of the items. I purchased some silk flowers, candles, a very unique picture frame, and a dainty silver tray from his store yesterday. There is a great selection of glassware, ornate chandeliers, silk pillows, beeswax candles, and even chairs. I try to visit this shop at least 3 times a year to see the new inventory and to stay hi to the owner. I'll definitely be back. read more

Fabulous things!!! This truly is a treasure. Incredibly tasteful and lovely, lovely high-quality things. The owner is also wonderful. I wish we had this store on Capitol Hill! read more

I love this Man and his store is over the top. Everything he helps me decorate is just beautiful and I receive so many compliments . Thank you John Brown . You have a gift of decorating far above everyone else. read more

I have been in this area for years and the 'man' at the front desk was the rudest customer service rep I have EVER encountered. He questioned how much I had to spend, he never acknowledged me until after spending some time in the store and walking past his desk again. He assumed I was taking a photo of the product by telling me, 'go ahead, take a pic and find it cheaper elsewhere." His rude, condescending demeanor clearly indicated he thought I was looking for a deal. I don't need deals, my financials are spectacular. I explained I was organic, which was why I took the photo to do my research and he called organic people freaks. After that, I knew I would not give them my hard-earner plenty of money! Wow, just wow! He does not need to be in business. Racism at it's finest! I'm filing a formal complaint. read more

The negative reviews concerning the owner are simply unfathomable to me. I've been a patron for over 10 years, and his kindness and generosity are as striking as the exquisite merchandise on offer. Whether purchasing a $10 silk flower or a $400 wreath - or anything in between -it's always a delight to shop here. The selections of silk flowers and ribbons are the best in Alexandria. And unlike similar home decor stores, you won't be assaulted by the smell of tacky scented candles. read more

If this is the only sentence you read: I want to say that I am a 30 year old woman who lives in Washington, DC and I was absolutely terrified for my safety in this store. Last evening, I went into J Brown & Co with a friend to purchase a gift. We'd read the reviews and knew what to expect, but we just needed a quick gift and figured we could get in and out without a major problem. At first, the owner was reasonable. It was 4:55 p.m. and he closed at 5:00 p.m. We were at the register by 4:58 p.m. checking out. We tried to make small talk, telling him his store was lovely and we'd be back to purchase more Christmas gifts this season. We were nearly finished when we saw another gift we wanted to add to the order. That's when the owner lost any semblance of sanity and came totally unhinged. At first we thought he was kidding. But then things really got scary. He was yelling at us to "GET OUT OF HIS STORE!" and came around the counter. He was screaming about how "rude" we were to be in his store right before closing. We ran as quickly as we could for the door. I only wish we got it on camera. There's a distinct difference between being a nasty store owner and actually being mentally ill. I feel sorry for him and hope he gets the medical attention he needs. But to fear for my own safety at a place of business is just unacceptable, regardless of medical issues involved. read more

I have been coming here for 10 years. This is far and away the nicest gift store in Alexandria.

On a whim, I looked up my favorite shop & shop owner ever and found reviews that couldn't be more extreme. While believing everyone (some reviews on Yelp are obviously family/friends) who have posted, I also feel compelled to share my experience with John Brown & Co. On my many trips to Alexandria to pick up orders at a local shade manufacturer or to see a client, I would stop into the shop to fill my soul & senses with beauty & yes, fragrance. Not having a lot money at the time, I couldn't afford much. Mr. Brown was quietly professional or aloof (which I like) & his assistant was pleasantly attentive. I was left alone to look & imagine (a back room was stuffed with original Mackenzie-Childs pottery!) with no one breathing down my neck. At one point while browsing, I reached to pick something up, but knocked over and broke an $80 ceramic pheasant. I offered to pay for it, but he said, don't worry about it. These things happen.' Not kidding. Mr. Brown & his assistant cleaned up the mess as if this was a common occurrence. Immediately, I set about finding $80 worth of stuff to buy to make up for it. Not hard. At other occasions, I would talk to him about the world of Mackenzie Childs. He was friends w/ the owner/artists & I found his insights fascinating. When they (Richard & Victoria MacKenzie-Childs) were going through bankruptcy, I made a flippant remark about how artists are apparently not good business people, Mr. Brown, in his way, bit my head off. He explained that Neiman-Marcus had a 120-day invoice payment cycle & cash flow was hindered b/c of it. Mr. Brown loaned the couple the money to meet payroll. He didn't brag about it, but was telling me that this was their main concern ~ that their employees didn't suffer. When I opened my own shop in Annapolis a few years later, what this man taught me in just a few encounters reverberates still. We even carried M-C pottery & furniture, but not like J. Brown & Co. Whenever I had an artistic glitch, I would think 'What would John Brown do?' Again, not kidding. We're closed now, but it was a good run. Btw, I get the 'No Photographs.' He's an artist of the truest kind. By doing so, one is stealing his intellectual property. It's insulting & rude to do it ~ I know first hand. Mr. Brown most likely doesn't remember me, but I remember him. Through the years, I think about his brilliance & kindness. read more

