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Categories: Toy Stores, Jewelry, Home Decor [Edit]
Neighborhoods: Lower Hills, LakeshoreMon-Sat. 10:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Sun. 11:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
"I love Andre and John. My hubby and I originally came to Just for Bands based on the incredible Yelp reviews to find a good wedding band…" read more »
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Think Urban Outfitter's Apartment Section --- in boutique form. In fact, 90% of their inventory can be found via the Urban Outfitter's website (comparable items if not the EXACT same item at similar prices).
Of all the stores we perused on a sunny Sunday morning, we spent most of our time here - fondling trinkets, salt and pepper shakers, and condiment dispensers shaped like water guns (SO COOL!). I spent a good 5 minutes individually admiring the basket of marbles on display, right next to all the kiddie toys of which I managed to entertain myself with (hello, bongo drums! Who can resist but to TAP THAT).
Their second floor is small, but filled with a lot of cute stuff you really don't need: ie. vintage photos of other people's family that you can buy replicas of. That struck me as strange... I mean, really? Why would you buy that?
Overall, a bit pricey... BUT their inventory is so much fun. Useless, can't-justify-this-purchase FUN!
I LOVE THIS PLACE! I was glad to hear that they had just changed locations and not gone out of business. I had heard about them from a friend who told me they were located on MacArthur in San Leandro and was sad when I thought they had disappeared.
I always find something I want or "need" and something to give as a present. They do a wonderful job with gift wrapping and the staff is always friendly.
Wide variety of cute and awesome things, like locally made jewelry, home decor, accessories, games, toys, greeting cards, etc. Even some vintage items. If you're looking for something unique, then check this place out!
I am an absolute procrastinator when it comes to buying people presents. This is hands down my favorite last-minute-gift boutique in all of Oakland.
Great freeway access, an eclectic selection, reasonable prices, interesting cards and they gift wrap for free. They are locally owned so I also get that warm fuzzy feeling when I shop there.
Love this place.
Cute gifty stuff priced just right so you don't feel extorted. I like the selection of mounted bugs, not as nicely done as the bone room but a total fraction of the price. It is very reminiscent of UO in some ways, but more original. Very little I would actually get for myself, but for a classy gift it will work, especially if you are shopping for someone who likes to party plan (or fancies themselves an amateur bartender). Definitely love the card that you can fill up with stamps for free $$, more stores should do that as it is a real incentive to come back and find more gifts.
"You can't always get what you want, but if you try sometimes, you might find, you get what you need."
~ Mick Jagger, Rolling Stones
This review isn't going to be espousing some moral high-ground about wants versus needs or how our society should live simply so others may simply live. Who am I to tell you how to live? Do what you want, when you want...that's my motto. I have a hard time defining wants versus needs anyway, that's why I used to own a collection of lava lamps...but I digress.
Sometimes you absolutely NEED teeny-tiny-tighty-whitey underpants designed for squirrels, colorful lucha libre key covers, or a vegan wallet with bacon strips screen printed on the front. Sometimes you NEED rubberized horseshoes, streamers for your bicycle grips or a light-up pirate sword. Sometimes you NEED a hand painted Dia de Muertos skull candle or a bowl made out of multi-colored buttons.
Urban Indigo is cool and locally-owned. When I came in on Sunday, there was a terrarium trunk show going on upstairs featuring Kat Geiger, an artist who makes small sculptures of buildings and houses and sets them inside moss and dirt-filled glass jars, tubes and pitchers. There was a small band playing and they were serving free white wine, Pellegrino and cookies. What a perfect day to drop by the store for the first time!
So whether you're a rampant consumer that WANTS everything in the store or you're a pragmatist that only NEEDS certain things, Urban Indigo is bound to serve up something that will either acknowledge your wastefulness or recognize your prudence.
Very nice and clean and interesting items. Unique materials and not overpriced like many other places around here.
I'd just like to remind you that a 3-star review is not NEGATIVE, it is AVERAGE, just as I think Urban Indigo is.
**Shout out to the person who requested I rewrite my review because it shows up as the first review on Google, also to the person who left a LOVELY compliment on my page regarding this review - I accepted it, so check it out!**
Because I feel obligated to explain my "A-OK" review, I will do so in a review update.
Yay that it's a locally owned business. To be fair, there are cute things in here. Definitely come here if you're shopping for a female gift and can't really think of what to buy the girl. Or a housewarming gift. Or even kids gifts. But to also be honest, the store is a bit cramped to shop comfortably. I can't spend too long in this store before claustrophobia starts setting in, so maybe the owners may want to think about remerchandising to make it a little more friendly to shop in. Totally challenging in a tight space, I know, but it can be done.
