Art Materials – The Art Store

This is reviewing customer service…
I’ve stopped here a few times for miscellaneous supplies. Every time I’ve dealt with a board and slighty rude staff. Some times I’m the only one in the store and ringing up my items seems to be the last thing anyone wants to do. I’m in a customer service industry, check your bad mood at the door. I wont be back for a long while.

For the most part, I really like this shop. It’s well-​stocked, laid out nicely, and prices are reasonable. Here’s the big «but:» there’s a chick who works there that always gives me slight pause about whether I should go in or not. She’s a short, long-​haired blond with a mean face. I’ve asked her a question to have it met with a sarcastic and rude response. Other times, she makes an obvious move to follow you around the store with eagle eyes hellbent on her assumption that you plan to thieve something – even if you’re a regular that practices the basic Judeo-​Christian ethic of Thou Shalt Not Steal. She has the worst customer service skills of any person I’ve come across in the service sector (and that even includes the old lady at a Walgreens who used to roll her eyes at people for saying hi). Other employees at this store are so nice and helpful, and then there’s this bundle of «joy» pacing around the store. I hope she isn’t an owner. Then it would pretty much clinch my decision to not shop here anymore. Otherwise, I’ll hedge my bets and hope she isn’t there when I need an art supply.

With the exception of the young Asian woman who worked there and was super friendly and helpful, the other staff were dreadful!
As I was browsing the store, there was a person following me through each aisle. I didn’t notice this at first, and initially thought it was just another customer. He kept following me no matter where I browsed! Eventually I realized he had a staff shirt on, and that I was basically being policed.
Meanwhile, the sole other customer in the store was not being followed at all. The difference between us was that I had a backpack, and further, I look very young for my age, people often mistake me for a teenager. The other customer was an older woman so perhaps they figured she wouldn’t steal since of course old people never do that.
Listen folks, if you’re that worried about theft, you might as well enforce a «check bag at register» type rule that some other places require. I’d prefer that over being profiled based on my youthful looks and awesome backpack!
On top of that, at the register, as the young Asian girl helped check me out, she offered me a membership card. However, it required my email information, I don’t like giving out my email because it always equals spam, so I asked if I could skip that since they already took my private phone number.
The girl’s manager, this creepy crow of a woman with a perm-​frown and anal retentive attitude, snapped at me, saying that they needed the email to verify my identity.
First of all, can someone explain how an email verifies anybody’s identity? I’d say a phone number is already enough? Whatevs. I rejected their lame membership at that point.
And really, what I should have done was just leave the store in huff without purchasing anything. Instead I paid over $ 100 for the supplies I wanted, thus supporting the local total jerks’ business. Consider it a donation douchebags. You’re welcome and someday you’ll need to figure out how to untwist those smelly bunched up panties of yours!

I had to pick up some supplies for a community ed pastels class. I didn’t want to spend a lot of money on a hobby I didn’t know if I’d like. The workers at store were very helpful and understanding. They helped me find good product 5 hat was lower on price. And I got to use a $ 5 Chinook Book coupon.

Looking to get your frame on? Art Materials if your place! Just got back from a fabulous framing session. Lots of framing options, knowledgable employees and quick/​speedy service that makes any artwork look fabulous.
Make sure to check out the Uptown Quarterly for a $ 50 off a $ 200 off your framing purchase!

Great local Art store in Uptown! Ashley has an art showing coming up so we stopped in to check out prices and supplies!
They have a huge selection here of everything an artist would need, from paints, to markers, to kids art items, to a whole section just for framing your masterpieces!
I told Ashley I would buy her stuff for her if I got to pick out a wood canvas for her to paint me something! She agreed and the rest is history!
The staff was super helpful and answered all her questions and we ended up spending about 120 bucks on stuff! Great store, great location, and happy they were open on a Sunday!

very helpful staff, they have just about anything a painter needs

In need to purchase some goods for Unilocal’s Secret Ninja Soirée, I found Art Materials on Unilocal and decided to make a visit. This Lyndale joint is quite large for an Uptown business, and it’s separated into two sections. One specializes in framing and the other in markers, paints, and tools.
God did not bless me with the ability to do either arts or crafts. I’m still pretty bummed that I got a B+ in my tenth grade painting, which I believe was the second lowest grade in the class. (Who gets a B+ in painting? It was supposed to be cush, yo!) Thankfully, one of the employees helped me above and beyond! He told me what brand of dye he prefers, explained the differences in the types of woods, and discerned what X-​Acto knife would best fit my needs. Not only that, but the guy went into the back of the storage room and grabbed some cardboard for me because he knew I would be doing some cutting.
Great selection + fair prices + friendly staff = awesome place. Thanks Art Materials!

