Exactly what I was expecting: a real store, with real people, having expertise, and a wide selection. I went in with a general idea of what I needed for a portfolio to use at a job fair. The manager helped me hone in on a vintage '80's indigo pad. Looks so much better that your standard, big box store options. (Although they have those too.) Was already in a condition that looked new. He also inspected it, and made sure it was freshened up. So, it really popped. They also have all the Pentel's--picked up one of those. As well as, a wide selection of pencils, pens, fountain pens, stationary, ledgers, printer toner, other printer needs, and many other treasures. Classic Manhattan store, in a great location in the Diamond District. I will definitely come again. read more

Went down to Phil's a couple times during my lunch break. The heavy door makes it feel like a haven from the cold. Phil has stacks of many different types of paper. Phil is helpful and gave me interesting insight into the people that buy his paper. There is great paper here and good objects for measuring and working with paper. I reccomended ! read more

Phil's Stationery - Cards & Stationery Near Me - New York, New York

I had such a wonderful experience finding a perfect pen with Fred. He helped me understand what to look for and found the perfect option within my budget that was high quality and unique. He was excited to educate me as I am new to the world of pens and I could not be more grateful for his expertise!! I will definitely be returning! read more

Such an amazing store and environment! Two friends and I went here looking for a new fountain pen, and the man at the front was very helpful and nice!! I would definitely recommend. read more

Old school New York! 50 year old shop with amazing customer service! walked in randomly and found so many neat things the guy working there was so nice and helpful read more

Phil's Stationery - Cards & Stationery Near Me - New York, New York

Competent patient and extremely good service with a difficult problem and a fountain pen

Every time I visit NYC I stay in SoHo. This little gem of a "stationary store" is just down the street and I always stop by. It's actually two stores side-by-side and both carry items that aren't easy to find. Browsing is fun and I always find something unique to purchase, be it a pen, journal, office accessory, etc. read more

This store took me back to a simpler time. Remember when you could try out pens on that little stack of paper and mechanical pencils had 0.5 refillable lid in tiny containers? Well Sam, the owner, sure does. Fred, his trusty side kick, even let me try out a bunch of cool calligraphy pens with different ink. Thank you for keeping this establishment open. The prices beyond reasonable, and the nostalgia alive. read more

Worst business I've ever dealt with , Fred is speaking lies most of the time and Sam never there. I ask from them to make me business card Fred were saying for almost 2 month it's gonna be ready next week . after that he were lying that the printer machine not working because of a storm and a lot of lies came out his mouth , I will never work with those people anymore and I recommend you to do that also , what else we can get except of good service in this kind of place read more

These are the nicest guys in NYC. It's a mess inside but don't let that fool you, it is a treasure trove for collectors. A great selection of antique stationary, and they will rent it as props for film/photo production. read more

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Thanks to my stationery friend who introduced me to this place or else, I would probably never venture in. I was looking for Dennison labels (as most of the stationery/journalers are) and Fred was able to help me look for them. He even went down to the basement to look for them. Super sweet guy! Yes, this place is one hell of a mess and dusty AF but honestly, it brings me so much joy to find a hidden gem underneath it all! My friend found a super cute vintage roller stamp and I walked away with a vintage tag, pencils, Dennison labels, vintage airmail and address labels. I went once and I will definitely be coming back! read more

