Nathan & Co has a bit of an odd and uncomfortable vibe. The service was non-existent (watched but never greeted) and their wares leaned toward low quality high sparkle/high price party supplies and general gifts. Think a more saucy Therapy. They carry some Gentlemans Hardware items, map themed cups and dish towels, but most of them don't feel unique, more like stocking stuffers or hen's party flavors. I'd really land on more of a 3.8 but even rounding up Nathan & Co wasn't my thing and I don't see myself coming back. read more

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Always the best spot for gifts. Megan was an absolute gem this afternoon. Wonderful energy and her wrapping was such a sweet added touch. Reminded me why I keep coming back! read more

This delightful shop has been my yearly go-to for all things Christmas shopping. They have gifts of all kinds; gifts for the cooks, cocktail drinkers, game fanatics, adventurers/nature lovers, and spiritual/horoscope gifts! Be aware, everything is very high quality, so prepare to spend a pretty penny when checking out. The staff is always so warm and friendly and they offer gift wrapping! Truly love this shop, I could spend hours here just hunting for the perfect gift. read more

What an amazing little gift shop. It might be impossible to not find a gift for someone here... most likely if you're not even actually looking at the time. Bookmark for cards, candles, books, bar accessories, and soap. There's all kinds of funny things, soft things, and things that smell good. It's definitely not super cheap but in a pinch, but it'll save yours. Also, if you're just feeling down and need a laugh, nearly guaranteed. I have done this a few times. read more

I was just here today - and this is the cutest little shop! I was looking for some unique gifts and cards when I stumbled across the cutest "spin the wheel to reveal" greeting cards! It looks like these are circular cards that let you spin the front to reveal a secret message. I had never seen anything like this! So excited to step up my gifting game with these! Highly recommend this shop if you're looking for cool trinkets and unique gifts. Will definitely be back - especially for another pack of these cards! Thanks Nathan and Co! read more

Nathan & Co - Such a cute selection! - Home & Garden Near Me - Oakland, California

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Lots of interesting gift options with amazing gift wrapping. They even change the gift wrapping colors frequently that it always feels quite special getting someone a gift from here. There's things of different price points too, making it a little bit of a go-to place for finding gifts for anyone that enjoys this kind of aesthetic. read more

I walked into Nathan & Co. yesterday afternoon, I was looking for a gift and didn't have much time, and had noticed in the shop's window a set of glasses that may just do the trick. I inquired with the saleswoman who promptly headed to the window to get the glasses until....a woman came in, and oblivious that the saleswoman was occupied with a customer, asked her if she could have change for a $20 bill. At this point, the saleswoman turned to me and asked me to please wait while she went to the register to get change for this woman. I was shocked! Most shops don't even give change to somebody off the street who is not making a purchase, at Nathan & Co. they drop a paying customer like a hot potato to go do that! I walked out and went elsewhere to get my gift. Fortunately we have many options in this town and don't need to shop anywhere where the people in charge don't have a minimum of commonsensical judgement nor respect for their customers. read more

Great location if you don't have a car/bike, located in Rockridge part of Oakland (nice area) and easily accessible by BART/bus. I never noticed this store before until their window display caught my eye. There was a peacock display (see picture.) My friends and I chuckled b/c where I currently live, we have wild peacocks roaming around the streets. That display prompted us to at least check out the inside. Upon entry, there's a lot of cool trinkets and such. Some items are a bit pricey, but there were also reasonably priced gifts. In fact, I made a purchase. I bought a small make-up bag made of tape measures for $11. They also have free gift wrapping. Next time I'm in this area, I'll stop by and support this local small business. There's also another location located in the Piedmont area of Oakland (also nice area.) Side note: Sometimes I feel that Oakland gets a bad rep, but there are actually a lot of hidden gems! read more

Nathan & Co - Peacock window display that caught my eye to enter the store. - Home & Garden Near Me - Oakland, California

Honestly I stumbled upon this place on my way to meet someone in the Rockridge area. I'm a huge fan of these mom & pop sort of shops that have an array of random trinkets that I would never go out of my way to normally look up. My first visit here I would've given this place a 4-5 star rating because they have a great assortment of items for the home, kids, and everyone else at various price points. Most tend to be on the more expensive side though. LOL So why the 3 star rating? Upon exploring the shop and asking a shop worker if she they had additional stock of an item I wanted in the back I felt brushed off and she made it seem like I didn't look hard enough for another one (there were no more on display). Fast forward to check out, I'm at the register and she did not even acknowledge that I was there and continued to chat with someone else behind the counter as she scanned my items. Not even so much as a thanks, I check my receipt and realized she charged me for a bag without even asking if I wanted to purchase one. read more

