Tabula Rasa Essentials

This place has fabulous products for self and for gifts. Everything is kinda cool and unique, and the style is very beachy like if you know what I mean. If you are ever in Manhattan beach, visit this place and you’ll understand what I mean. I think the store just down the street is own by the same owner and it is just as cool but more into furniture and things. Everything is a little pricey and I think from reading Unilocalers reviews, the on sale stuff and return policies are not so customer friendly. I am always very picky and do not return as often, so when comes to buying stuff like these, I will look and look forever before I decide to buy. I think they want customer like me… the looky loos… hahaha. So buyers beware and buy at your own risk so you don’t need to return. LOL

Worst customer service, especially from the owner! The staff can be nice when they are feeling up to it. Everything is way over priced and the selection of original items isn’t as good as it used to be, lots of the same stuff year after year. Either way, haven’t been shopping here for over a year, stopped in and saw nothing has changed, so I will continue to shop at all the other local boutiques with similar items at a cheaper price.

My all-​time, absolute, favorite gift store ever. They have everything from candles to cards, soap to amazing jewelry… kids stuff, sweet stuff. This is the only place I go for gifts in MB. I could send hours perusing the fun-​filled shelves and I always find a unique gift … both for myself and others… while I’m there.
One of their absolute coolest gifts is a custom distressed wooden board that they will create for you. Just give them a list a favorites (from bands, to color to university) and they lay the words out beautifully and you can hang the piece on your wall. It was one of the most thoughtful gifts I have ever received and since getting mine I have been back several times to create pieces for friends and colleagues.
Service is always sweet as can be.

I shop here often to buy unique gifts for myself, friends, and my beach rental. I’ve read the reviews and can relate to them all. Sometimes I get a hello and good customer service and sometimes they don’t even know I’m there and I have to ask for assistance which seems like a burden. I just do my shopping and go!
Although I was in there today and Bobbie was very sweet and helpful. I also saw that they opened up a sister store that has been there for 4 months now and it’s right next door… absolutely beautiful and the gal in there was also helpful and pleasant. Seems like things are looking up for Tabula Tasa

Their sprinkler system waters the street instead of their trees

Ah, Tabula Rasa! Why must you be so expensive. I get that Manhattan Beach is a more upscale beach community than it was before (with the sudden infusion of sports stars and investment bankers), but when I shop I want to feel like I’m getting a good deal, even if it’s an illusion.
This place is best for candles, soaps, and wish necklaces. They also have cards and shampoos (Bumble&Bumble) and they once had Sugarpova candies (which I actually liked a lot).
The setup of this store is actually really disorganized to me. You kind of just have to wander around and find what you need. Nothing is in rows and everything is kind of just there. The people who work here are fine but never overly helpful.
No parking lot, so good luck finding a parking spot on Manhattan Ave.
One of the biggest reasons why I keep on coming back is because my mom has been shopping here forever. It’s a LOCAL BUSINESS. I remember Tabula Rasa and it’s familiar to me. So even if the prices are outrageous, I still find myself back here when I need almond milk scented soaps…

Update: it looks like someone from Tabula Rasa responded to my review from a fake account (only 2 reviews). They even said that my item could not be found at Crate & Barrel (I never specified the items in my review), so they’re not very clever. In fact, one of the items (Dogfish Head IPA glasses) can indeed be found at several big box stores.
First, I knew the item was mis-​marked, not «double marked up» (whatever that means) at the counter. Typically, businesses large and small atone for their mistakes. I wasn’t trying to get a deal, it was just bad customer service.
Second, I know that Tabula Rasa isn’t a corporation, as I clearly stated about 6 times in my review. That was why I was so disappointed. I was shopping there because I dislike corporations and do my best not to give them any of my business. Luckily, I found the same item (bubble bath) at a small business in the Redondo Riviera for $ 10 less than Tabula Rasa’s price. Buyers beware: you can find similar items for less at other boutiques in the South Bay.
Instead of using fake, or possibly personal, accounts Tabula Rasa should respond to a customer’s honest feedback. Most business would own up to their mistakes and attempt to make up for a bad experience. Also, people who include hash tags are very annoying.

