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Categories: Fabric Stores, Art Supplies [Edit]
Neighborhood: Haight-AshburyMon-Sat. 10:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Sun. 11:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
It's nice to have an arts and crafts store in this area.
Very appropriate.
Especially for those sunny 'green' days, when the creative juices are flowing and you have the urge to get down to some messy glue coated collages, to paint your bed, make some clothes...etc.
Though Mendel's paint and art selection could be bigger, they don't tout themselves as a be-all art store, and they continue to be a solid option for most whimsical artistic fancies...
...and if you splurge enough - they'll even give you a handy tote.
People thought this was:
Although Mendel's is located in a very trafficky area, I love it. They always seem to have whatever it is I'm looking for (painting supplies, feathers, glues, ribbons, fabrics, sewing supplies, etc). The prices aren't exactly modest, however - I understand it's a small shop and they're trying to make a buck like everyone else. Sometimes they have 15 % or 25 % sales on everything - and if you ask the clerks - they'll give you one of those stampy cards for discounts. It's pretty rad - also, they have great cotton - printed fabrics.
Pro's: feathers and fabric/sewing section
Con's: cost of paint and closing time at 6PM
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this is as close as you can get to getting anything useful on haight! i highly recommend this store. prices arent theeeee best, selection isnt thee best, but if you in the area often, a great place to get a single spool of ribbon, or a special button, or anything related to visual arts. they also have some awesome san francisco posters for 4.00, but they just CANT keep em in stock.
i like ya mendels!
Stopped in to find some material for a collage book I've been working on for my son's birthday. I used to go in here quite a bit back in 82! Only thing that's really changed are the prices! But I think they're more reasonable than other art material stores. I found some nice hand-made paper and binding for under $20. The staff leaves you alone. I had to ask the fellow at the counter where to look for collage material. I wasn't approached by anyone the whole time (20 minutes) I was in the store.
But I'm happy with what I got and the do have a good stock of material. I didn't go upstairs to the fabric section. I bet it's a zoo in here leading up to Halloween!
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The store has lots of stuff. If you can't find what you need, you will most likely make do with something else. I try to stay within my neighborhood and support local business but these people make it very hard! The staff is buried in apathy. So much so that har to even get a thank you from most of them for giving them business. It's a shame since it's the only store of its kind in the area. I had to tell the girl at the cash register that saying thank you an goodbye was the polite thing to do. She just sighed. I don't know if I always catch them on their bad days or if customer service is just not amongst their goals as a business.
I love Mendel's. As I walk down Haight Street it's one of few stores I look forward to, where I know I'll discover some quirky type of craft or tool. By my review clearly I was lucky in only having someone who couldn't count change but wasn't rude to me.
I found a great stocking stuffer in the Moleskin department: a 4x6 220 page sketch book, black hardcover, embossed with "Mendels, 4 generations." or something like that. It's old school. The book is $5. It'll make me want to draw, sketch, and think creatively when making a to do list.
Mendel's has beads, fabric, random costumes, stamps, tattoos, paint stuff, lots of great things for a quick cheap present for an adult or kid. Maybe it's because to me craft stores are like hardware stores are for guys (gross generalization...I love hardware stores too!) but I love it. Not a lot of indi craft places around so check it out if you need a cheap fun gift!
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I joined yelp so that I could review Mendel's. I found the staff to be so unbelievably horribly rude that I felt the need to let people (especially the owner) know. I actually think they have great products, and it has been my go to place for glitter, but the staff are horrendous! I was so shocked by the rudeness of a girl who worked there, who shut the door in my face, that I asked to speak to the manager. The manager then approached me, and to my surprise her attitude was even worse! In all my life I have never been witness to worse customer service.
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"Honey, I tried to make it work. Now I'm just sorry to realize I was the only one trying."
You got pretty material, but you sho ain't the only one. I will never EVER come back to your skanknasty ass~itude as long as I live and breathe, even if you were the only place with fabric on the planet I would weave plastic shreds, metal shrapnel or even asshairs together rather than submit myself to your disdain one more time.