I'm always on the lookout for great stationery, and Nathan & Co has a great card selection! There's always cute, quirky cards on display, and I've never left without a great choice for a birthday or special occasion. I should probably talk about all the unique decor on sale, but I'll be honest: I've only been in there for their card awesomeness. However, there are a lot of unique decorations and fun gifts if you are looking to spice up your home, office, or are just looking for something that you can't find everywhere. Nathan & Co is worth a visit, and I'll definitely check it out again! read more

Nathan's on College Ave in Rockridge is a great store to shop for gifts or for yourself. They have many unique items. I was never disappointed. Aside from a cute and sweet shop, I was most impressed by Melissa who has helped me several times. She really makes shopping at Nathan's such a pleasure. She is always polite, cheerful, knowledgeable and very very helpful. The store and the shoppers are so fortunate to have her, Every time I am in the Rockridge area, I stop by Nathan's. read more

While The Mother was at Becky's Chinese waiting for The GOH to arrive, I pleaded off to go next door to Nathan & Co. We browsed at the display window earlier. I was somewhat intrigued and wanted to have a look around the premises. Along with her blessing, The Mother informed she would ring me on the mobile when The GOH arrived. Nathan & Co. is an adorable little gift boutique. I got a chuckle when I walked in. See the photos of the big greeting cards. Such as "No Whining No Complaining No Frowning" in big bold capital letters. Then there is the Disappearing Cheshire Cat Mug, an adorable gift for any Alice in Wonderland lover. And then there are the humourous, sardonic, and rude type of gifts. I took many snaps of these. I only curse a blue streak when I am frustrated, angry, and afraid. Pads, journals, and pencils reflect much of those feelings yet managed to elicit a chuckle. I took pictures of those. I love the pencil set a lot. Take a closer look at what is on the pencils in my photo. There are some blue language calling cards. I would definitely utilize those only with people I know quite well and who appreciate my sardonic sense of humour. (Keep in mind, Yelp! is a family-friendly website.) Then there are the note pads. "From the Ego of; From the Inner Child of; From the Dirty Mind of;" and "From the Creative Genius of." I know of somebody out there who would fit the Ego notepad perfectly. Hmm, maybe I should have checked to see if there was a gift registry available. I am graduating and if you are interested in giving me a graduation present, check out my photos for ideas please. https://youtu.be/InBiaRBUjUs read more

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What better way to kick off the holiday shopping and the ornament gawking than visiting Nathan & Co! Went to this location before noshing on food in the area and had to stop by to see the cool and neat little offerings that this place has. All the merchandise is thoughtful, unique, and, gift-worthy. You cannot go wrong! Before closing time, we were offered a shopping basket from the very own... Nathan himself! read more

Such a cute store. They had a bit of everything. A lot of the items made me giggle. Love the Oakland and Bay Area flavor they display. Great place to find gifts that you can't find in a traditional store. read more

Came across this gem when the BFF and I were walking around Piedmont area... en route to Smitten :) Saw the typography stuff they had outside... was hooked! Really cute and affordable items... very creative and so creative that I ended up getting a gift for a friend... paddle to go shot glass. Well worth checking out... for all those unique gifts that you want to stand out for :) read more

Really, anyone can get me anything here for my birthday or Christmas and I would be totally happy! This store has such great things for entertaining, home decor, children, and people of all ages. They have such one of a kind things from bags, to cards, to pillows that you will find something here that would make a great gift for a special someone. I've been inside here a few times and have purchased cards, cookbooks and entertaining pieces. Today I went in there even though I really didn't need anything and ended up buying wine paraphernalia and birthday candles for the party I'm going to be throwing for the hubby in a few weeks. These candles spell "Forever Young," so they're perfect for the hubby who's not very happy with entering a new decade in life. Haha read more

