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Foster's Homeware

4.5 star rating
based on 30 reviews

Categories: Home Decor, Kitchen & Bath  [Edit]

Neighborhood: Olde City
33 N 3rd St
Philadelphia, PA 19106
(215) 925-0950
Hours:

Mon-Sat. 11:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.

Sun. 12:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Price Range:
$$
Accepts Credit Cards:
Yes
Parking:
Street
Wheelchair Accessible:
Yes
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30 reviews for Foster's Homeware

Review Highlights   

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"A great place for unique house-warming gifts, too." (in 8 reviews)
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"It's a great place to kitchen and cooking tools, gadgets and accessories." (in 5 reviews)
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"As a design junkie I am a huge fan of Foster Urban Home wear." (in 8 reviews)
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Sort by: Yelp Sort | Date | Rating | Elites'
Photo of Jill A.

Elite '09

98

61

Jill A.

Philadelphia, PA

5 star rating
8/23/2009

Two words: TOAST TONGS.

Five more words: They're tiny and adorable! Squeeeeee!!!

(Thanks, Foster's, for enabling me to fish my bagel out of the toaster without burning my fingertips. Love ya!)

People thought this was:

  • Useful (8)
  • Funny (12)
  • Cool (6)
Photo of monica s.

Elite '09

920

207

monica s.

Philadelphia, PA

5 star rating
7/17/2009

If I see you shopping at Foster's, I can deduce a few things about you.

You love design, you offer guests bathroom reading material, you love Chilewich rugs, you throw dinner parties and appreciate fun salad tongs, your salt and pepper shakers are little ceramic characters that hug each other, you put your organic fruit in an oversized but tasteful crystal bowl, you like when guests ask if they should remove their shoes when they enter your house, you appreciate minimalist decor, you special ordered the birds on a wire wall decal and all your friends ask if it's hand painted, your wine glasses don't have stems, you own a cocktail shaker, the list goes on folks.

What I'm trying to say is this people: if you're looking to impress your friends with your taste, buy them a present here.

Every time I step into Foster's I think on an old proverb: "if a tree falls in the forest and crushes a woman...why is there a forest in the kitchen?"

People thought this was:

  • Useful (13)
  • Funny (22)
  • Cool (13)
Photo of Tia L.

Elite '09

5

81

Tia L.

Philadelphia, PA

5 star rating
6/21/2009

Who else can say they learned how to shuck oysters from the 3rd fastest oyster shucker in the nation???

The cooking demonstrations at Foster's are phenomenal... you get to meet some local chef's/culinary stars, try their food AND it's free...

I've devoured nearly 10 (free) oysters doused in vodka and caviar during my most recent visit with the raw chef at the Union Trust.

Before that I went to the demonstration with the chef from the Prohibition Tap Room.... seared scallops & arugula with a framboise vinegarette, then mousse with chocolate stoudt... mmm.

It's like sampling the culinary world of Philadelphia without paying a dime (although you can spend a dime and more buying some of the great homeware in the store!).

Photo of S. M.

 

13

372

S. M.

Naperville, IL

3 star rating
10/17/2009

Very mod-looking homestuff can be found here: cooking utensils, some home decor, plus cards and some gourmet food items. The atmosphere felt a little cold because of the white walls, metal shelves, and whatnot. Prices are pretty high as well, so to do your whole kitchen in this "look" would set you back, but it's a great fantasy playland for the chef in you!

Photo of Matthew E.

Elite '09

25

573

Matthew E.

Brooklyn, NY

4 star rating
9/2/2009

Great houseware store (mostly kitchen items). They also have some creative decor items as well. The sales people are very nice and helpful and the store is extremely clean and well stocked. The only issue is that the prices are what you would expect from a specialty shop (very high) so I ended up only browsing. If you're looking for a common kitchen item you'll save a bunch of money going elsewhere but if you have the extra disposable income or need something more unique for the kitchen or home, you'd definitely enjoy shopping here.

Photo of Dannie T.

Elite '09

9

44

Dannie T.

Philadelphia, PA

2 star rating
8/20/2009

I wasn't impressed. The selection is decent, at best, and overpriced.

Photo of Sisi L.

Elite '09

10

53

Sisi L.

Philadelphia, PA

5 star rating
6/12/2009

i love fosters! great for gifts and any odds and ends that make your apartment look great (and of course, i need all of it!)

i'm so happy about their cookie cutter selection. i can't wait to celebrate Canada Day with my maple leaf cookie cutters!

People thought this was:

  • Useful (4)
  • Cool (4)
Photo of Jixolet M.