Absolute worst service ever, with 'highlights' of our relationshit being ignored, outright snubbed, followed like a shoplifter and playing the part of shugamomma for far too long... there is a limit to the goodness of a human heart and you have found it, Mendels.
The last straw was CHARGING ME FOR SOMEONE ELSE'S EXPENSIVE SHIT I WOULD NEVER BUY, AND SLIPPING IT INTO MY PURCHASE WHILE I'M DIGGING OUT MY C.C. AMID HELLIDAY HURRY THEN REFUSING TO TAKE THOSE ITEMS OFF WHEN I CHECKED MY BAG {as I do everywhere} *BEFORE* LEAVING THE END OF THE LINE!!!
I still cain't believe the superior snottitude of the 'manager' as I acknowledged it might be an easy mistake to her to make at the register, then reduced to outright haggling with her, as the b!tch straight tried to dupe me into leaving without recompense~shiesty shady lady!
Ended up selling store cred to hopeful would~be customer for less than it's worth in front of her at the door while she tried to tell the would be she wouldn't honor her own store cred. Take that for what it's worth, and watch that register like a hawk!
WTF... It's over, gold diggah.
Mendel's is great. I've been coming here since high school for any sort of art project I've set my mind to. If it's knitting, I know I can find a decent selection of yarns; sewing, fabric and all the accompanying supplies abound (and if you need shag or animal prints, this is a great place to get those); painting, I can get brushes, paints, and paper; collage, I've purchased a couple large bottles of Mod Podge for all of my collaging and decoupaging needs; covering tables or making bags out of oil cloth, they've got that too.
This is not Blick or Pearl, so the selection for each kind of medium isn't huge, but there's plenty to get you going. If nothing else, Mendel's is just a really fun store with friendly people and thousands of items guaranteed to get your creative juices flowing.
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Why is it that all arts & crafts stores in the city open at 10am, and close at 5:30? They are losing my business because of this. ARGH.
That being said, I managed to get over there when they were open and they helped me select a needle to hand-sew some PVC. The store definitely has a little bit of everything, and its focus is definitely not on sewing. Think of it more like an expanded glue, scissors, and beads store. Various arts & crafts stuff can be found here, but none of it is particularly competitively priced.
Wish there were other options but it'll do for the moment.
I spent most of my time there upstairs in the fabrics section. That said, they do have lots of fabrics that you wouldn't find at Joann or Hancock. They have a great selection of faux furs, power stretch, and oilcloth in really awesome prints, as well as a handful of designer quilting cotton prints. The two ladies working up there seemed to know what they were talking about.
However, they cut really badly, the fabric is organized oddly, and not really labeled well. I bought metallic (!) power stretch, but they were unlabeled ($18.99/yd), and displayed a lot like Discount Fabrics does it. In fact, I think the DF on Haight is better organized than Mendel's. If I'm paying $19 a yard, it'd better look like it.
Bottom line: if you need something really crazy, come here but be prepared to pay a premium.
Imagine an art supply store that closed in 1987 and re-opened today without changing a thing.
Welcome to Mendel's.
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So,
This year, wanting something more than the standard offerings from papersource, I decided to construct my own valentines.
I'm a crafty chick. I used to watch 'Next Door With Katie Brown'.
I have this amazingly talented friend that 'divas it out' every year at Burning Man. The girl works it with 3 costume changes a day complete with wigs,makeup and accessories. She. Is. Fierce.
How hard could a few personalized valentines be?
Mendel's bountiful offerings had me giggling like a schoolgirl.
The shop was awash in wall-to-wall red and overrun with valentine paraphernalia: cute stick-on baby cupids, heart shaped stencils, lace cutouts, foil heart stickers, and my personal fave GLITTAH!!!(cue jazz-hands) .