This store is impeccably decorated and carries Mackenzie-Childs which I love. The floral arrangements the owner completes by hand are stunning (though out of my price range). This is a great shop for tasteful home decor. I highly recommend stopping in. read more

Disrespectful and Arrogant Owner Let me share my experience with the owner of the J Brown & Company. My spouse and I were in the Old Town and entered this store and began browsing products. I got interested in a few decoration items. The sale items were not marked. Therefore, I asked prices of the items that I was interested to purchase. He seemed agitated and not responsive to provide me prices. Anyway, I got three items and approached him to pay for the items. I complimented his glasses and said these are very nice glasses. He completely ignored the compliment with bad attitude and rudeness. He charged my card and told me that don't come to his store to buy from him in the future. My spouse and I left speechless and didn't know how to respond. We left his shop with really bad feelings as we didn't know what did we do wrong. As soon as we got out of his shop with the extreme negative feelings he gave us, we realized that we would not be able to keep these items at home as it will remind us this horrible experience and bad feelings that the owner (Mr. Brown) of the shop gave us for no reason. We were in awe and confused why a shop owner will treat his customers in such a bad and rude manner. Is he a racist or mentally unstable? Is he about to close his shop as his business seems like not doing well and he seemed frustrated? We decided to go back, return items and ask him for reason why he was so rude and disrespectful. I told him that I want to return these items and asked him why he was so rude and disrespectful? He returned products enthusiastically and didn't respond. We left his shop with really bad energy and feelings he gave us on the New Year's Eve. We came home and checked online reviews about his business and found that he treated so many other customers in a disrespectful, rude and arrogant manner as well. I don't know how his business can survive where owner treats customers with such rudeness and disrespect. Who will shop at such a place where you have to deal with an owner who is so disrespectful and arrogant to his customer? The decoration items he sells are exactly the same you will find at Neiman Marcus with much lower prices. He appears to buy items from Neiman Marcus and price them higher than what you can buy at Neiman Marcus. I recommend don't even go close to this toxic place due to its owner (Mr. Brown). He is extremely rude, arrogant and appears to have unstable personality. He is a loose cannon and you never know what type of bad feelings you may get from him that will leave you in shock and awe!!! read more

Absolutely love J Brown. Gorgeous, magical, affordable gifts. Personal, impeccable service. Great sales. This gem of a locally owned business helps make King St the best most charming place to shop in America. I always find something special here! Love this place!!!! read more

See all

While the store looks beautiful, and I am pretty sure you can find something that you will like there, they do overcharge for some items. Faux flowers from same brand can be easily found at other stores for a little less. The owner though, DOES seems very aloof. There was a blonde lady there that was polite and helpful, but as I was complimenting her about the store she pointed that the gentlemen beside her was the actual owner. I complimented him and he kept going with his conversation. No smile, no welcome. I asked a product related to the lady, and while she was trying to help, he kept talking to her as if I was not there! Well, I guess you don't actually need to talk to shop right?! 4 stars to the store and 2 to the owner. 3 seems like fair! read more

If you want luxury goods this is the only stop you will need to make. Upon arrival you begin your experience from fragrances to visual food for the eye. read more

The owner is absolutely fantastic and extremely talented. The store is perfection. The merchandise fabulous. A must if you are in the Old Town area! read more

I have to say that this place is a treasure. I can't wait to go back to Old Town Alexandria just to see what they have new and inspiring in home decor. The owner/manager could not have been nicer or more friendly and asked about my Mackenzie-Childs collection. Their selection of gifts is unique and beautiful and the store if overflowing with merchandise artfully staged. read more