Elite '09

43

159

Jixolet M.

Philadelphia, PA

4 star rating
2/5/2009

Awesome store. Nice staff.
However I was a little disappointed that they do not carry coffee socks. I needed to replace mine and asked the staff if they carried them but they never heard of them.

That's A-OK though because the girl that I spoke with tried to point me in the right direction and was very friendly.

I love that they carry Mrs. Meyer's cleaning supplies; they are so refreshing and lovely.

People thought this was:

  • Useful (3)
  • Cool (2)
Photo of Matt L.

 

35

163

Matt L.

Brooklyn, NY

5 star rating
12/18/2008

God, I love this place.

I can only assume I was a middle-aged gay man in a previous life.

People thought this was:

  • Useful (2)
  • Funny (10)
  • Cool (1)
Photo of Catherine R.

 

3

17

Catherine R.

Collingswood, NJ

5 star rating
2/9/2009

I adore fosters!

Any rainy day that I walk into this store, I am made cheerful by the bright array of colored goodies that lay before me!

I have purchased so many things from this place that I have lost count! I am a huge fan of their array of interesting and urban brands and the selection of chilewhich products they have.

Also, if there is something you are looking for and can not find, they will take your information and call you when the product comes in. If they know it is not going to be reordered they will recommend some great alternatives.

Fosters is a great place for house warming presents(I'd love getting anything from that store) and it also serves as a great place to grab a cute and interesting baby shower or a child's birthday gift.

The new location is fantastic and the staff is helpful and kind as always!

People thought this was:

  • Useful (2)
  • Cool (1)
Photo of Terry C.

Elite '09

95

285

Terry C.

Philadelphia, PA

5 star rating
7/21/2008

Maybe you need a zester, maybe new china, maybe a milkshake machine, or novelty gag gifts?!  Whatever you could possible think of Foster's has it, and it's always great quality, design, and function!  I have the same problem as most shoppers, I go in wanting one thing and walk out with 4 unrelated items that I had to have!  The staff is great and very funny.  

Of note - on Saturdays at 2pm they do cooking demonstrations where they show cases kitchen gadgets, easy recipes, and usually free samples!  There are local chef's who come and teach for free!

People thought this was:

  • Useful (3)
  • Cool (2)
Photo of Karen F.

Elite '09

310

1522

Karen F.

Philadelphia, PA

4 star rating
9/23/2008

Philadelphia's answer to NYC's Gracious Home, Fosters offers upscale, classy bath, kitchen and home decor.  They also have cooking classes and other home-related workshops here.

It is pricey - but if you need a certain something - they can get it for you.
A great place for unique house-warming gifts, too.

Glad it's here!

People thought this was:

  • Useful (2)
  • Cool (2)
Photo of David F.

Elite '09

86

132

David F.

Phoenixville, PA

5 star rating
Updated - 1/9/2009

Honestly, Foster's gets it!  They have great product and merchandise it very well.  They have an attentive sales staff and Jason has been there forever, so he knows that store inside and out.  What Fosters does so well is offer good, honest products, that are respectful to the design world but still approachable to the general public.  They balance looking like a mass market home furnishings store, but still maintain the characteristics of a family owned business.  I have said before, that Fosters is one of our biggest inspirations, and they continue to inspire us with an eye opening store arrangement.  Hands down, one of the best housewares stores in the entire region - that includes Philly, the suburbs, New Jersey, and........ well....... hell..... the entire East Coast.  Yeah, I said it.  The entire East Coast.

People thought this was:

  • Useful (4)
  • Funny (2)
  • Cool (3)

1 Previous Review: Show all »

  • 4 star rating
    3/6/2008

    Great shop.  One of our major inspirations in our store.  These guys have been doing it for years… Read more »

Photo of Samantha S.

Elite '09

33

54

Samantha S.

Philadelphia, PA

5 star rating
12/20/2008

Talk about a kid in a candy store.  I could spend hours in this place!  They have everything from bakeware, gourmet dry baking ingredients, cooking and decorating books, and design knick knacks galore.  I come here for gifts for my mother or hostess gifts.  If I had enough money I'd spend plenty here on myself too, coming here is a treat.

People thought this was:

  • Useful (4)
  • Funny (3)
  • Cool (3)
Photo of Frank R.

Elite '09

18

67

Frank R.

PA

4 star rating
5/18/2008 1 photo

Really great home and kitchen shop. (I wanted to write "shoppe" there, because the place has that vibe.)

