I wanted to give the owner the benefit of the doubt, but these reviews confirmed our experience wasn't a fluke. This store has wonderful art treasures and I love stores that support local artists. Unfortunately the store owner is insolent. I work in a customer facing role and I would never treat my customers the way she did. The owner obviously only cares about making money and not representing local artists because there's been reviews to give the owner an opportunity of growth, but clearly no growth was had. I feel bad for the artists that lost sales because of her. I would not recommend this store from a customer experience OR an artist looking to collaborate. 5/5 stars for the Dina (the cat) though! read more

Spending time with SCFG, who moved last year up to Buffalo NY. Discovering this town has some pretty cool vibes, Elmwood Avenue being kind of like a Main Street Manyunk in Philly. This store is the crown jewel of the scene. We enter to a serene, chill vibe. Open and easy to navigate, with well curated displays of local and sustainable items. So many great choices. I picked up a candle set inside a beer bottle from a local brewery, as Lion is a big micro brewery fan. The sales associate carefully wrapped and boxed it so it was basically ready to be given as a gift for his upcoming birthday. Parking on Elmwood is street and metered, so be prepared. Definitely a great stop for the lover of the local, crafted, creative and funky. read more

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Custom service was great as always when I entered the store. They have a wide selection of handmade products made in Western New York. The prices are a great value for your money. I would recommend this shop for any this is looking for a unique gift. I ways get a lot of compliments on the gift I give from Thin Ice Gift Shop. Shop local and feel good about it. read more

i love this little shop!! super cute (and has the most adorable cats/kittens walking around). crystal lovers should def check it out because they have an amazing crystal selection. everyone who works there is incredibly nice, and i think the things in there are very reasonably priced for what they are! overall love this place :) read more

Owner has an attitude, well known for be obstinate and difficult to deal with. No friendly greeting here. Usually a rude stare. If you are allergic to cats I would not go in. They need to learn how to be professional, I will send a message by not going back ever. Better places to spend my money. read more

Cool shop, one of the bigger ones you'll find for gifts on Elmwood. They had a good selection of mostly Buffalo themed items. I spent some extra time browsing glassware and they actually had some very cool (but expensive) items. This was also the only shop I've seen on Elmwood with a section dedicated to just baby apparel. This wasn't super useful for me now, but is helpful to keep in mind for the future I suppose Aside from glassware they had interesting custom looking Buffalo items like posters, socks, ties with chicken wings on them, and lots more. Definitely worth your time to stop in. read more

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Loved the options in the store. Very cute and the staff were extremely kind! I would definite recommend this shop to anyone looking for handmade goods or Buffalo orientated gifts. read more

Thin Ice is a cute knickknack shop on Elmwood. They sell many Buffalonian inspired souvenirs as well as other quirky handmade crafts. Because I used to work in retail, personality of associates mean a lot to me during a shopping experience. When my friend and I walked in, we said Hello, and the girl working was so buried in her phone she didn't even acknowledge us. We were looking for something in particular and no one offered us any assistance. read more

Many, many things to buy, all by local artists. There is jewelry, crafts, stationery and more. Lots of things to buy that one would not find in a chain store. Besides finding unique items here for yourself or for gifts, complimentary gift wrapping is offered. I shall return. The only drawback is parking. Parking on the Elmwood strip is often difficult. It may be a blessing that on this particular block of shops there are shops only on the east side of the street(besides the pet store and restaurants). While there are fewer shops to visit, there is also a better chance of finding an available meter space. I can only recommend that to visit this shop and the others on this block, you park around the corner on W.Ferry. read more

I like this store, it's not my go to on Elmwood, but it does have some unique gifts and a wider variety than wall art or jewelry. There are two shop cats, so if you are allergic, be warned! However, I am a huge cat person and get lots of nuzzles from the little guys as they are friendly and fluffy. The prices are not bad, I have gotten my mom a gift here she really liked and if you have an out of state friend there are lots of Buffalo themed gifts and if you are a tourist, it's nice to shop from local artisans rather than bigger stores that are making mass production t-shirts or nab you in the more touristy areas by the lake (not that Buffalo is really a place for tourist traps, but prices can vary). Overall, worth a stop if you are strolling down the village area and want a look around and maybe a unique gift. read more