Beautiful gift store with lots of unique items. This is my go to place for all my gift buying. They also have several special events and promotions. Get on their email list. Love this store.

This is one of my all-​time favorite shops in the area. If you ever have a close friend or a person you need to get a gift for but don’t know that well, I guarantee you’ll find something there that makes the receiver feel special. It’s got an elegantly grounded breezy beach pampered feel. With everything from delicious soaps to luxurious lotions, great table top books, fun accent pieces for your home or stand-​alone pieces to inspire a feel for your home. They also have fun details like great cards, fun little casual but handmade jewelry pieces that can go to the beach during the day and to a candlelit dinner at night. If there aren’t already enough reasons to go, they have my favorite Kai’s lotion and I always feel better buying it from a brick and mortar shop than finding it online. I always feel welcome shopping here, as though being invited to someone’s home to see their favorite things.

the BEST selection of candles, gift items, host gifts… and some gorgeous jewelry. If you are in Manhattan Beach, make sure you stop in. Positively lovely!

Cute shop. Definitely the place to go if you are looking to find the perfect gift for someone and you just can’t figure out what to get. Browse around here for 15 minutes and something will pop out at you.

It is a cute shop and I love to come here to window shop and see what neat things they have. I also get my reed diffuses here they have a great selection of them.

As a 20yr+ resident of MB, I’m embarrassed to admit I JUST FOUND TABULA RASA! After driving/​walking by this interesting store, recently my daughter dragged me inside to search for candles. Let me start with this: we were immediately greeted by 3 very sincere and friendly employees, we totally felt welcomed into this beautifully store! I’m not sure why there’s so much neg. input regarding their staff, but hey… we all perceive things differently =)
The store is set-​up very nicely, easy to navigate in and well organized. Smells WONDERFUL in here too!
So, my daughter forgot all about her candle-​quest and made a bee line to the front display case/​counter to look at some jewelry. The young lady behind the counter was super-​sweet and proceeded to tell my daughter the story behind «the giving keys» line.
(Hmm, day before Valentine’s day… and I haven’t bought ANY gifts yet… I might be on to something…). Daughter and I looked around some more… so many things to look at in here, an amazing selection for every taste! Before we left, I noted their hours and made my plans…
Valentine’s day afternoon: I pop into Tabula Rasa and I’m greeted again, only this time…2 of the same staff from yesterday’s visit recognize me! I’m impressed! I’m really bad w/​names the women that helped me was beyond wonderful: not only did she help me find the perfect gift for my younger girl, she also found the perfect bday gift for my BF! The staff behind the counter remembered the exact giving key my daughter had drooled over. My items were beautifully wrapped (way nicer than I could ever do!) and I was never made to feel rushed or unwelcome… I could have stayed there all day!
PS: everyone LOVED their gifts!
As for the mom of the 2yr old that needed the potty: businesses that are not serving table food are under no obligation to provide a restroom for non-​employees. It’s a liability for the business to allow non-​employees in their employee restrooms. Plenty of public/​restaurant restrooms a few yards away from this store… just saying this is not something to criticize.
Summing it up: Tabula Rasa is what every store should strive to be… excellent selection, fabulous customer service and a fun enviroment… something you will not have at a «mall» store or big-​chain store.
I will always shop there!

