This is my favorite place to take visiting grandchildren. I give them $10 - $20 each and let them buy a bunch of stuff. Then they spend the rest of the day creating something out of it all. They love it and are so proud of their creations! read more

What a special store this is. The concept and mindfulness from this store is very lovely. You can get reused items that can be repurposed at a student friendly price. I've gotten a jar for my utensils, post cards, and even sand paper. read more

This shop is so eclectic!! It is very difficult to describe what the store has to offer. You really need to check it out for yourself! I like to shop for buttons, fabric, and sewing supplies. You never know what you will find! My teenage granddaughters shop for items for crafts. There is really something for everyone. The prices are very reasonable. I highly recommend the Idea store!! read more

Update: Got a call from the store to apologize and to let us know our stuffs are still there. I appreciate their response and do hope they will train their staffs about how to better communicate with their customers. A week ago, their credit card machine was down and a lady helped us hold our stuffs and said we could pick up anytime. Today we went there, another lady with short hair and glasses, who was rude, impatient, and impolite, claimed they would never hold stuffs for customers, and even asking the other guy who would say that to the customers. The lady didn't even want to put her things down and spend a minute to check for us. I would appreciate if they can have a more friendly staff for such a cute store in our nice town. Very bad experience today. The lady has ruined all our good experience with this store from the past. read more

this has been my favorite place on earth for several years, there's never a dull moment here; it takes a bit of searching but there are tons of treasures to be found also: this is probably not the place for you IF... 1. You're not really artsy 2. You can't overcome functional fixedness 3. You can't wait in line for more than a few minutes 4. You don't think employees shouldn't take a well earned break 5. You expect to see new items for sale constantly in a typical consumerist fashion their slogan is "make art, not trash" for a reason! Just saying... read more

I've made everything from a poster for a student organization to room decor from supplies I've found here. If you're a swing dancer, raid the fake flowers for hair accessories. I also tend to find old map paper and photos for fun decorations. They sell everything by the pound here, for mere cents and dollars. I think the most expensive thing I bought was two dollars at most. Keep an open mind, and this place is your oyster. read more

ok so I have been going to the idea since I moved here 2years ago I have bought some great things a a great price but the prices have went up lately I get that it's because of rent increases employees pay but everything is donated I hope that it stays open read more

Jan. 2021 Update: A very belated update! Their "new" location in Lincoln Square Mall is wonderful. Much more accessible to those with mobility issues (compared to their old location, which was upstairs). Everything is most as beautifully organized as ever. They've remained safety-conscious during the pandemic - providing hand sanitizer, limiting the number of customers, and even waving their $5 minimum for card purchases. read more

This place used to be really cool. However, they are so overflowing with the junk in their storage room that they refuse to sell, that the place is looking pretty weak. They would rather have pop up sales then actually sell merchandise that the customers want. Pricing is erratic and the people are a little bit creepy. Also don't bother trying to donate to them they just tell you no. read more

This is always my first stop whenever I do a creative project. There is a huge selection of art and craft supplies--some ordinary and some deliciously offbeat. Some of their offerings include vintage photographs and slides, game pieces and playing cards, yarns and fabrics, pretty papers, crafting tools, tins and spools, and some fabulous ephemera. All of it donated / recycled so it has the ambiance of a really awesome upscale garage sale. The prices are shocking in a good way ("Seriously? Just two dollars for all of THAT?") and all the money earned benefits the local school system, so you can feel good about that as well. The only negatives are the limited hours and the fact that it can be a bit confusing for a new buyer to understand how the items are priced. (Many items are sold by weight.) They also host some events now and then, which are specialized sales of an extra roomful of specific items (camera equipment, fabrics, jewelry, etc.) If you want to donate things, be sure to check out their online information (website, Facebook) beforehand. There are specific items they take and others they don't, plus lately there are some time frames -- maybe a couple of weeks at a time --where they are just processing previous donations and not taking any new ones. read more

One of the most magical places on earth, and certainly my favorite place in Champaign-Urbana. If you're into crafting, DIYing, or just tend to MacGyver your way through life, this is definitely the place for you. There is always something new and awesome to discover here, whether you're looking for a specific item or tool to complete a project or are open to being inspired by whatever they happen to have in stock that day, you surely won't be disappointed. I can also strongly recommend volunteering here, if you have a bit of free time to spare. It is so satisfying to help sort through & organize their donations, and a lot of fun to see all the cool stuff that comes in everyday! read more