This is a great shop on Elmwood featuring local artists. There is a wide variety for all your shopping needs depending on the season, holiday, or occasion. They even have greeting cards. It's like a one stop shop for getting those gifts off your to do list. read more

After being an Elmwood Village residence for a year or so, I finally stopped in to check this shop out, man I was not disappointing. I love all the small sections throughout the store. Everything in there form the shirts, to the stationary cards, to the jewelry and candles, etc. are all locally made, which I am a huge fan off. I especially like the homemade candles in the recycled beer bottles, they smelled amazing. I saw a few stationary cards i wanted to purchase, but decided not to, i'll return to make a purchase in the future. read more

Thin Ice Gift Shop - Is beautiful inside!!! - Cards & Stationery Near Me - Buffalo, New York

A cute little shop in the heart of Elmwood. A friend and I were window shopping this week, and stopped in. Window shopping turned into a purchase, when I found their selection of locally made cosmetics. Decided I would try a foundation since I'm low and it matched my skin tone well. Lots of items in the store are locally made, and that's always a plus for shops like this. I don't want to buy something from China when I go into this type of boutique. I'm a happy camper! read more

Great selection. Always accommodating. I highly recommend it. Perfect place to shop for out of town family and friends.

Thin Ice has the best unusual gifts in Buffalo. It is impressive, the large group of local artists, all different mediums. I could spend all day finding the perfect gift... so many choice so little time. Therese is there, in case you need some advise. So if you are looking for something that is not what you see every where else, run do not walk to Thin Ice....... read more

Thin Ice Gift Shop - I love thin ice!!! What a great shop.... so many ideas of all kinds for gifts for EVERYONE on your list. - Cards & Stationery Near Me - Buffalo, New York

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I bought my sister a pair of "moonstone" earrings here awhile back for her birthday. The stone fell out of the setting since it was only glued in. We took it back to get repaired, and it took MONTHS. The store owner said it was due to the artist, which didn't really cut it for me. You sell their merchandise, you support their work. Their customer service is your customer service. When we (finally) got the replacement earrings, the stones looked different. When I asked the store owner about it, she told me that the original pair of earrings I purchased were not in fact moonstones, but some other white/opaque stone (I can't recall the exact name). My sister likes moonstones, and I have no idea what they really look like. Apparently the salesgirl was equally confused--I just wish she would have told me that up front. Overall I was pretty disappointed with my purchase/experience at this store. If you're looking for jewelry, I'd suggest going someplace else. Their artists aren't very accomodating, and the staff don't appear to know what's what when it comes to stones. read more

Hit the Elmwood strip and Thin Ice Gift Shop this fine day in search of a unique Buffalo-themed item for an out-of-town visitor. Not even a lukewarm greeting awaited us at Thin Ice, perhaps - given the name - a cold feeling is apropos? There were some creative items on display, although I was not impressed with most of the wares as they bordered on being shopping mall craft show quality, such as an ordinary kitchen towel with an appliqué of a Buffalo for $10. The hand-painted glassware was (IMHO) amateur looking. There was a display of what I assume was fiber art: TINY needle-felted monkeys with a price tag of $80! Most items were waaaay overpriced, like the four-pack of ceramic tile coasters for $28, even if there were six in the pack, still steeply priced. I took my business down the street apiece. read more

Hands down the best place to shop for a unique and meaningful gift on Elmwood, if not all of WNY! I've come here for gifts for all different occasions. Whenever I visit I usually have no real specific item I am looking for. But there is so much variety of items I have never left empty handed. I like how the shop owner (presuming) always offers a warm hello when you walk in and never ever pushy about making a sale. Ask her anything and she'll you how the item was made to interesting facts about the artist. Really a win win combo in the fact that what you buy here is all locally made and you are supporting the local artist community! Why would you shop anywhere else! read more