I had a great experience at the writing of this review, I feel like the negative reviews are from people who like being sucked up to. When I entered there were two people who greeted me and invited me to brows and to let them know if I needed anything. I was allowed to brows comfortably without any hovering and they were available to answer questions and give me information on a few items I wanted to know more about. beautiful shop, gorgeous higher end home brands like Jay Strongwater and some great small batch artists with unique home goods. They had a great clearance section as well. I did not experience any of the negativity a few people have mentioned. and if you read my reviews, you will see I'm a tough critic. read more

Had a very unpleasant experience with this store. The bad reviews are true about this store and it was a mistake to ignore them. Do yourself a favor and never shop from this unprofessional owner. Everyone deserve to be treated equally and with respect. Hope I could give 0 stars. Stay away!!! read more

One thing I miss about living in Virginia is this place. It was my go-to for candles and ornaments. Loved the bird sets, too. Since my first time in the store several years ago (I brought my then-infant daughter), the gentleman has always been so friendly and happy! read more

This is a beautiful store with a great atmosphere! I very much enjoyed my experience here, mainly because of the welcoming, happy store owner and his kind staff woman. I found so many divine candles at such good prices. My whole family loves this place, and now that I've been here, I can definitely understand why. read more

Great boutique store in Alexandria. Sure, the owner may appear aloof at first, but if you talk to him he is actually pleasant and helpful. I have been in there several times- they sell my favorite Nest candles- and he was super helpful-even went so far as to put it in a great gift bag. Their holiday displays are amazing. You are going to pay top dollar- but folks- this is King Street in Alexandria. The square footage price is top dollar... I love little stores like this! read more

The two previous reviews are nothing like i experienced when i walked into this breathtaking boutique!!!!! It is a little treasure box filled with gorgeous home furnishings. Anna Weatherley, Mackenzie-Childs, Varga Crystal and many other beautiful lines. When i walked in the aroma was fabulous and the greeting was friendly. This is a MUST SEE SHOP, If you are every in old town Alexandria! read more

The owner is Fantastic! He is hardworking and weather I purchase one diffuser or drop four hundred dollars in a day he is kind and fun! He maintains the front streets beautifully - sweeps - weeds and is an asset to King street! God Bless and I hope he has a prosperous New Year in 2018! Mary K. read more

When I was looking for new design elements for my fireplace, this shop opened their heart and hands, set me up with everything I needed and showed me how to put it together. Amazing, upscale shop and friendly customer oriented service. read more

This a spectacular store, and one of the highlights of our "ladies who lunch and shop" days in Old Towne. Full of the most glorious decor and table-top. I usually leave with a piece of Mackenzie-Child glassware. read more