Holy Benriner Japanese Mandoline Slicer! Buyer be advised... I love browsing in this store, and I usually walk out with some cute knick-knack that may or not have a use that I may or may not need. It's a nice place to spend a bit of time, buy a gift or a unique card, etc. The employees are very, very nice. I can't write an honest review without mentioning the fact that although I found a soy candle for under $20 the other day ($17 to be exact), which though still overpriced, isn't easy to do these days, some of Nathan & Co.'s items are EXTREMELY overpriced. Specifically, the Benriner Japanese Mandoline Slicer. We purchased ours at Kamei Restaurant Supply in SF for under $15. Nathan & Co. sells the exact same one, priced at... can you believe it... $58!! That's nearly 400% of another retailer's price! This sort of mark up gets under my skin. Selling a useful plastic kitchen gadget in Oakland's yuppie, indie-Stepford Rockridge neighborhood (which I love, BTW!) doesn't magically make the item a rare, hip and expensive essential. Uggg. I like to feel respected by my local merchants, not taken for a fool... this feels dishonest. Especially in this economy. Not okay. In short, Nathan & Co. a great place to kill 10-15 minutes and pick up cute stuff you don't need when you can afford to pay unreasonable prices for stuff you don't need. read more

Ping is a little off base with his review. The selection in Nathan and Co is varied and can fit the need of anyone. I have liked this store since I moved to the area (a year and a half ago) and I am glad to see a new location open! The customer service was brilliant! Friendly, helpful and wrapped my gift for free! I found a gift for every member of my family and I am very pleased. May this store live long and prosper. read more

A great local store for finding nicknacks, gifts, and style from kitchen and bar accessories, to soap, to stationary and local crafts.

Every time I am in the Rockridge area, I can't help but go into the College Ave Nathan & Co store (mind you, this is quite often as it is on my way home from work!). This is hands down the best store for buying gifts of any kind, and not trinkety tschotke gifts, but actual decently priced items that my friends and family love. I also have a weakness for their childrens toys, and my son reaps the benefits. It is obvious that each item in the store is thoughtfully picked out, and is always great quality. I have never once felt that something I purchased was unsatisfactory. A major plus to going to this store is the customer service. Whether it's Nathan himself working in the store, or one of the other wonderful employees, I always have a good time and leave with a smile. They do not treat me like a customer, or a stranger, but a friend. I seem to laugh with them every time I'm in the store. They are incredibly friendly and honest about their products. It's everything I'd want in my employees if I was the owner of a retail store. The location is great, convenient for people who commute by BART or vehicle. It's across from Market Hall, which I cannot complain about either. You can't miss it. The store name is clear as day, and the front window will surely be designed in the best way possible. Items I have purchased there that I LOVE: Childrens Items: Maileg mice and pixies, children's books, uncle goose wooden blocks, hot hair ballon models (turned into baby mobile), plush toys, musical umbrella, vintage design wrapping paper (now framed in baby's room), baby shoes, rattle. Household Items: many tea towels and dish towels, bottle opener, wine opener, cookbooks, mugs, holiday stockings, candles, soap, measuring cups, wooden iPhone alarm clock base, light up willow branches, decorative scissors. Gifts: scarves, watches, earrings, cookbooks, tea towels, childrens plush dolls, ornaments. Items I have purchased that have gotten negative reviews: NOTHING! I also follow them on Facebook and they are great about posting new items (inciting me to stop by) and also providing you with information on the items. They are quick to respond to questions as well! Around fathers day, my husband and I were in the store and they let us draw tokens out of a bag, offering deals. We got 25% off that day! And just today I bought some stocking stuffers and I was given a token for 10% off my next purchase! Such a great way to make customers feel appreciated. I love supporting a small business and I love even more when they make you want to come back. read more

Been to the Nathan & co in Oakland off Piedmont, love it! They use to sell the I hella love Oakland shirts there. We were in the rockridge area to buy a car seat off someone on Craigslist. (Great deal on a diono!) Hubby still needed to get a Mother's Day gift for his mom so came to check out what Nathan & Co had to offer and of course they almost always have the cutest things. They have gifts for babies, kids, aspiring chefs and bartenders, gardeners, party planners, leather goods for women, etc... the list goes on and on. We ended up finding a hat for my mom in law that she can take her trip to Africa. Easily rolls and folds in the luggage. Lastly, I love the fact they wrap your gift for you and put in a gift bag w/ tissue and a nice bow. Win win! read more