I happily skipped out the store with provisions in tow:
glue stick, l yard lace overlay material, 1 yard fuzzy and glittery felt-type material, 1 bottle fabric glue, 1 red sharpie, 1 sheet red construction paper,
1 bag heart shaped confetti, and 2 tubes glitter.
The finished product was a testament to all things sanctioned as adorable by baby cupid. In other words a gaudy apparition of fuzzy felt and lots and lots of GLITTAH!!!
Side note: Excess glitter has taken over all corners of my room. . . .
People thought this was:
Pretty much the WORST customer service ever! I purchased the wrong item due to poorly labeled packaging... and when I returned 20 minutes later to exchange it, the OWNER came by and said in a nasty tone "how am I supposed to resell that?" when I asked to pay the difference and get the item I actually needed. I am an artist and I spend a LOT of money on my supplies. For a measly $4 that rude owner just lost all of my business and I will never recommend this store to anyone.
PLUS Mendel's doesn't even really carry any professional artist supplies or quality fabrics. Basically the only customers they can help are 10 year olds with no actual artistic background (I'm talking rubber stamps and paint by numbers) who have money to burn.
People thought this was:
They have some awesome fabrics and art supplies. I love their fabrics. The girls working at the fabric section give good sewing advice.
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This is a fun crafty type art store. You wont find the materials you need for an art class at the Academy. You probably wont find what you are looking for if you come here with a purpose. But if you do show up here on a whim, chances are you will leave with something pretty cool.
Last time, I left with 4 buttons i needed for a playa coat, and a almost left with a how to make fun stuff out of your thumbprint book.
I am throwing a mardi-gras themed party, and realistically, it will probably be a safe bet that i can come in here and find the mask/feathers etc i need to get decked out for the party, but I'm not going to hold my breath.
People thought this was:
Pricey, but here out in the Richmond, I seem to have very few options. Plus, Mendel's carries a pretty freakin' huge selection of cotton fabrics with skulls and skeletons on them. Not that I need that particular pattern of fabric, but it's kinda neat that they have that.
That and the fur! All kinds of fake, fuzzies. All kinds of colors, textures and lengths of fake, fuzzies to be exact. If you ever need bright neon-red fur, this is the place.
But Mendel's also carries buttons, craploads of em' in all kinds of shapes and colors as well. And can't forget to mention the mosaic tile cave in the corner, the costuming section, the yarns, the tassels, ribbons, fringe, sketch books, watercolor pads, paints, paper and beads. Sheesh. They have everything, for not having much of a choice out in the Richmond, I guess I got one pretty freakin' awesome craft shop to go to.
Next time I need to make a Chewbacca suit, I'll know where to go.
People thought this was:
If you're into raver gear fabrics and Burning Man, then Mendel's is probably your crafter paradise. I mean, the overall selection is alright and I usually find something I can settle on, but the fabrics are tacky and uninspiring, the staff are snobby or just ignore you, and the hours are pretty shitty too.
This place is seriously nuts. It's ginormous and jammed pack full of anything you need from rubber stamps to fabric. I went in here looking for some black ribbon in a particular size to make a choker for an outfit I was going to wear. They had maybe 2 types of black ribbon. Not one that I was looking for which sucked since fabric stores should have a million types of black ribbon.
They make an announcement for their closing time, which I think is not really fair. They blurt out that they will be closing in 10 mins....I can't hussle in 10 mins. They should close their store 10 mins after their closing time....but I guess people have things to do.
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The good:
It is a "one stop shop" sort of place. If you have an artsy project in mind, chances are you'll be able to find what you need without having to run around town making several stops.
The cool:
There is a cute selection of buttons and novelty fabrics.
The not so cool:
The staff can be aloof, not very helpful, right down rude.
Bad experience anecdote:
I came in with an (empty!) disposable soda cup - the kind you get at a fast food joint. The gray haired lady at the front counter gave me the stink eye. I asked if she had a garbage can where I could dispose of the offending cup. She answered me in the most condescending tone: "Go outside! Empty the contents and THEN I'll throw it away for you!!!". The cup was already empty!! There was nothing left to spill in your precious store/garbage can!!! I just left and didn't come back.
