Went there to buy some books with a gift card. The clerk told me that my Rewards card had expired…read more The clerk asked if I wanted to renew, and I replied no I wanted to save the money and I'd use my wife's card. We used the gift card and another coupon, the balance was modest. As I go to leave the clerk snidely said you know you could have renewed for free with use the of gift card. Told him can I do it now? Nope its too late he said with sarcasm. This is about the 5th time I have had service problems with this store. The clerks are generally rude and this incident only reminded me how bad it is.

The best in the area!…read more Friendly people, huge store, great selection. One of my favorite parts of this particular location is their giant magazine rack which conveniently sits next to the Starbucks inside. A huge amount of seating both in Starbucks and also in the store itself. You could, and I have, gotten lost in this place.

All craft roads lead to Playtime--an unassuming yet remarkable arts and crafts supply store in…read moreArlington Center. As a gifter, I don't fully understand how I didn't know about this place before, but I'm so glad I do now. I went for a family project recently when closer craft shops didn't have what we needed. There's an abundance of arts and crafts supplies here, housed in two interconnected basement rooms, along with an impressive paper and picture frame selection (among other items) on the first floor. The atmosphere is one of a kind--more like an arts-and-crafts boutique curated by the owner, with items you won't easily find together elsewhere. Because of the sheer breadth, some categories (like fabrics, for example) have a smaller variety, which is just an observation, not a critique. Ribbons are unrivaled. If you don't have time to wander, ask--the best part of our experience was the owner, Carol, and the staff (thank you, Lilly). They are wonderfully kind, patient, and creative, offering thoughtful, gentle advice for your projects and genuinely care about their customers. Tip: There's a parking lot in the back or bus 87 drops you off right in front, literally. Highly recommended local business.

How in the WORLD have I lived in Boston, Brookline, and Cambridge for decades and not known about…read morethis place. A friend recommended coming here w/ my mom to look for yarn for her knitting projects and my friend prefaced that this place was the BEST for any type of arts, crafts, decor, etc. Well, WOW!! And funny enough, my mom used to go to this store when she was a little girl in the late 50s-60s to get Nancy Drew books. She said it was EXACTLY how she remembered as a kid. I was awe struck by everything this store had. I will definitely be making this place a regular stop for gifts for people and for fun. Forget going to places like Michaels. Come to this local, family-owned business which I guarantee will have whatever you are looking for. It's an incredible place.

Every time we enter the Saugus store we are greeted by one of your associates with a friendly…read morewelcome. Spec thanks to associate 023141 who was very friendly and professional to us.

I visited the Paper Store in Saugus about 2 weeks ago and Janna helped me select a beautiful pair…read moreof Cape Cod earrings for my sister. Janna was absolutely wonderful and very knowledgeable. This location has always had a great selection of merchandise and I will definitely be back! The coupons are a big help as well.

This is a lovely welcoming bookstore for everyone of all ages. There are two floors of books. The…read moresecond floor is dedicated to children's -young adult books. The top floor is where you can find adult books across a broad list of genres. There are several reading books where you can take your time and read your book. I've wanted to visit this store for quite some time now and finally got the chance to. I wasn't quite sure what I wanted and walked around for nearly an hour just looking. Bam! Out of no where I remembered a birthday; so I purchased a book and a card. Just like that an item On my to do list was checked off. Check out was easy fast and helpful! I highly recommend that you take the time to visit mollys bookstore. I plan to return. A+

This store is the perfect addition to Melrose! Staff is always friendly! Selection is fairly big…read morefor a local book store! The design is super cute and welcoming. Highly recommend checking out this local gem!

This is a wonderful shop full of lovingly curated goods. If you're looking for quirky, handmade…read moregifts and art, look no further! Many are made by Jillian, the owner. I go here every December to pick out a knit winter hat. She has them in every color and I see everyone around Somerville wearing them. You can get a pet cactus with a fun personality here, as well as unicorn fart lip balms, embroidered Somerville signs, Cat Dad coffee cups, and much more. Highly recommend!

Very expensive-Most items you can buy online at a fraction of the price......Coupons used to come a…read morelot more often than they do now. Didnt even get a book sent this year to me. Honestly many better deals out there. I do buy my bulletin board paper and borders here but even those are getting pricey.....Laminator on site of needed.

My son had a blast here! Staff was super friendly letting us enjoy our time and helpful with…read morepicking out his next goodies. Will definitely be back!

Blue Bunny Books is easily one of my favorite locations to walk to and hang out. During my…read morepregnancy, I have found myself walking into town just to be able to sit and do some work while sipping on a yummy drink. Their cafe isn't just creative, it's extensive! They really have something for everyone here. My boyfriend, who is more of a tea than a coffee person, hasn't found any complaints when trying their drinks (and he may be as much of a drink critic as I am). If you have kids, Blue Bunny also does creative and fun events to engage and involve your little ones in some much-needed book-themed fun. With our family expecting our first baby, we're beyond thrilled to bring her over to Blue Bunny's events, no matter how old she is. Blue Bunny is such a staple to the Dedham community, and I will always enjoy going back for some yummy coffees and good books.

What a cute little bookshop with cafe! We stopped in just to check out the selection but I was…read moredrawn in by its small chop charm. My son and I grabbed some drinks from the cafe and they were delicious, then as we waited browsed their selection. There are more children's books overall but they do carry toys, trinkets, cards, crafts, historical books and more. The woman working the front was super sweet and the lady behind the cafe counter was too, their service was welcoming. As far as value I'd rather support local than the big store. Their prices are the norm but yes you can find majority of these books at big retailers for less. They both also gave a military discount even though I don't believe that is the norm for them but much appreciated. Overall great experience.

Lilah Rose is a wonderful children's shop and community spot in Melrose. There's a wide selection…read moreof high quality children's clothes, books, and toys. I have gotten some good deals on items here - same or better than Amazon on things I've bought for my kiddoes like iplay brand hats and swim diapers, all manner of Melissa & Doug toys, Skip Hop utensils, and wooden building blocks. Alex, the owner, is active in the local community and often hosts crafts and sing along events in the store during the week for children. The store gets new items in all the time, too, so every time we stop by there's something new. Definitely a great spot for kids in Melrose!

I had an awful experience with this shop. I called ahead as I had heard they had needohs for sale…read more I spoke to a young girl on the phone who told me they had some nice sicles left. She asked me how many I needed and I told her I would need four. I explained that I lived an hour away and she stated she would hold them for me, asking me for my name. I drove an hour with my children (one of whom is profoundly disabled). My son was super excited, but when we got there the two girls said they just started their shift and could not find the items. They texted a group chat and told us that the girls who were on the shift before them were new hires. They stated one of them replied "maybe" when asked if they spoke with me. I showed her my call log and the girls apologized. My son ended up sick from car ride / anxiety over the situation, vomiting at the exit and we quickly had to leave. I did reach out to the store owner. She claimed she was out of town and would call me back the following day. Days later I never heard from her so I followed up in email. Instead of being apologetic for the situation and not calling me back she proceeded to shift blame and gaslight me. She said they would never agree to hold and that I should "plan ahead". I don't recommend a store whose owner does not value their customers. I am deeply disappointed in her response to what happened.