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This place appeals to my oh-that's-cute-but-I-don't-need-it side but conflicts with my cheap, practical side. If you're coming to buy a gift, it's a great place with a unique selection of kitchen gadgets, darling kids' items, home decor and other things you don't quite need but would like to receive. On the other hand, if you are looking for a particular wine decanter or wooden bowl, I would suggest going to other places unless you're ok with paying a premium price. I purchased a birthday card ($3) and a book ($30) as gifts. But don't get me wrong- it's a great place to browse if you're in the area. read more

This is the perfect place to find a unique gift for a friend. They have a lot of cool kitchen accessories and home decorating items, a large selection of greeting cards, candles, cookbooks and Bay Area-themed items. I will definitely keep this place in mind when I buy gifts for the next holiday season read more

In both Rockridge and Lafayette, there's a lot of competition from botique stores, and even on the same side of the street to N&C I think there's at least 3 more nearly identical ones. They all sell oddities, and things you probably wouldn't ever consider buying for anyone. The difference in N&C I think is that their stuff is just a little bit better. There's weird stuff for sure, and you should defintely go in and look, but do they carry stuff which I-might-just-buy-one-day, and not very much of the I'd-never-get-that-for-my-worst-enemy-because-it's-so-odd. Go take a look. No beer, but pop into Ben & Nick's close by. read more

Great place to shop for gifts and cards. Helpful employees. Taking proper safety precautions for COVID-19

If I could leave no stars, I would, but the lowest rating option is one star. I had a very dissatisfactory experience here while trying to lodge a complaint about the store's racism. Spotting a Thanksgiving card on which an old-fashioned picture book-style image of a stereotypical Native American man in war paint and a warbonnet was handing food to a pilgrim woman, I took all of these cards to the front desk and nicely (probably too timidly) told the customer service man that they were really racist. He was able to identify why they were racist right away, even making a comparison between this Native American stereotype and the "Little Black Sambo" stereotype of Black people. He asked me how we could come to a compromise on this (as though compromising on racism is okay) and agreed to my request that they be taken off the shelves, but only "for now". He said that he couldn't guarantee that the cards wouldn't be put back later and he couldn't get rid of them because "it'd be a loss to the store". He also insisted that the cards had "a certain charm". I told him that was part of the problem. I don't see anything charming about images that degrade and discriminate against an entire community, and which cause non-Native kids to bully, beat up, and hurl racist slurs at Native kids. (And if you think that this doesn't still happen in schools and all around the country, you need to do some research. It happens every day.) The fact that he understood that racist stereotypes of Native Americans are equally offensive as racist stereotypes of Black people but was still unwilling to get rid of the cards altogether was very telling. I don't think he'd have let cards with racist images of Black people sit in the store, much less dare to call such images "charming" no matter how inappropriately cutesy they were made out to be. Now there were 3 or 4 of these cards, and I know that cards of this type usually go for about $3.75 to $4.99 a pop. When it comes to preventing violent bullying and fighting racism, taking a loss of about $20 doesn't seem like a big deal - especially when it's the store's fault that they chose to display and make available these cards in the first place. There's no economic justification for racism. The only somewhat good thing about this was that the man wasn't quite rude, just in need of some cultural sensitivity training. It just goes to show that our supposedly progressive communities aren't immune from neoliberal racism. I expect we can do better than this, though. read more

Never come here when you are in a hurry. Came here to pick up a birthday gift. Took me ten minutes to shop and now I've just been waiting for the past 25 mins at the counter to pay and it be gift-wrapped. No line. Had to go out to plug the meter while waiting. Friendly but Incompetent staff. read more

SHOPPERS BEWARE! My husband tried to buy me a Christmas gift last year from Nathan & Co. They said they'd order the item (a $60 tape dispenser) but they never did. We were later told by an employee that the store never intended to order the gift. It apparently was too small an item to order alone. My husband went into the store two, three times and was always assured that the item would be/was ordered. At any rate, this nice employee who informed us that the item was not ordered and wasn't going to be told me where I could order the tape dispenser online. I ordered it and had it within a week. You know, Nathan & Co. could have done that, too. They could have gotten the item for me at the same price and at the same time keeping me and my husband happy customers. Instead, I don't shop at the store anymore and neither do my friends. Nathan pretty much just told me, "Yeah, well, sorry. I can understand if you just want to shop somewhere else." Not, "Hey, what can we do to bring you back?" Really poor service (except for the one nice employee)! Again, shoppers beware. When they promise that your gift will be here in time for Christmas, remember, you've been forwarned! Unhappy but moved on in Rockridge! read more