The staff here has never been rude to me but Ive seen it happen a few times (in the same visit nonetheless) that the staff has yelled at customers not understanding their return policy (at one point when a woman tried to return some paper she bought they told her obviously if she lived in the Haight she could afford the $3 and should stop being a bitch about it)
The prices do seem a bit high but what bothers me more is that they dont seem to stock things well. Granted they have a decent selection but there are a lot of things that seem like they should be available but just have empty spots on the shelves.
All in all, if you need some paper or a few pens check it out but if youre looking to get a lot of new gear I would take your business somewhere else.
Two stars for simply being the nearest craft store..
PS: Who has 5:50pm as their closing time?!
pps: how rude is it to not let people in the door at 5:45pm?!
some people have jobs.. not me.. but word on the street is that they do exist .
People thought this was:
Another great piece of San Francisco history.
this store totally represents what haight street USED to be like.
unique, offbeat, and just plain groovy.
they also have these cute little faux birds there!
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omg, so totally far out!
i love Mendel's for all my DIY needs:
- halloween costumes
- holiday ornament making
- decoupage extravaganzas
- drawring supplies
- fabrics for whatever
- stickers!
a total gem of upper haight!
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I went in on Saturday to pick up the a few specific trims for my Halloween costume.
Considering how crowded it was the staff moved people through the line quickly. They also have a relatively large selection of temporary tattoos, but they are kept in two different spots.
Mendel's looses customer service stars at the cutting table. I purchased a few yards of various ribbon and they did not even attempt to roll them up. I was just handed a pile of ribbon to carry in my hand. The least they could do is put the ribbon pile in a small bag. Since there was no one waiting I took the time to neatly organize my ribbons before leaving the cutting table.
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Imagine that., laryngitis has put me on a yelping spree.
Mendel's was great to me. I was surprised by the level of service. I went in with a short list for a small project and got eager, friendly service.
For arts and crafts in a pinch, Mendel's seems to cover all bases
(for fabric however, I would go elsewhere for better prices).
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One of the other reviewers complained about some of the weird, little-used supplies that they carry, but I think that's one of their advantages. If I'm looking for a common supply it'll be pretty easy to find somewhere else, but it's good to know where to go when I need something offbeat. Last time I was here I got buckram and a lovely oilcloth remnant.
The prices for some things (like sewing machine needles) do seem rather steep.
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Mendel's was always apart of my childhood: the cabinets of buttons and all sorts of bits and pieces for every project. Boxes and trays for storage and every pen and paint you could think to fill them with.
I especially like the no cell phone policy inside the store.
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Best selection of fake fur I've seen in the Bay Area....its the only reason I go here. I design costumes using fur, so its my best go-to place for options when I'm in a pinch. However, I can get the exact same fur for about 40% less at my preferred online store.
Mendels Price = about $28 per yard
My alternative online store (shipped right to my house within 2 days) = $17 per yard for the exact same fur. They also offer very low shipping rates, and free shipping with a bulk purchase.
I actually went in here recently to buy some last minute trim and the sales clerks (both of them) were somewhat abrasive, but this isnt the first time I've encountered this type of service here. They rarely hold sales, and even when they occur - they're still a lot more expensive than my other supplier.
Bottom line, its convenient because they're local - they have some awesome fabrics and cool trim selection - If you are looking for unique fabrics and cool ideas for costuming, its a great place - but in true Haight fashion - you'll have to pay for it!
Pretty badski. I don't mind that they had nothing i wanted in their fabric section, but the staff was RUDE! either that or really, really stoned. You know how when you smoke too much, you can get kind of stand-offish? It was like that. If they were stoned, then apologies. But still, be more helpful.
People thought this was:
Pretty decent selection of faux furs, more than discount fabrics. Not the best prices, but the best I could find in the city.