Some people have described Foster's as a high-end Ikea. It's not that. It's got really interesting kitchenware. And they have great lamps (we have a few in our office) and furniture. Plus, they put on cooking shows in a professional studio kitchen that's integrated into the store. I saw a taping of Fork You Live (http://www.forkyou.tv) and it was great.

Cool store. Good location. Visit the Liberty Bell, then buy a utensil to clean bell peppers.

People thought this was:

  • Useful (2)
  • Cool (1)
Photo of Susan L.

Elite '09

48

343

Susan L.

Chicago, IL

5 star rating
5/10/2007

I really feel that you can buy a present for practically anyone at Foster's.  Of course, the easiest person to shop for is yourself--and I know you'll be tempted at Foster's.  

This store packs a punch!

People thought this was:

  • Useful (4)
  • Cool (1)
Photo of Caitlin C.

 

75

387

Caitlin C.

PA

5 star rating
2/1/2007 1 photo

If I was a store I'd be Foster's.

As a design fanatic and recent design editor, I have come to know and love all things with a smart, new design. Most of the things you will find on design blogs, at New York design shows and even some things you've never heard of (the latter is most of the masses) you will find at Foster's.

They have cool design gadgets, funky plates and martini glasses, modern kitchen accessories, beautiful candles and loads more.

I can't recommend enough just stopping into this place - I guarantee you won't leave empty handed.

People thought this was:

  • Useful (4)
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Photo of Marisa D.

Elite '09

32

78

Marisa D.

Philadelphia, PA

4 star rating
7/17/2008

I try to limit my trips to Foster's because I always end up walking out with at least 3 extra items that I didn't know I needed or wanted. There's no such thing as "just browsing" in this place. It's a virtual guarantee that you'll walk out with at least one impossibly clever or shiny, candy-colored little something.

People thought this was:

  • Useful (6)
  • Funny (2)
  • Cool (5)
Photo of Meg C.

Elite '09

156

269

Meg C.

Philadelphia, PA

4 star rating
7/1/2008

Foster's is marvelous! It is a great place to find housewarming or birthday gifts. Cute card selections as well. The store has a nice mod/retro feel to it. They carry Global knives (my fave) as well as other fine cooking goods. They also have cute trinkets a la Newbury Comics in Boston. Like I said before, great store to find gifts and not too expensive either.

People thought this was:

  • Useful (7)
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Photo of Daniel D.

 

29

132

Daniel D.

PA

4 star rating
6/6/2007

Oh Foster's, how I love thee. As a design junkie I am a huge fan of Foster Urban Home wear. I'd go as far as to say it's my favorite store in the city. It's packed with everything from kitschy knick nacks that you didn't know you needed to functional home wear items. Furthermore, they have a good mix between the famous designers like Bodum, Iittala, and Umbra and new, funky products just hitting the market.

I'd definitely check the store out, just don't ask them to gift wrap anything, they get mean.

People thought this was:

  • Useful (3)
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Photo of Laurel M.

 

49

138

Laurel M.

Philadelphia, PA

5 star rating
8/26/2007

OK, I totally & completely adored Foster's when it was situated in its little N 3rd street location.
But ~WOW~ I am head-over-heels in love with Foster's at its new Market & 4th location!!

The new & improved Foster's is probably about 6 times larger than the old Foster's & if you thought they had almost any quirky & fun little item to help spice up your home before, you will be blown away by the amount of totally fabulous items with which you can now drain your bank account.  Everything, they have everything for your home, I don't even know where to start!  They still have everything you loved from the old Foster's plus all the stuff from Foster's Gourmet Kitchen (which was located in the Reading Terminal Market & I'm pretty sure they closed down that little locale, too) & in more variety, then they have more totally new & fun stuff that you've never seen!  

I freakin' love Foster's, man.

There is *one* little thing I don't like about the new Foster's.  When it was on N 3rd St it always felt like such a great little neighborhood gem.  Now it feels certainly more corporate and maybe even a little touristy.  So that saddened me a bit, but I'll live and despite the different atmosphere the content inside is what really counts when you're shopping & Foster's is really Grade A through and through.

People thought this was:

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Photo of cherie c.

Elite '09

95

1020

cherie c.

Denver, CO

4 star rating
6/14/2007

Great place for nice gifts.  It's a bit too expensive for me to shop on a regular basis ($70 for a bed tray?), but they do have beautiful and interesting things for the home.  

Beautifully designed things for the home.

People thought this was:

  • Useful (1)
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Photo of Tim R.

 

4

31

Tim R.

