Staff knowledgeable and helpful in answering questions and making recommendations. Will be back due…read moreto the excellent customer service. Love that there is something for everyone in this shop to be creative.

I stumbled upon this art store a few years ago. Now that I live close by I stop by often. They have…read morea lot here. I'm mainly looking for watercolor selections. I can't always find what I am looking for and sometimes they are out of colors. But they have fun in person events and workshops that usually come with a shopping discount. The staff is knowledgeable and saved me from almost accidentally buying some gouache paints when I was looking for watercolor. They also helped me figure out the best medium for painting on yoga mats.

At time of writing, the address has not yet been updated on Yelp (I just put in the change request)…read more= current address is 535 Grant St at the back of a souvenir store. So glad to find it - loads of quality supplies for calligraphy / ink painting and a nice guy who demonstrated (and let me try) different brushes to help me make my decisions. Lovely experience. Will definitely be returning for materials in the future. Recommend!

Large selection of Chinese art supplies with a very helpful service for figuring out what to buy!…read moreDefinitely worth a trip!

I went back today to take advantage of the huge Blick sale. Wow great prices!…read more Being a newbie, I really didn't know where to start but had a list from my art teacher with the colors and types of paints to get. One of the staff (an asian woman- didnt' get her name) was so nice to help me find the exact colors I needed and patiently explained the sales and discount pricing for the huge aisle of liquitex acrylic paints. Then when I got to the counter (albeit really overwhelmed by too many choices) Jayy was at the counter and smiled and was a calm beacon to my shopping anxiety and confusion - with only like 20? minutes left until closing time! She painstakingly helped me look at each of the colors my art teacher wanted me to get and helped me choose two paint sets that I could afford that met my criteria for both watercolor and for acrylics. Jayy sat there patiently scanning and calculating all the different permutations of paints and even gave me advice about what colors to get now vs maybe later when I save more money up! She even helped me maximize my discount and coupons. WOW. Jayy was so knowledgeable about the colors and types of paints I needed and this AMAZING experience was why I was SO GLAD I went iN PERSON to the store! thank you thank you Jayy for making my shopping experience so much less stressful!!!

All ready for a new art project. My favorite place to go. Ben was so helpful and getting me the…read morebest item to use. The art work on the walls are so inspiring. I think I can find everything under the sun there with so mush selection and at a great value too.

helpful staff, lot of aisles…read more love the personal touch with the artwork of current and former staff on the pillars and on the walls! walk around and take your time to check them out too!

We had a priceless piece of art reframed as a shadow box. Although it looks classic and minimalist,…read moreit is actually a very technical framing job and one that is easy to mess up. But the execution was flawless and the result is impactful. Shout out to Kat, Cody and Melvin on the framing team that made this possible.

Reminiscing of when I use to peruse around quaint shops such as this one was a true delight. There…read morewere cards, toys, gadgets galore despite its unpretentious size. I would definitely love to spend more time here.

Nice store but the sale guy is judgmental and mean. He should not be in a customer facing industry.read more

I had no idea of what to expect prior to visiting this store, but I think it's very cool to see…read morewhat they had to offer. I recognized one of the artist's (who I follow on Etsy) artworks here and I definitely had to buy something. There's a lot of interesting works of other artists too and it's not limited to just stickers or prints, I would say there's a versatile range of products. The service here is super chill too. Last thing I want to mention is that it's been almost a week since I came here, so I'm not 100% sure if they still have everything I took pictures of.

If you've ever been to Wishbone on 7th and Irving, this is basically the Chinatown version of…read moreWishbone! In a good way! I love all the specially curated items here. You can really come in here looking for a gift, walk out happily getting something. They have special Asian themed board books, picture books, cookbooks, and adult fiction and nonfiction! They have special Asian cooking items, cute tshirts for kids and adults, hats, prints, and little trinkets that are so cute but you don't know what to do with them (i.e. a mini mah jong table - so adorable! But what would we do with it? I don't know!) Awesome store in Chinatown, worth a stop, even if you weren't needing to buy anything.