Sewing my faux fur coat for the playa this year.
i can't give one star because my boyfriend used to work here, and even when i would come in- his colleagues were SO rude to me. i tried making small talk with one of them and he told me that he didn't care to hear my story. what kind of person does that?
the stuff is really really pricey, the people are typically a la Haight Street (meaning asshole), and in the end- it's not a fun place to be at. Also the fabric section is not wheelchair accessible- which is fucked up.
What kind of art store is cold and drafty with rude service and no music? Not my kind of art store.
People thought this was:
Any store that has to do with being creative I'm totally there! It's not the best art store in SF but hey whatever you got to do to feed that creative soul of yours definitely go in and check it out! They have some pretty cool stuff!
Service is poor but these guys have a little of absolutely every kind of art supply you could name. Their furry and weird fabrics are great, and they have a good selection of yarns and knitting supplies too. If you're in the area, these guys will have what you need.
What was once primarily a house-paint store has diversified over the years and evolved into a full art-supply outlet. They specialize in offbeat costume wear, eccentric fabrics, and accessories, as well as arts-and-crafts items like origami kits, stickers, oil paint and water colors, brushes, paper supplies, markers, and rubber stamps.
People thought this was:
Look Dick,
I know it sucks working a minimum wage job in the wannabe hipster tool central that is the Haight, but there's no reason to take it out on someone asking a simple question. You didn't even have to move for it! It seems the girl standing beside you, punching you and calling you an idiot (she totally wants your skinny, unwashed ass) was right.
People thought this was:
As Haight Ashbury's only arts and crafts store , Mendel's is a prime destination for Halloween shopping and any occasion that requires a costume. They have a little bit of everything including fabrics, knitting supplies (books, needles, yarn - but not really nice yarn), sewing supplies, rubber stamps, greeting cards, office supplies, fancy papers, paints, and more. I've come here for everything from candlemaking supplies to fabric pens. It's not as large as say Michael's or JoAnn's but it has much more character. I think Mendel's qualifies as a Haight Ashbury institution. For some reason they have a storewide sale every September (for the whole month) and everything's on sale.
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Mendel's brings me back to kindergarten - construction paper, glue, glitter, felt, brightly colored markers. Deb got it right - like Flax without the serious and add groovy fabrics.
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we are essentially comparing two stores at the moment...
discount fabrics and mendel's
customer service:
discount - negative one. Apart from the man who used to own a store @ 24th and mission and likes my tattoos, the rest of them are assholes
mendel's - one star.... barely. But in comparison, they win
selection
discount - 2 stars for fun fur, minus three for overpricing
mendels- has peacock feathers for less than $1, which is good real time but over 4 times the price for buying them online from various suppliers. Also , they have had iron on letters in silver at least 50 % of the time i have wandered in and asked for them, so i guess that's a half a point or so.
Overpriced trims. But there is no other option here for trims... we,for better or worse, are NOT LA.
price
discount
FAILS
mendels
SCRAPES THROUGH ( because i am grading on the curve)
all in all, if ya need something, here is how you should do it
discount fabrics off of fourth
fabric outlet @ 17th and mission
I'm not telling you a few because i like my trade secrets
Mendel's on haight
Discount on haight
godforsaken britex mark up hell
and that's how it goes
but mendel's has it's place and it's a step above what is in walking distance.
C+ for effort anyhow
People thought this was:
Consistently the worst customer service I've ever seen. I'm a retail worker--I know it's a bad job--and for this I don't expect much! And yet I think their customer service is unacceptable!
They have a sign at the register letting customers know that it's "RUDE" to use their cellphones--I agree--but I had to wait for the cashier to stop texting and help me!
I once asked a worker if I could use a certain type of dye on cotton and she said in the bitchiest tone, "Well, I don't know why you would!" and she continued on making me feel retarded for asking for some advice.
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Neighborhood: Outer Richmond
Category: Art Supplies
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Category: Fabric Stores
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