Pen, journal and stationery are for the writer. Phil, the owner is 'as is' described accurately by previous Yelp reviews for being knowledgeable, experienced, attentive and personable, despite at first impression he appeared unwilling to serve customers. Having a professional background of being employed five years in the stationery and fine paper business of the former Kate's Paperie, I am knowledgeable a thing or two about stationery myself. It has become more and more difficult to obtain pen refills of my favorite Cross and Parker pens and to search for quality journals as I am a writer. I am old school as I prefer holding a hardcover book and a pen in my hand. Phil understood and know exactly what I seek and take heed for pen refill in black ink, medium point and ballpoint format. I truly enamored with ballpoint pens as it does not bleed especially on thin paper and enables to duplicate onto carbon copy forms. Sales receipts are handwritten by Phil himself and price is reasonable under $20 for one package of two refills. They carry Claire Fontaine from France which I have not seen it sold in stationery stores for a long time since my days at Kate's Paperie. I would surely return for journals and notebooks. I was known as the "paper princess" by my former colleagues. I am also searching for 80 lb. cover stock white laid paper which is nearly impossible to find. This business is conveniently located in the vicinity of Grand Central Terminal on 47th Street near the Algerian and Ghanaian consulates. Business card is available for grabs. Note: Do not visit this stationery shop for sharpies. Furthermore, to all the non-paper aficionados it is spelled STATIONERY. stationery (noun) sta·​tio·​nery | \ stā-sh-ner-ē \ Definition of stationery 1: materials (such as paper, pens, and ink) for writing or typing 2: letter paper usually accompanied with matching envelopes (source: Merriam-Webster) read more

Phil's Stationery - Facade - Cards & Stationery Near Me - New York, New York

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I love that this is legit old-school. Hooray! Went in one day to get some help and ideas on a pen to buy as a gift. The guy was super cool and helpful. Even gave me a small freebie notebook to take home, with my purchase. Next time I went in, seeking help for a pen of mine that no longer seemed to be working. This time it was a different guy behind the counter. He did not seem interested at all, in helping me. He basically said 'soak the (Lamy) bottom/nib in a glass of water overnight'...even though I'd tried to tell him I'd already done so (and then he made it clear he was done talking to me)... read more

Store has a range of stationery and art supplies. Also an assortment of nice pens. Does not carry scrapbooking supplies. Staff is friendly and helpful. The store feels old-fashioned in style and lacks the bright lights of a big-box-style store. I'll probably go back, the next time I'm in the market for stationery and office supplies. read more

Fred was an absolute gem. Knowledgeable, friendly and very helpful. Made our experience great. I would go back again. I went to buy a fountain pen as a gift. He patiently helped us try several options until we found the perfect one. I ended up buying the same pen for me as well. The place is a bit unorganized but don't let that fool you. It is worth the trip read more

I love Sam and Fred, and I love their store! I don't think they were quite sure what to think of a chatty Texas girl looking for Dennison and pencils, but we became fast friends, and I stopped in again the second day. I found lots of fun paper and ephemera, pencils, Dennison, and had a great time talking to Sam and Fred. If you love journaling, paper, and making your own journals, you must stop at this old school stationer if in the area. Worth the 3 hours I stayed in there and more! read more

I love Phil's Stationery! Found it on my last trip to NYC and I'll be back. Tons of dead stock vintage office supplies and paper, plus current things too. Sam and Fred are super nice and lots of fun! read more

I travel to New York just for this store. Fred is outstanding knowledgeable of pens and stationary is second to none. I spend hours picking out pens, paper, and desk accessories. A true New York icon. A definite must stop in New York. read more

I went to Phil's Stationary at 4pm, a whole hour before closing. I asked to see fountain pens, and the only person in there told me "sorry, the pen guy left, I only do amazon" He then quickly showed me some lamy pens and said "this is what I have, they are 30 to 40, everything else is $800" I think he sized me up when I walked in and didn't think I was worth his time. I asked him if I could take a look around, and he actually said no. He said he was behind on something and went on rambling about how rent is due and it's a lot of money... I just wanted a pen. I went elsewhere a block away. He would have been $400 closer to paying rent if he had just given me 5 minutes. read more