And furthermore, as much as I love shopping, I am just not super impressed by stores like these because they are becoming indistinguishable from one another - check out some of the stores in Rockridge, or on Fillmore,Chestnut, Sacramento, or Polk...even up in Sonoma. So again. Three stars. It's good. Just not "I *must* drive out to Lakeshore to shop there!" good. You know?
I've said it before, and I'll say it again - there are seriously too many of these types of stores… Read more »
The stuff located in Urban Indigo is really really cute.
I mean achingly cute.
There are also salt and pepper shaker sets that go for 28 dollars. I don't need 28 dollar salt and pepper shakers.
I don't need a 50 dollar tea pot with two little glasses.
I don't think I need other people's old photographs that they sell.
I do however, need a solar powered owl that shakes its adorable neck back and forth, a USB owl, and owl magnets, and owl wallets, and owl bags.
This place has more owl merchandise than anyplace I've ever seen. I really really love owls.
This is my first steam of consciousness review I've done. I don't think I will do it again.
So yeah cute but too expensive. Great for needless gifts.
I made a vow that all of my Christmas gifts would be purchased from local Oakland shops, vendors, and entrepreneurs since our economy sucks and Macy's really doesn't deserve any more of my pennies... so I decided to get lost in the sauce on Xmas eve...
Loved this store... every single bit of it... Had housewares and modern gadgets and gizmos for moi and toys for my favorite Neice and Nephew...
Things I scored on Chrismas Eve include:
A modern uptake on Harmonicas and a flute Recorder (x2 each)
Pirate sword with a loud annoying noise made specially for a $4
A Weed Coin Bank for me
and I will be back for one of their modern dogital clocks!!!
I LOVED every square inch of this store!
Do you love to give really unique thoughtful gifts, but never know where to get them? Urban Indigo is your place! Seriously this shop never ceases to amaze with the out of the ordinary super cool products they carry and I can always find something that makes me go - "that is so perfect"! (The tricky part is getting out of there without buying something for myself in addition to a great gift)
From home goods to toys for kids, to jewelry/bags/wallets, postcards, bar accessories, and very unique and cool artwork - I can go in this store and just have fun looking around! (Luckily it isn't too big so it helps keep me focused and not in there for too long)
Totally recommend this treasure chest of a shop to anyone - for anyone in your life. Also - the staff is amazingly friendly and helpful which just is the cherry on the top of the whip cream! GO, buy, and be happy!
Love, love, love this little boutique store on Lakeshore!
I've gotten numerous unique and delicate-looking gifts for myself and friends, vases, candleholders, picture frames, paper flowers, etc.
This is the perfect spot to stop by on a weekend afternoon while meandering the Lakeshore stores.
The retro toys are gone - the only thing I really found intriguing about this shop. It's starting to look and feel a little like every other boutique in town...
Just discovered this shop yesterday. What a treat! One of the most eclectic offerings in the East… Read more »
It's amazing how much the sales staff can affect your overall shopping experience! Now, it's very possible that I may have exuded an over all "don't bother me" vibe yesterday... t-shirt, acid wash skinny jeans, tattoos visible.. but come on, it's Oakland... I would think my appearance was nothing out of the ordinary around these parts.
Anyhow, yesterday was the first time I've been in Urban Indigo where I was not greeted. I assumed maybe it was towards the end of the day and the two sales girls working were just not feeling too bubbly... but then a man walked in behind me who was very specifically greeted. And then a woman walked in with a dog who the staff went completely gaga over with dog treats to take home, lots of petting and giggling, etc.
Sigh... (shuffles awkwardly to the back of the store)... oh well.
The store is still adorable, I absolutely adore and want to own at least 80% of their inventory.
I also should note that I did end up being offered help about 20 minutes into my visit, after I was already carrying an item to purchase. Still, even when being rung up, I could have sworn I was yet again receiving the stink eye from one of the gals. And I swear, I was not having an overly sensitive day!
So... for the customer service experience alone, I have to knock off one star. Better luck (or a hello please?) next time!
Just came back from a visit to one of my favorite local boutiques and thought, i have to leave a… Read more »
I love everything about this store.
Whenever I walk in I am overwhelmed by all the items inside that I "have to have". They carry everything from jewlery, to pottery, to bacon band-aids to Jesus tape.
I did all my Christmas shopping at U.I. last year and didn't completely break my wallet like I had at Cost Plus the previous years. I found wrapping paper that made the whole family giggle.
If I had more cash I'd visit more often, because I can't resist buying myself something every time I go in!
I stepped into this store for the first time yesterday and immediately fell in love with it. It helped that I'm very preoccupied with owls these days, because they carry so many cute owl things: jewelry, decor, salt & pepper shakers (which i bought), and much more.
It's a great place for gifts - I saw many things that I will probably return to buy for birthdays and Christmas. Everything from sincere, meaningful gifts to useful home items to gag-gifts. A really good range.