Thin Ice Gift Shop - Cards & Stationery Near Me - Buffalo, New York

Thin Ice Gift shop offers a HUGE variety of locally sourced artisan-made items, with a focus mainly on usable art (pottery, cutting boards, cutlery, glassware, etc.) and wearable art (t-shirts, jewelry, knits, etc.). Everything on their shelves is one-of-a-kind, which makes it a great place to shop for gifts--or to pick up something for yourself if, like me, you like to surround yourself with "real" items that feel a whole lot more special than anything you could buy at Target. The prices have always seemed to me to be extremely reasonable, and actually on-par with other boutiques in the area selling merchandise that came straight from a factory in China. Most of the household items (with the exception of large pottery pieces) are in the $20 range (and many things are less). Hand screen t-shirts (great designs on organic cotton by Planet Love!) are under $25. Much of the jewelry is in the $30-$50 range (again, many smaller items are less; some of the really fancy stuff is more). To top it off, there's a very friendly store cat (and I'm allergic, but they must clean constantly, because I've never so much as sneezed). read more

I was here for the first time last Friday afternoon to do some Christmas shopping. This store has a variety of different items and it looks like they are all(or most?) created by local artists. They have glassware, pottery, wall hangings, other decorations, jewelry and clothing. I'm sure they have more things that I don't remember. I bought a little glass bug that sticks to a screen in your house. It was $16 and only a few inches across. It seemed like a lot of money for this tiny thing, but I don't mind paying these prices when someone hand made it and the money stays in the local community. The store has some cats that live inside too, so it may not be wise to buy a severly allergic person anything in this store. I love cats and am not allergic, but I worry about the many people I know who are when I see the cats using the table of t-shirts as a giant bed for themselves. One thing which stuck out to me, which I will remember next time I think about going here, is that one of the cashiers was kind of nasty to some of the customers in there. I had asked how much a particular item was since there were at least 4 without tags. When I asked the price, she instructed me to go look at the display in another location in the store with no offer to show me where it was and not even a helpful hint on where this display was or *maybe* the price range of the item. Another custome had been trying to help and said "Oh I think your plant is dying, I gave it some water for you" and the cashier just looked at her and said "I get it - and It's not dying, it just fell over." There was no thank you or even a smile. The cashier was very cold and unfriendly to everyone, which is not the kind of service I want from someone in customer service. I hope that this was just a bad moment in the day for this cashier and that she doesn't treat everyone like this on a regular basis. I really liked the items in this store but if I am going to be treated like I am a nuisance instead of a customer I won't continue to go back. read more

I went in search of something fun/unique to wear to an art gala and definitely found what I was looking for. **SIDENOTE** I have a spoon ring that I got years ago. People notice it and ask me about it often (The store I got it from no longer exists). If you are looking for one yourself and have searched high and low--CHECK THIS PLACE OUT! Spoon rings abound! There is a local artist that creates bracelets and rings out of old flatware. I picked up a fork bracelet which I think is totally cool and I know no one else is wearing it! They feature jewelery, pottery, housewares and other accessories made by local artists. It's the perfect store if you're shopping for a unique gift, or when you want something one-of-a-kind for yourself. Take some time and browse! read more

Similar to some of the other boutique shops on Elmwood in what they sell. Jewelry, some clothes and accessories, along with some unique home decor, what I like about this places that stands out from the rest is that most of the items are made locally. So not only are you supporting the local business selling their wares, but also some WNY companies and even people out of their house making them. Lots of one of a kind hand-made items here due to this fact. Lots of merchandise adorned with Buffalo as well. Definitely worth checking out if you are trying to get a gift for that hard to buy for person. read more

Thin Ice is a wonderful shop in the heart of the Elmwood Village. A beautiful selection of local artwork is available making it easy to find a gift for just about anyone! Unique and beautifully made jewelry is offered in a huge selection. The staff and owner are extremely knowledgable about the stones and each piece. There is no limit to the selection of Buffalo themed items from wall hangings, to coasters, to chicken wing bow ties there is truly something for everyone! read more