Wow. Just wow. I am left speechless at the pretentiousness of this shop and its flagrant, borderline hostile owner. Before yesterday, I had avoided going into this shop even though it looks from the window like things I would totally buy. The reason I have avoided it every day when I walk by to and from work and have told my friends and coworkers to avoid it is because of the sign painted on the door which states "No photography allowed." I found this to be so pretentious that I never wanted to walk inside for fear that the person who owned the shop was that pretentious as well. However, I had a few minutes as I was walking past yesterday and thought it only fair that I share my thoughts with the staff or owner in case they did not realize it was off-putting. If *I* think that, certainly others do and in that case, he was losing business. If *I* was the owner, I certainly would want to know if I was offending people before they even walked in! (And it's really hard to offend people in this area.) Well, I went in and stood at the front desk for about 10 minutes as a man in the rear of the store was helping another customer. After about 10 minutes of not being helped, or greeted at all, (and yes, as others have stated the cloying fragrance is overwhelming) I made my way back to where he was, and stood there waiting for him to acknowledge me. He looked at me, didn't acknowledge me more than to look me up and down for a moment before deciding I was not worth his time, and then went back to helping the woman. After a few minutes, I said "Excuse me. Do you have just a minute?" And he said "Yes?" I asked if he was the owner and he affirmed he was. I told him I had noticed the sign in the door and wondered what that was about." He proceeded to tell me that other dealers have come into his shop and tried to surreptitiously take pictures in order to copy his merchandise and designs and he won't allow that. Are you kidding me??? Like his merchandise or designs are far superior to anything any other store owner could find on the internet or in LA or Paris? REALLY? Just in case (I mean, just in case) he didn't realize it was off putting, I said "Well, I have avoided coming in here as a regular customer because I found it off-putting." His response? "Well, that's fine. That's your right." Then he swung back around in a flamboyant manner and continued with the lady. I said to him "Excuse me." And he turned around again and peered down at me from his nose. I said "I just thought if *I* found it pretentious, others might too and you could be losing valuable clients." (Like myself and my friends who totally buy the brands he carries. But usually in Bethesda or Chevy Chase, which is less convenient.) He peered at me for a minute down his glasses again then said "You have a right to your opinion." As if I was a lowly serf telling him of subpar working conditions and he was the King of the kingdom. Then, he literally turned on his heel (I have never seen anyone actually DO this before) and put his back to me. I assumed I was dismissed at that point. Not even a "Thank you for stopping in and sharing your concerns. I appreciate you taking the time to do that." I cannot even describe here the attitude of disdain that emanates from the owner of this place and the arrogance and pretentiousness he exudes. You just have to be in his presence to get the full gist of how full of himself he is. I agree with a previous poster who stated that all the reviews lauding this gentleman as "friendly" and "helpful" were probably posted by his friends after he kept getting all the BAD reviews about his haughtiness and airs. I left thinking of that scene in Pretty Woman where she walks into the store and says to the snooty store owner, "Big mistake. Big. Huge." In this case, all I can say is "Big mistake. Big. Huge." I will not only be repeating this incident to my MANY not so bad off friends and coworkers, but I would LOVE to publish my thoughts on my VERY WELL READ society blog. The only reason I gave it one star (besides the fact that you must give at least one star) is that there is a pretty entrance. (Marred by the "no photography sign, of course.) If you go into this store and buy ANYTHING from this AA, you will be making a mistake. Big. Huge. And you better be wearing this season's latest couture fashion and your best Christian Louboutin loafers or you could be standing at the counter for a while suffocating in the smell while waiting to be approached with contempt and ultimately dismissed as a non-entity. I'll stick to Saks for my Mackenzie-Childs items and continue buying my Nest candles online where I can actually find them for HALF of what this store charges. And I can even take photos of them if I wish! read more

Yuck! They have nice things, but you can probably find things just as nice elsewhere, minus the "attitude". The guy looks at you like you have manure on your face, turns his snott;y nose up at you, looks away, and pats around with his plants. You can smell that air freshener or whatever two blocks away. I've walked in the door three times to see the reaction I'd get and got that same snot box attitude. The lady is nice, though. read more

The attitude of the staff is despicable! I had noticed the attractive window display and gone in - first mistake. I thought the smell in the store was rather overpowering but continued browsing the mediocre offerings - second mistake. Noticing some scented candles I was going through them, when a man appeared asking in a condescending tone if I needed something. I said that I would like a rose scented diffuser if they had any. A pantomime that followed was bewildering: he started darting around shouting 'r-r-roz-z-za', smirking and happily! informed me that they did not have any 'r-r-roz-z-z-za'. I walked out, shocked, - third mistake. Only later I realized that his reaction may have had something to do with my looking vaguely Hispanic; I am not but I should have said something... Anyway, do not repeat my mistakes - do not even go in! read more

I wouldn't go into this store again if it was the absolute last place to shop on this earth (and I LOVE to shop)! The owner is incredibly rude and condescending! He looks down his nose at nearly everyone who dares to walk into his overly-scented store (seriously ... the smell just about knocks you over as soon as you walk in). As for the reviewer who said that she thinks the negative reviews come from customers who like to be sucked up to .... If by "sucked up to," you mean being pleasantly greeted and offered help if you need it, then yes, I guess I like being sucked up to! (And, p.s. to that same reviewer .... It's "browse" and not "brows."). Take it from a local who knows many, many people who have had the same unacceptable and unpleasant experience--do yourself a favor and stay as far away as possible. As another reviewer said, "Big Mistake. Huge!" if you choose to go in. read more

I am an infrequent patron of J Brown & Co, but I have always had a positive experience in this beautiful shop, with lots of interesting merchandise. In my opinion, the owner has a great sense of humor, and is always helpful, so I'm really taken aback by the mean-spirited reviews I see on yelp. I don't hesitate to recommend J Brown for an interesting shopping experience. read more