I’m an absolutely products girl! I have so much product in my shelf, it’s ridiculous.
That is why I love this cute shop. Although majority of their stuff is wayyyy overpriced but they do have the high end products.
They have soaps, lotions, candles, skin care, books, gift wares, home décor items. Since I’ve pledged to do shop locals as much as I can over the holidays, I spent so much money in here.
Free gift wrapping is available. I do agreed with some of the Unilocaler’r review of the rude customer service received. When you purchase 5 different items over the holidays for gift giving, you expect to have them wrapped since they offer that service to their customers. Well perhaps I got 10 items, too much when it’s wrapping time, I felt like I was disturbing them. I didn’t felt appreciated that business was given to them. I ended up buying my own gift bags and wrapping it myself.
But other then that, the shop is great! I just hope they lower prices since it is economical hard ship time. :-P

I wandered into this store today to browse. I decided to buy a hand cream and went up to pay for it. My change was just over a dollar so I asked the cashier if she could give me all change so I could use it to fill up my meter. She hesitated, practically rolled her eyes at me, and then threw the change in my hand. OK, I could understand if she was annoyed by people constantly asking for change but really? I was a paying customer and it’s not like I asked for a whole roll of quarters. Seriously… I will never step foot in this store ever again. Horrible customer service.

It’s hard for a gift store to «Be All that You Can Be» cause of course, everyone has different taste in gifts and overpriced misc stuff and smelly goo, so I like this place but sometimes I just go «grrrrrrr» at it.
To like and not:
+ 1 Star — Sale area! Ok, so I usually only buy from this section. It’s behind the register area (not like, behind the register, but directly on the other side from the…) and has about 3 shelves wide of good stuff and total crap. It’s up to you to find the good stuff — like I did several times with ½ price candles!
— 1 Star — Staff. I have to say, the staff is always just not so great. Last time I was in here, just a few days ago, the two girls working were talking and socializing loudly about personal stuff while I was shopping. Um, customers should be honored, ladies. So either help me, or be quiet for heavens sake!
— 1 Star — Parking. Ugh, I hate parking down in this part of the world. The meters are sucky rip offs.
+ 1 Star — Selection. I have to say, whomever curates the goodies here has pretty good taste. She could cut back a bit on the cosmetic-​y and smelly/​rubby lotion stuff and pump up the upscale local products stuff, but other than that, someone who likes to buy will enjoy this place.
— 1 Star — Prices. It’s just all pricey to me, especially when I have seen same items cheaper other places (like Voluspa candles, certain lotions etc).
I always pass through this store when I am in the hood, but rarely buy. I suppose if I were richer, I would buy more!!!

Walked into the store because we thought it looked cute. Was really eyeing some cool water bottles they had when I heard my 2 year old say, «Mommy I have to go pee.» I looked up sheepishly at the lady behind the counter and asked, «Sorry, do you have a restroom we can borrow?»
The lady’s response, «We have a restroom but it’s not for customers.» she was about to continue to probably offer up some restroom down the street but my response was to just turn right around and march out the door. My friend and her baby following suit. We will NEVER go into that establishment again and I would suggest anyone with a child not put money into a place that would be so unaccommodating to a mother with a 2-​year old child. Unacceptable.

I’ve seen Tabula Rasa on the way home and it looked intriguing, so I thought I’d check it out once I had a chance. So one Saturday I stopped by. There were a lot of cute housewares, bath products, and other misc items that would make for good gift giving. But I knew that I didn’t want to buy anything as soon as I saw the exact same product (some French liquid soap) I have at home. Tabula Rasa was selling it for $ 27, whereas I got it at TJ Maxx for $ 6.

Pros: the store is adorable and a great place to get trendy and classic gifts. parking is usually easy.
CONS: THE STAFF are horrible. I have gone into «TR» and purchased so many gifts and every time I leave, I swear I am never going back. This last experience was the tipping point for me which is why I am Unilocaling about it. Two employees and one customer (me). I asked for help finding a specific candle and you would have thought they were doing me a service and gave me an attitude of «cant you just find it yourself lady». It was as if I had bothered them when they were doing anything but sitting behind a little desk and counter. I don’t know who owns this store but you need some NEW employees. Its miserable walking into this store.

This is a beautiful little store is located by the Manhattan beach blvd area. A nice addition to the selection of stores there. It’s definitely a woman store… with lots of lotions and candles… It’s a good place to spend a little bit of time before your parking meter is up. I go there, but fear entering that place. I always end up picking up something random.
Sale aisle is at the back of the counter, often have good sale for up to 50% off. Check that place out first!