Stopped in yesterday with Joley B. since we like to browse little gift shops. I loved several items in here from jewelry to locally made organic, vegan make-up (& other lotions and potions from Buffalo Gal), cool pillows with buffaloes on them, unique t-shirts, scarves, knick knacks... I mean really this is the place to buy a unique gift. My only issue is that everything is EXPENSIVE. Don't get me wrong, I believe in getting what you pay for, buying locally made goods, all that jazz... but yikes! If I were searching for something really special for someone really special and was looking to throw down at least $100, I'd splurge here. read more

Thin Ice is a different type of gift shop on Elmwood. They sell a lot of Buffalo themed items-which I love, especially if I'm looking for a gift for former Buffalonians who have relocated. This is the type of place you could get lost in, while checking out all the mostly locally made items. I found the staff to be helpful and the selection is varied and novel. I did not find the pricing out-of-line, because when you consider the artisan, the shop owner and costs (s hipping) you're not incurring by ordering from artisans online. Check it out next time you're looking for a gift or something unique for yourself. read more

It's a given that the stores along Elmwood are rather expensive, and Thin Ice Gift Shop is no exception. $5 for a Buffalo-themed card printed on a thin piece of paper. Full price ($16) for a Christmas ornament with Buffalo scrawled across in glitter on December 26th. For the most part, the items in this store are handmade and amateurish. The staff doesn't bother to welcome guests or give a, "Thank you for looking!" as people walk out of the store. Shopping here is not recommended, which is sad because it's always good to support local businesses. read more

Thin Ice has locally made gifts from jewelry to pottery to even kitchen towels and magnets. It was very hot inside of the shop and air conditioning should have been running. There are two cats that roam the store just an FYI to anyone with cat allergies. The employee was friendly and asked if I needed any help, but I was just browsing. read more

The owners lack of personality and cold stare made Buffalo winters look like the tropics.I said thank you after i bought my product and nothing much came out of hers.Puzzled? Did i do something wrong? I gave her many opportunities to chat with me the customer. I gave this a second try after two years of staying away and It was the same unfriendly atmosphere. "It takes years to get a customer base and seconds to loose it." The Sales women( I use that term loosely,here) would not engage in small conversation, with her guests. The product may be intriguing,to some, but way too overpriced, for this cold ,unfriendly, experience. The store may needs a fun area, perhaps try an area for seasonal sales , possibly in the back of the store. Please put up yellow strips on your back stairs before someone trips on the Dark brown carpet. May I suggest Business training and personal business counseling for yourself.. I'm not returning. read more

A hit and miss place. They carry things by different artists and suppliers. I thought it was all local, but ask before you buy (if you are looking for something from Buffalo that is) because some of the suppliers come from farther afield. Some of the things are nice but others are poorly made and overpriced. As a knitter, I would tell you that the knitted items are quite overpriced and not always that well made. But the yarn they sell there is beautiful. I periodically find cool little gifts here but most commonly walk out empty handed. The presence of a cat that lounges on everything means I will not ever be able to purchase clothing or yarn here (boo hoo). read more

Excellent place to find unique holiday gifts for that hard-to-buy-for person on your shopping list. Great selection of beautiful items. Great staff. I def recommend it! read more

I purchased a PLANET LOVE organic t-shirt at this shop earlier in the summer. While the staff was "cool" to me when I was in the store, I purchased a shirt anyway but on the way out I noticed the shop has a cat. I am allergic to cats. When I wore the shirt, I broke out in hives. I contacted the manufacturer of the shirts and Tanya felt it was because of the retail shops cat. She replaced the shirt for me and it was worse! My reaction this time meant 2 days of Benadryl. I called Tanya again and her husband Joe hot on the phone and ripped me to pieces - so I felt compelled to leave a review. Whatever they use on these "organic" shirts can be toxic. I would never go back to the gift shop or recommend anyone buy the shirts unless they have a leather for skin. read more

Every time I visit Buffalo (I live in NYC) I make a point to stop by this store to see what's new and since it's all local artists there is always something new! It is the first place I go to look for something unique to give as a gift and where I do all my Christmas shopping because I know no one else here in NYC will be giving anything like it! Great shop, great customer service, great product, lots of personal attention. And a super cute cat. read more