Many visitors and shoppers tend to have an emotional connection to Kobo, formerly known as Higo. I…read moream one of those people who calls it Higo, before I will remember it is in fact Kobo now. Higo is the original shop owned and run by the Murakami family. This is one of the few businesses that survived the Executive Order 9066 written in 1942 with thanks to the non-Japanese friends of the family who owned businesses in the same building. Today, Kobo represents a new generation of local artists, selling gift items, crafts, tees, books, art, jewelry, and much more at varying level of prices. I highly recommend Kobo when shopping for unique gifts. When I recently visited, they had a glass artwork on display, art gallery style. It was also the yearly Nihonmachi celebration, and they had a table outside with an artist painting one of three designs on classic Japanese windchimes. I was thrilled to buy one of these adorable windchimes commonly featured in anime including Studio Ghibli movies. For those who want to read the long version of the store's history: https://www.historylink.org/File/9094

Lovely gift shop in the Japantown / Chinatown / International District area that offers an array of…read moreapparel and textiles, art, houseware and decor, and even the random novelty items. My mother picked up a really fun t-shirt from KOBO, and I found various gifts - including the Mari Ichimasu (a Seattle-based Japanese artist who works in stop-motion animation, painting, and drawing) book "Fur Coats & Backpacks", which includes the art of her collection of traveling cats & an accompanying poem for each cat. The perfect gift for my feline-loving friends. The staff were happy to let you browse through the store, and you can tell that they work to include items from the local art and design community while also carrying items with wider appeal. The prices may be a bit high? But I was less concerned with the cost of the items than I was on finding quality gifts - and KOBO has those in spades. I'd certainly recommend a visit.

Watson Kennedy Fine Living is a very specific type of gift shop - it's lotion and candle focused,…read moreorganized by color and extremely scented. The strength of the scent is frankly overwhelming to the point it's unpleasant to browse and the shop could do with an air purifier if it's simply the byproduct of the items carried. The service was friendly but I couldn't stay in the shop for long and the scent lingered on my clothes for about ten minutes. Those with sensitivities likely won't do well, but for those who like strongly secreted spaces, Watson Kennedy is your store.

I love this store and have been here before but the lady working here yesterday was so rude. She…read morecouldn't have made us feel less welcome. I asked her about the fragrances and she said that wasn't their specialty but then it actually it is because they have other sense around the store like candles and lotions. I would give the store five stars because they have so many cute little knickknacks and beautiful cards and memorabilia of Seattle and it's located next to the inn at the market hotel next-door to Sushi Kashiba which is amazing.

My favorite plant shop in Seattle. They have the plants in pots and kokedamas. I still have my one…read morefrom last year and it is still thriving! I think they are fair prices too! Definitely a great unique gift to give to someone.

THIS IS ABOUT ONLINE ORDERS…read more Really really disappointed about my online order because the plants at this place look gorgeous and I was looking forward to buying more but it's not worth $100 down the drain because they can't ship it right. I purchased two kokedamas (a small one and a big one) but my big one arrived in really poor condition. Stems and leaves were bent pretty bad during shipping and the plant looks likes someone used it as a soccer ball. I tried contacting the place for some help, they just said it was fine and to water it. It's been a few days, plant is still in shambles and they've been really unhelpful. I've tried a few things to fix it, but it took too much damage to get it back into shape. I posted the photo of what I ordered vs what I got just so people have expectations for online orders. I have a large collection of kokedamas and was really hoping to order more from this store to add to my collection because they look so pretty online. This was the only place where I've had a plant arrive in bad condition that I've ordered these plants from. imo it's not worth online orders at least Update: I did not receive any 10% off that they mentioned in the replies

World Market in Belltown is such a fun little treasure hunt…read more It's the kind of store that turns a quick stop into a full-on scavenger hunt. The vibes are good all around, the staff are friendly, and there is always something interesting to find, whether it's decor, kitchen stuff, snacks, or some random little gem you didn't expect to fall in love with. On this visit, I came across this gorgeous cabinet that immediately made me stop and take a picture because it looked like it belonged straight out of Hogwarts. I did not buy it yet, but I am still thinking about it, which probably tells you everything you need to know. That is exactly the kind of place this is. You go in for a casual browse and leave wondering whether you just found the perfect piece for your own Room of Requirement. Definitely worth stopping into if you enjoy the thrill of the hunt and a store full of fun finds. Solid 4-star spot for me.