I love browsing in art supplies stores, particularly for pens, mechanical pencils, erasers, and calligraphy supplies. This is a non-​chain neighborhood place that has a good selection of stuff I need and even more of stuff I want. Must find a way to tear myself away…

Why did I take so long to walk into this place? Is it because I lack artistic talent? I dunno, but I’m glad I tagged along when my mom wanted to stop here to look for framing supplies for a project (I did not inherit her crafting gene).
Art Materials has been open for more than 50 years and is a small, local alternative to Michaels and Dick Blick. Except the selection isn’t small, from what I saw. The other thing I noticed is that they have quite a selection of gifts, including fantastic pens (I’m a bit of a pen nerd) and notebooks. Coincidentally, I had been combing the Internet and local shops for a great new work notebook to carry with me to meetings, but finally ended up buying a Moleskine at Target because none of the other Moleskines (or other notebooks) were quite right. I’m kicking myself for not coming here first.
The customer service was great and helped my mom find what she needed (and gave suggestions on where to find what they didn’t have… nice, like Kris Kringle in Miracle on 34^th Street!). While she was doing her thing, I ended up finding this cute little wooden easel that is perfect for displaying my tiny letterpress calendar. #thingsididntknowineeded
I also found it really charming that they treated my adorable mom like a hipster. The guy checking us out was chatting with her about all these local festivals, bike events and art openings… and I was kind of laughing on the inside since she usually goes to bed at 9 p.m. (sorry to out you on your bedtime, Mom).

For the most part, I like Art Materials. They usually have what I’m looking for at reasonable prices. The one thing I don’t like is that not all of their employees are friendly. Good customer service goes a long way; I’m not sure I’ll visit Art Materials if/​when they move to Lyndale & Lake if I’m going to be stuck with an uppity staff member.

ho lee sheet.
i don’t know how i’ve neglected to pop into this place. i needed to pickup one of those fancy-​schmancy photo albums and they were listed as having the kiosk to end all kiosks of these things. the problem is that when i walked in, i realized they had everything else art, drafting, pen, pencil nerd related.
i’m a self confessed pen/​pencil dork and i nearly plotzed upon entry. they have a fountain pen geek on staff, how frickin’ cool is that? i had to force myself to _​not_​peruse the balance of the store, but suffice it to say i was blown away. blick can bite me.

I have always enjoyed my experiences at Art Materials. I have never left empty handed, as this place managed to inventory every oddball item I’ve ever shopped for. The staff is extremely knowledgeable, clearly creative and oh so helpful. Spend some time exploring all the nooks and crannies of this place. You’ll definitely return for more!

I like this store and hope it stays in business for a long while. Good people work here, good selection, and a nice mix of shoppers. Get lost for a little while – even if it’s only in the pens/​markers you could be here a long time. Easy parking, easy to find, easy to love. Perfect reason to create something today.

I have respect for this store. As I was finishing up college, I needed to find a unique box-​like thing to keep my portfolio in, and since I was going for something a little less traditional, I had no idea where to look at first. This was one of my last stops, and the lady working that day was the biggest help of my life. She showed me pretty much every box they had. I ended up getting the perfect size, which was a photo carrier type thing. I loved it. IT was perfect! I couldn’t believe how helpful this lady was and how informative of photos and art in general she was. I liked her!
This place seems to have some pretty good prices. I ended up getting some thicker paper to make my own business cards with, and they were like .30 cents a page! Paper can be pretty expensive, but looking through all their kinds; Not only are they unique, but also decently priced!
Also, they have tons of canvases and many different sizes of them too! For being located right on Lyndale, I thought this was pretty handy. At the time I was car less, and even though it sucks to walk a mile with a canvas twice the size as you are. It was really nice!