Located near Rockridge BART station, I often will stop by this place just for fun or when I'm on the hunt for a gift. At Nathan & Co., you'll find random kitchen nicknacks, candles, soaps, glassware, wine accessories, greeting cards (adorable, really nice ones), little kids' stuff & toys, jewelry, stationery, and many more... Definitely a place to find something nice for yourself or your loved one. Also, free gift wrapping -- just ask them. They do a great job wrapping up your gift! read more

BEAUTIFUL STUFF! I go there to get inspiration for decoraton and I rarely buy becasue they are expensive:) read more

Super cute stationary and gifts of all kind. An interesting selection of novelties, if you're looking for an interesting gift or souvenir this is the place to get it. Prices are relatively inexpensive for the neighborhood and there is a lot of selection. Staff was very friendly and helpful. read more

I love this store but what sets it apart for me was the GORGEOUS holiday wrap they are doing right now! By far the most beautiful and creative I've ever seen for any store here in the Bay Area. With alot of detail and care, gorgeous colors and even a gift card for each! I hope they'll always keep doing this. I'll keep coming back just because of this! read more

Is it wrong that the only reason I want this place to live on is because of the friendly service and the fact that there's a cute dog nestled behind the counter? Those attributes aside, this store is too much of a "copy and paste" of everything trendy right now. I could identify almost all of their vendors in a blink of an eye. That said, I did find a beautiful locally made postcard that featured a map of the "Best Coast," but sadly when I asked for more, they were out and had no clue if they would be getting any back in. (This also happened with a book of Mandarin expressions). I want to love this place because you can tell they care about being there, but it leaves me yearning for something more original. read more

I love Nathan & Co. I've been shopping the Piedmont location even before they moved to the larger space down the street, but I actually prefer Rockridge. Something about the layout speaks to me I suppose :-). There's nothing in here I really need per say, but I still want it all. I do have to agree with Eileen about the mark up...it does seem high so I wouldn't purchase anything that wasn't a must have or super unique. I've gotten some great finds here but there have been things that I liked until I looked at the price tag. Great shop for gifts for yourself, and others as well. Another plus - the customer service is great which is big in my book. read more

My go to place for curated gifts. They also do lovely wrapping of your gifts.

If you are looking for some fun decorative or whimsical items for your home this place is worth a stop. A very nice eclectic assortment ranging from stationary to candles and funky bric-a-brac. Shopkeeper is friendly and cheerful and price points are reasonable. read more

Oh, you know, this is that kind of stylish modern store that carries candles, soap, cookbooks, glassware, serving utensils, olives, wine accessories, greeting cards, scarves, trivets, coffee mugs, clocks, stuffed animals, and pillows. read more

My favorite home & stationery store in Oakland! Everything is soooooooo cute! This place is my to go to when I need to buy a cute gift or I want to buy something unique for my home. Also, this is the only store that I know carries the "I HELLA LOVE OAKLAND" t-shirt. Honestly, this store is the best in town- but not only because of their exquisite taste in inventory but for their excellent customer service! The staff is sooooo sweet and helpful! Nathan and Tom, the owners are beautiful in the inside as well as the outside! Oh wait! And they're dog friendly! You can walk-in, say hello and they will have treats for your dog! My dog loves going to Nathan & Co. I loooooove this place! read more

This is an adorable little store located on College Ave, nestled between quaint eateries. The merchandise is so cute, unique, and quirky; some locally made and others hand selected from established brands. Really enjoyed the layout, quite easy to locate a "department": stationary, bath, kitchen, novelty bits, jewelry...just a touch of everything! Prices were predominantly moderate. Purchased a precious honeycomb wooden lid ceramic jar and some other sundries. This is an excellent store for unique birthday gifts or stocking stuffers!! Didn't speak much with a sales associate, pretty much just paid and left. It was a nice 25 minute kill while waiting for a table for lunch... read more

I was excited when Nathan & Co opened a location here on College Ave. I love going in and browsing their store, have bought many gifts for others here, and quite a few for myself as well ; ) Yes there are a good handful of "gift" type stores on College Ave but they are all unique and Nathan & Co is one of my favorites. If you are looking for a gift or simply browsing around for unique finds this is the place to go. read more