Phil's Stationery on 47th street, near the Algerian and Ghanaian consulates. I was in desperate need of a place to make a copy of my passport; I'm so glad I didn't get this part of my application done ahead of time, or I would have never discovered Phil's. I won't tell you everything about the magic experience I had there, but let me put it this way... I walked in there having the worst day I've had all month, and I walked out feeling at peace with the universe (mostly). Talk to OJ, he'll set you right. I've recently become something of a journal-rat and they stock everything you could ever want, plus the place just drips with old school NYC charm from my dream era (Ghostbusters, obviously). Dig that incredible signage. Dig that spelling "Zerox." It won't be there much longer. Go do your soul a favor, start writing things down on paper as well as click-click-clicking, and buy everything you need from OJ at Phil's while you still can. If you're a New Yorker who, like me, grew up idolizing the New York of the pre-Giuliani age you owe it to yourself to make a pilgrimage to Phil's and buy yourself a pen or notebook. If you want a spic'n'span experience where you are waited on like a princess (I'm looking at you, 3 star Georgina!), go to Staples. [Note, I posted a double review under a business "Phil's Stationary" because I'm incapable of spelling words correctly even when I'm staring at a picture of the sign. I so wanted to believe no one else knew about this spot, like it magically appeared right when I needed it!] read more

This is an old fashion stationary store like they don't make them anymore; and right in the heart of mid-town. They have the stuff that no one else has...like Quo Vadis appointment books. It's so much more interesting than the large chain read more

You don't see many old school stationary shops like this anymore. The owner is a great guy and doesn't mind chatting. The place is kind of a mess, so your best bet is to go in knowing what you want and asking for it. Lots of great stuff, paper wise, and a lot of things no longer in production. Very limit selection of fountain pens so you might want to try somewhere else if that's what you're looking for. read more

Phil's is the best! Fred and Stan are friendly and nice when you walk in, not to mention funny. I guess they have all types of stationery things but I head right for the NOS pencils they have there. Vintage Dixon's, Faber's, Eagle's, etc. Such a rad store, glad I found it. And check out that awesome signage out front too. read more

Phil's Stationery - Just my haul of vintage NOS pencils from Phil's Stationery... - Cards & Stationery Near Me - New York, New York

This reminds me of an old style hardware store, with stuff stacked everywhere. But if you tell the guy up front what you want, he'll take you right to it. They have everything stationery- wise. The hard to find stuff may be a little old or dusty, but so what. I like to write letters on onion skin paper, with a fountain pen. They keep me supplied. I love this store. Phil's is great. I live in Alaska, and the best way to order something is to call them up and talk to them. A human answers the phone, not some robot answering gizmo. This store is a modern day old school type treasure. Excellent customer service. Five stars all around. read more

Phil's is fantastic. I had needed help with some older pens that either needed repair or had hard to find refills (Conklin, Waterman, Cross). The staff at Phil's knew exactly what each needed. It is getting harder and harder to find shops like this (sadly, even in NYC), and the big chain stores like Staples just don't have clerks with this kind of knowledge. Phil's brought each of my pens back to life, or helped me figure out what to do to get them back. Highest recommendation. read more

This is an old fashion stationary store like they don't make them anymore; and right in the heart of mid-town. They have the stuff that no one else has...like Quo Vadis appointment books. It's so much more interesting than the large chain stores. read more

Amazing place... in n out quickly and reasonable price. The staffs are very helpful though you might not tell by their initial look. The guys know their notebooks. Reasonable price... A+++ read more

Employees are always very busy but are truly very friendly. It reflects a lot on the state of the store-- total disaster zone filled with buried treasure. Aside from always getting what I need for my office, I usually go home with a thing or two myself. Latest finds were a beautifully tailored leatherbound notebook and a mint green Itoya pen from the 1980s. read more

I was in need of a sharpie so I first went to Duane Reade and after seeing that a 3 pack that included black, red and blue was $6 I'm glad I found this place close by. I was able to snag one which is all that I needed for a buck 25. The place was horrendously messy though. It looked almost as if they were in the process of moving out, just a lot of loose items everywhere...was a little confused by it. The workers were in the back area too so there was no one out on the floor to greet or assist me or anyone that might've came in. read more