Philadelphia, PA

4 star rating
10/29/2007

Foster's recently relocated to 10,000 square foot store on Market Street, not too far from their former location in Olde City. The new space is obviously much bigger, and it allows for a much better shopping experience--you can roam through the store and before you know it, you've been there for over 30 minutes by the time you are done looking at all they have to offer. It's a great place to kitchen and cooking tools, gadgets and accessories. Towards the back of the store there is an additional room that is used to hold cooking classes (run by Temple University).

Some of the products I have recently found (and purchased) at Fosters include: Clocky, the alarm clock with wheels that scurries across the floor when your alarm goes off; a set of ice cube trays that make perfect "cube" shaped ice, and an Umbra wine rack that holds six wine bottles. This store offers some of the most design-friendly and useful houseware items around--great for gifts as well as shopping for yourself.

Also check out their online store at http://shopfosters.com, which carries the same items in the store along with some additional items not always available in the store.

People thought this was:

  • Useful (1)
Photo of Nicole R.

 

75

303

Nicole R.

PA

4 star rating
3/1/2007

I love buying stuff for the kitchen.  That explains my overabundance of whisks, spatulas and canopeners.  Fosters has high-design kitchen solutions from brightly colored tea kettles to the phenomenon I like to refer to as the 'coffee bong' which is a coffee pot which looks surprisingly like a bong and one which I have little idea how to use.  They have specialty cutlery, spiceware and more funky one-use gadgets than you can shake a whisk at.

If I could I'd have a tea kettle in every color of the rainbow.

Photo of Lori H.

Elite '09

43

122

Lori H.

Philadelphia, PA

5 star rating
6/18/2008

If I had more money I would so shop here all the freekin' time.  The merchandise is displayed fantastically and the selection of gadgets and gizmos is to die for.  I went in to buy a neoprene wine carrier as a gift for a client of mine last week and there were none out, I asked at the counter and was told "oh, they just came in this morning, let me go to the back and get them".  Wow, the gentleman proceeded to open each box and show me the colors until he got to the striped ones - i was like "stop right there, we have a winner."  Yesterday I finally purchased a great bottle of wine and have to present the gift which I am happy to give.  Many thanks to the guys at Fosters for all that you do!

People thought this was:

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Photo of Meg R.

 

0

5

Meg R.

Philadelphia, PA

5 star rating
7/19/2008

Fabulous atmosphere, and an amazing staff.  If you're looking for a gift it's your one-stop destination.

People thought this was:

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Photo of Carrie E.

 

1618

472

Carrie E.

Philadelphia, PA

5 star rating
12/3/2007

Despite the fact that we just went through 3 months of kitchen renovations, I'm sorry to report that I hate to cook. Luckily, my husband keeps me around anyway - probably because I pop into Fosters from time to time to pick up little kitchen accessories for him. The new location is lovely and it's pretty hard to walk out of there without buying at least one thing. Make sure to visit whenever you need to get a gift that shows you put a little effort into it.

People thought this was:

  • Useful (4)
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Photo of nicole p.

 

10

43

nicole p.

Philadelphia, PA

5 star rating
4/8/2008

Fosters is heaven for modernist hipster chefs or just girls like me that like clean stylish products, gifts etc. The new store is more of a shopping mecca than the cozy old location. I don't mind, I prefer to walk around aimlessly staring at the clean modern products. I always get a Fosters gift card to all newly married couples and usually walk out of there with a trinket for my daughter or something smart for my kitchen.

People thought this was:

  • Useful (2)
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Photo of Julie D.

 

40

285

Julie D.

Cranberry Township, PA

5 star rating
8/19/2007

Super cool store, really great merchandise, I could have spent an hour in here looking at stuff.  Great location, too.  Hard for even a tourist to miss!

People thought this was:

  • Useful (4)
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Photo of Leo V.

 

0

6

Leo V.

Philadelphia, PA

3 star rating
6/20/2008

Ok, so actually this is a 5 star store.  However I have a problem with one of the managers (skinny guy with short hair, I never saw him at the old store).  We have bought our beautiful chandelier with PVC drum as well as a multitude of other things (including a birthday present for my father in law).  And I swear every time we go in there this guy is instructing the sales folks on how not to be helpful.  The other time my wife was standing right next to the counter after I had asked one of them about a product that ended up being back ordered, and he was saying to the other staff how they shouldn't help people if the product is not available because they'll just keep bothering them, all in earshot of said customer.  Thanks, but I'll take my money somewhere else.
However if you want cool modern accessories or furniture for the home/kitchen, this is definitely the place.  Their choice of books is also excellent.

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