Let your imagination go wild. This place is a treasure chest for vintage items, arranged in a random assortment alongside other unique items and scrap parts. Their stock ranges from small envelopes and post cards to plastic and rubber materials. Prices are more than reasonable. Can't wait to go back! read more

This is a really interesting store! If you're into crafting or just like random things, give the IDEA store a visit. They take donations and they have every random thing you could ever need. From glass test tubes, to scraps of fabric, to plastic beads- they have it all. They also do birthday parties for kids, I saw a group of kids with hats walking through the store and gathering goodies for crafts. read more

An absolute gem of a resource for any arty farty maker shaker. I love looking through all of the crap to find the few gems which cost next to nothing. I could stay all day filling up bags of this and that with sparkles and buttons and yarn and thread, and who knows what. Great resource for art supply hoarders and teachers of small children who need to have a treasure chest of marvelous junk to make into something beautiful. LOVE IT!!!!!!! read more

Yes, I should have been coming here years earlier. Everything well sorted and organized. I appreciate their list of what they're looking for (donations) and what they're full on. It's hard to come out empty handed because they have so many things! I also am so happy to have a found a place to donate my nice/extra art supplies I might not use anymore. Great concept. I told my sister that it was a thrift store, but all for creative projects. I heard from a neighbor that they're moving to Lincoln Square Mall. I think that's a great location for them with an entrance that's easier. I can't imagine what will happen to other art supply stores, when that happens. Things like graph paper for $1/lb is hard to beat, esp. when it's for the local schools. Thanks volunteers! read more

I"m not stopping by as much as I should considering I always find really cool usable fun stuff. You should check it out for any DIY type projects you might have. Great cause as well. Community gem for sure read more

This place is awesome! Reduce reuse recycle! I've found so much cool stuff here. They do a lot of jewelry making and other arts and crafts classes here. New selections all the time. You can feel good because their profits go to a good cause. read more

An amazing one-of-a-kind place. It's a creative reuse store, which means that people donate all kinds of art supplies, crafts, materials, etc. The proceeds go to help further art education in the local schools in CU. I volunteer here and it's about the most exciting place I've EVER worked. The people are super friendly. There are literally hundreds of things you can find here including yarn, paper, frames, wood, metal, cards, markers, office supplies, fabrics, lace, books, magazines, antiques, post cards, beads, ribbons, thread, stamps, paints, jars, toys, fake flowers, hardware tools, jewelry, scrapbooking supplies, baskets, knitting needles, notions, stickers, etc etc. And the prices are extremely reasonable. They also teach various classes about green crafts and recycled art. And they offer children's birthday parties. I would have loved to have had a party here as a child! Very nicely organized, clean, full of light and warm, sweet people. read more

This place is awesome! They have any kind of random junk you would need to make some cool artwork! Just about everything is sold by the pound, which also makes it really cheap! My friend got a bunch of stuff to make a "mad eye moody" costume, and it was really cheap and she looked great! read more

Super friendly & helpful staff. Love to donate & love to pick through their shop, too. I get tennis balls for my dog here, 25¢ a piece!!!!

What a GREAT concept!! This place is so much fun! Every city needs an IDEA store - great way to repurpose/recycle!!! If you are in the Champaign/Urbana area, a visit to the IDEA store is a MUST!! read more

Okay so I wrote out the long detailed review about my experience here but then I deleted it all. Words do not do this place justice. This is by far the coolest store I have ever been in anywhere. Go see for yourself! read more

A hidden gem in the Champaign area! This store is filled with a variety of recycled craft and trinket items that are perfect for artists, teachers, kids, and adults! The items are most likely measured by the pound, so the ending total will always be a pleasant surprise for the buyers because of the extremely low prices. read more

The IDEA store has any random craft item you could ever dream of. Also, it's dirt cheap. Seriously. It makes Goodwill prices look like an upscale boutique. Alas, it's closed on Sundays though. The sole reason I gave it 4 stars instead of 5. read more

Great thrift store! Good selection of craft supplies, fabrics, Fake flowers, home decor, costume accessories (found some good ones for Halloween), vases, etc. read more

This place is great! So much stuff and such great prices! There are always new items out and the staff is so friendly. They really try to help you find what you are looking for or give you ideas about what you can use. And, its a nonprofit! All the money raised goes to support the local schools through their education foundation. read more