This is my favorite furniture store. I can bring my child along, there are toys for kids to look at…read moreand play with, so I can comfortably take my time choosing furniture. Before leaving, I can also pick up some snacks!

Really I just love the vibe. Browsed some plants, got a candle, will go back for plants when I'm…read morenot all day protesting next time. Come for st planthony, stay for everything else. Oh, and while I was there someone came in with a plant on life support. The two staff helped explain everything really nicely and they came up with a plan to attempt a revival. Soil, pot size, watering regiment avoiding shock...sounded like great answers and I love that the folks there know their plant love!

I took a terrarium class here with my school-age daughter. The class was incredibly fun,…read morewell-taught, and we adore our terrariums. A excellent value for money. The owner is incredibly knowledgeable about plants, with a strong academic and practical background, and I know where I will come in the future. We can't wait to take another class. Parking was easy nearby, and the store and class were very accessible (I use a wheelchair.)

Since moving to Cap Hill last month, I've visited this store various times for help with different…read morerepairs around my new apartment and every time the employees are incredibly kind and knowledgeable. When I was struggling to mount a shelf, I got advice from one of the employees who was super friendly and explained to me exactly how to screw in the L brackets I was struggling with. He walked me over to the aisle and showed me exactly which screws would and wouldn't work for my project and explained to me how the screws would interact with different wall materials. Most recently I dropped by just before they closed to pick up drywall paste and a pallette knife. Despite me walking in ten minutes before they were supposed to shut, they didn't make me feel rushed at all and helped me find what I was looking for. I always prefer supporting a local business and I love having a neighbourhood hardware supply store I can count on with employees who feel kinda like family.

Pacific Supply is a real neighborhood hardware treasure on the Capitol Hill. The employees are…read morealways well-informed, welcoming, and truly helpful people, the sort of service that you will not receive in the mega stores. They stock an unexpectedly good range of goods considering it is a local store, not very high prices, and even a senior discount. The parking is not that bad, however, the 30-minute load zone in front can help. Any small project or hardware, we are a dependable and community-oriented store.

Got to meet the owner and her husband! Both were very kind and helpful! I was looking for Sonny…read moreAngels and they had them for retail price! Selection depends on which shipments they have but I got a couple from the animal series! They also had the stickers and costumes. So happy I stumbled into this place !!

From the owner: We something for everyone. Home Decor,Vintage ,Apparel,Boutique,Gifts and More.read more

Whoever the woman with glasses who was manning the store today around 2pm was absolutely the most…read morerude and judgmental human I've encountered while in Seattle. She basically kicked me out of the store when I had been looking through their cards and stickers - which mind you were right in her view, so she had no reason to think I was being "shady" or suspicious or anything of the like - and I even offered to place the items I was looking at on the counter until I was ready to check out. After perusing about 5% of this jam packed store, whilst shoving food into her mouth, the lady seriously had the gall to ask me "if I was done" (mind you there were about 15 others in the store at the same time) because she was "closing the store to go pee". Long story short, this woman needs a reality check and attitude adjustment because it's clear she feels like she is above others and her behavior was not only unwarranted -and unprofessional, but honestly confusing as I don't understand what made her treat me like trash but I hope whoever usually mans the store is a nicer human because they had a ton of cool stuff in there; unfortunately much of which I was unable to even look at due to this woman literally forcing me to leave by trying to ring up everything I placed on the counter and then continue to ask if I'm "done" etc to get me to leave. Again, a shame for whoever the actual store owner is but pro tip for someone who has worked in customer service, don't let this lady be the face that deals with customers in your store.

This place is a feast for the eyes!! So many beautiful and functional things to see and admire. I…read moregot a round mug and am very pleased with it.

Recently stopped by the shop on a whim while walking around the area and loved the concept of…read morepicking your own bouquet. I thought the prices were reasonable! The mini bouquets had a beautiful minimalist look without costing so much. This would be a great spot to pick out an aesthetically pleasing bouquet for a friend / loved one on a whim. Plus, supporting a local business is a plus :) My friends and I met the owner Mick - loved his energy. Will def be back!

A pretty interesting floral shop where you can build your own bouquet. The selection was slightly…read morelimited, but overall was okay. Staff were friendly and helpful. The price for what you get is alright. I'm sure you could find better shops, but if you're in the area it could be cool to check out