Stumbled upon this stationary store while I was looking for cardstock to make a special birthday card. They had exactly what I needed (amongst a variety of other stationary and office goods). The best part was that when I stepped up to the register and realized I only had my card on me for a $2 charge, Phil told me that I could pay when I came around next time, since I worked in the area. "You came in because you needed this, so take it". This type of customer service is rare today and his charm took me back to old New York. I'll definitely be back! read more

I miss the old stationery stores. There was a fabulous one-- Airline Stationery-- which is gone. This one is old school but very disorganized and frequently a mess. For years I have thought it was going out of business or had been vandalized. Still, it is convenient and has items you just can't find these days. I went in looking for fountain pen ink solvent and they had it. However the fellow told me to try a mix of isopropyl alcohol and warm water before spending $15. I did and it worked just fine. read more

I go here every time I'm in NYC. The people are friendly and helpful. The selections are great -- Rhodia pads and notebooks, Moleskine, and pen refills covering the walls, and many other items fulfill my stationery dreams. read more

Can't find what your looking for at Phil's? No doubt they will find it for you either downstairs or in the back. Phil's carries most everything that you need and even better the prices are very reasonable. Although it can be a little chaotic you won't be able to play with a vast selection of pens and markers at Duane Reade like you can at Phil's. This place is a wonderful throwback -- long may it last! read more

Visiting Phil's was quite an experience. I called yesterday to ask if they had 9 by 12 inch ready-strip envelopes (which I was having a very hard time finding) and was told they had 9.5 by 12.5 ready-strip and 9 by 12 regular. Fine. I get there today to find out that actually, all their envelopes are 9.5 by 12.5. Not a huge deal, but the owner was weirdly rude about it. Then he loudly announced he was leaving to meet with his parole officer. I assumed that was a joke until he got into a shrill screaming match with his bookkeeper and again referenced his parole multiple times. ("Come over here." "You come over here! You always make me come to you!" ... "You don't trust me!" "You're going to make me late!"). It was reality-show quality theater, in a scary way. The cashier kindly rang me up while that was going on. It wasn't his fault, but because they keep everything in disorganized heaps, he charged me the ready-strip price for every envelope when there were actually many regular envelopes mixed into the box. Unfortunately, back at my office I found that some of the envelopes were so dirty, I couldn't use them at all. (I bought 118, and at least 10 were unusable). They looked like they'd been stepped on. I'm giving 2 stars instead of 1 because they did kind of have what I needed .... I feel so sorry for their cashier. read more

There used to be a sign in my long-gone, local stationery store: "If we don't have it, you don't need it!". The sentiment applies best to Phil's (or Crazy Phil's, as I like to call it). This is an urban treasure trove of everything no one else carries, anymore. Yes, you may have to wipe off a little dust and test the 4 color Bic pens, but don't let that dissuade you. Phil's is also a specialist in handwritten account books, which serves the nearby Diamond traders very well, indeed. You are in excellent care with Sam, son of the original owner, and the incredibly knowledgeable O.J., as well as the other seasoned hands that keep the Rolodexes turning! read more

Best stationery store in New York. You can find items here that you can't find in Staples or any of the other so called stationery stores...a lot of "old school" as well as current supplies. read more

Great place. They have what you need at good prices. I picked up x201 small business legal stationery here instead of buying it online and save a good amount of money. They guys are real nice too. read more

Long may the live and prosper. One of the New York City's treasures. An extraordinary shop. Go in and look But, please buy something there.

Thank goodness a place like this still exists in NYC! They carry Claire Fontaine notebooks which are high quality paper and are very reasonably priced! I was having a hard time finding them until I stumbled upon a review of this place online. Those chain stores like Staples and Office Depot just do not carry quality products like this. read more

This is a great, traditional stationery store. It's the kind of stationery that used to exist before they were all driven out of business by the retail chains. The store looks like a wreck: open boxes clutter the aisles and loose papers are scattered on the floor. But the service is excellent. And you can buy one of something -- one pen, one pad of post-it notes. You don't need to buy a box of 20 as in chain retail stores. This should be a stop on tours of New York to show what small retailers with an emphasis on service used to be like read more