This place is so fun to explore, the aisles can get crowded but it's not too bad. Prices are…read moreaffordable and the staff is helpful.

Scrap is exactly what you think it is - odds and ends of art supplies (some new, mostly used or…read moreopen) for the crafty. There is also some original art for sale. Something for everyone to scratch that creative itch. There's a lot going on here but it's organized by category which is helpful. Also, there's an option to donate here which is always great! Agree with other reviewers that the area doesn't feel the safest and is a bit apocalyptic (barbed fence wires with no one walking around) but I think it adds to the charm of the place. Just don't recommend coming here at night and take an Uber/drive if you can as it's located in an industrial area.

STAY AWAY!! She…read morejust talks colorfully and CHEATS you. She told a story about an antique which we believed and bought it for $25. Down the road we found the same item in bulk at $10. When we went back she was angry and talked to us very rudely and she even told us, you guys just paid a couple of bucks more, don't worry!!! We were very disappointed by her attitude. Not only that the item we purchased is of very poor quality , it already caught RUST and is fading. Very bad experience ruined the whole China town experience for us. She is just sweet as long as you buy something.

Buyer beware. I bought a red jade bracelet and down the street I found the same one for 1/2 the…read moreprice. I returned to this store within a hour and asked to return my items. I told her I found them for 1/2 price. She said "oh no returns". "I have a sign". She pointed it out. It was hanging on the wall underneath and mixed in with about 15 other items. The sign was about 2 inches by 8 inches. I told her she didn't say anything when I was making my purchase or point out the sign. This woman is very dishonest. Do not shop here. The moral is when buying an item in China Town go to every store for a price check and then return to the one with best price. Because the prices are very variable!

My favorite artist/vendor is Simone. She creates original paintings and printwork, and canvas bags…read morelarge & small, featuring brightly-hued and multi-patterned images of Frida Kahlo, a feline version named Frida Cat-lo, Mexican skulls, smiling cats, flowers galore, and even a Frida-like mermaid, "la sirena." You can tell that Simone is a true artist, and has taken much time and effort in realizing her creations. Everything is hand-made with care. The large canvas bags are put together with jean material, fabric from Mexico, hand-sewn flowers, hand-painted flowers and images of Frida. There are many gift ideas. I bought several small cross-body bags (two for me, one for my friend in Tokyo). You can remember your trip to SF with a painting of cats enjoying a romp in front of the Golden Gate Bridge. For the Frida admirer, check out her images and irreverent poetry adorned with hand-painted flowers and Simone's original "wall paper" background. Simone can usually be found on Market Street at Embarcadero Plaza, Thursdays to Saturdays: 415-806-7877 and petartistdiva@yahoo.com.

Beautiful arts and crafts! Have a tough time not buying something every time I go on Saturday's!…read moreRecently purchased wood art that I absolutely love as well as a handmade flute for my nephew who loves it! I would absolutely recommend going and checking it out! It's another way to support our local artists as well

This store is a dream to browse and find stationary and fun useful things to add to your life that…read moreare stylish, practical, efficient and helpful. I've gotten some of my favorite pens, gifts for people, sock slippers, a tote and gear here. Somehow the organization is very soothing and it's just pleasant to be in the store, maybe because I was born in Japan and it makes me think I am back in a shop in Tokyo. I almost never miss a visit here if I am on Union Street for any reason be it brunch, happy hour, a salon visit or even co-working.

From beautiful pens and handsome hankies to sunglasses, a Polaroid camera, lighters, and all the…read moreother delicious novelties, especially the pens and stationary from Paper Republic, this place never misses. I have to shout out Liz, who has been nothing short of exceptional. She never makes it feel like a sale. Instead, it feels like you're going home with treasure, objects meant to be used, lived with, and loved. She is incredibly knowledgeable, friendly, and charismatic. She's absolutely got it. Ever since I discovered Topdrawer on Union Street a couple of years ago, it has become one of my favorite day off destinations. Whether I'm returning for a new find or stopping in to pick up a refill, I can always count on a genuine connection with Liz, and that is what keeps me coming back.