I also have to say that the two women working were really nice. Very friendly and helpful, but not hovering and annoying. They showed me some really cute stuff that I otherwise would not have seen.
I am definitely planning on making this place a regular for me. I'm so glad I had 15 minutes to kill before grabbing dinner with a friend.
Urban Indigo is a great little store that offers a wide variety of cute and sometimes even useful items. Jewelry, decor, books, games, toys, greeting cards and the occasional vintage item make each visit a pleasant surprise. Great place to shop for gifts and the staff is always excellent. Their selection is a little sparse right now but experience says that won't last for long.
Urban Indigo is a lovely, locally owned, grass roots, Oakland store. Committed to supporting local artists and smaller businesses, Urban Indigo is perfect for the indie shopper. Right up there with the Curiosity Shoppe (SF) in my book.
This adorable little shop was channeling me to come inside while on my post-movie stroll down Lakeshore this afternoon.
See-I've been in need of a new wallet for months now. Not only am I somewhat cheap but I've also been known to hold on to things for way too long when they should have been replaced years ago.
I still use the bath towels I grew up with. What's a few loose threads when you can just rip them off after every washing? That food processor's not broken-just stick the little metal rod used for cracking nuts into the hole, clamp down the lid with your elbow, and now you're pureeing just like before. And I don't want to hear anyone else say that my T.V. set is the size of a computer monitor. The fact that it has a built-in VCR is priceless to me.
My old wallet was Esprit, leather (purchased back in my vegetarian days), and probably going on 15 years when the zipper just stopped working. I've been holding onto it for the past three months waiting for the perfect replacement.
Imagine my surprise when I saw that Urban Indigo carries Queen Bee Creations' excellent cruelty-free accessories. The exact wallet was the one I've been eying on http://www.mooshoes.com. I asked the salesclerk if she knew this. Her response, "What is mooshoes?"
I'll let that one go (in case you don't know, it's a wonderful store based out of NYC owned and run by vegans that sell vegan products). However, mooshoes did not carry the RED wallet and there was only one at Urban Indigo. My new wallet is sitting next to me as I write this review and I lovingly stroke it in between paragraphs.
Besides carrying vegan accessories, Urban Indigo is your place to go just in case you need a handbag made entirely of buttons to go with your button made basket, bandages that look like strips of fried bacon, or an authentic Nancy Drew Novel from the 40's.
I love this place!! I have yet to actually buy anything but a greeting card there but it's fun anyway.
I nearly bought my godson a large stuffed pigeon, however I didn't because it was smoking a cigarette. His mother is trying to quit; I shouldn't encourage her with toys.
i love going to rolling dunes for breakfast/ brunch and then taking a stroll through this store! it has so many trinkets and doo dads for your home, jewelry, accessories, kid toys,home decor and cheap vintage items! I found a vintage japanese paper lantern table lamp for $20, where at stores like matsu would cost me $50-$60.
it's just fun to walk through here! and there is always something unique that you will love or make you laugh, and you'll probably end up buying it!
so check this place out! i know i'll be checkin from time to time to see what they have upstairs in their vintage home decor.
What a SWEET find in the midst of...where the hell is this place?? Lakeshore or something? Beats me. I just know it's somewhere near a "Lake" in Oakland (hardly a lake folks, looks like a glorified pond, albeit a pretty pond).
I drove out of my way to hit this little shop, which I heard about on a design blog that I frequent.
Excellent variety of fun, eclectic and often kitschy gifts. I purchased some hard to find wood greeting cards (super cute, eco-friendly) and some rad boxes of vintage looking matches.
They have a mix of modern and antique looking finds as well as a large selection of toys. SO much fun!
I wanted to buy so many of the items from the back toy section, but had to draw the line. I'll be coming back though...I want those funky tattoo printed band-aids!!
I finally found a walking map of Oakland at Urban Indigo. (This is also handy for biking, my intended purpose) that gives the street elevations (flat, steep, don't even try pedalling up that hill...) Very handy!
Bonus: the map gives you all the hidden paths in Oakland.
All this for under $5! Go get one!
I want to spend all of my money here.
Urban Indigo is one of the few places where you really could get a gift for almost anyone you know. Your super cool graphic designer friend, your crazy grandpa who loves boats, your guilt tripping mom who likes the ocean... they are all covered.
Unique jewelry, random interesting books, art, knick knacks, lovely cards and note writing kits, a random mix of hipster gear and even toys.
I love the crisp, clean layout of the store and the artful placement of various items ranging from under $5 to over $100.
Every time we go here, we buy something. It's beautiful commerce vortex. I am happy to give them my money, Lakeshore went up a couple of notches in class the day they moved in.
I must be the only one who doesn't get all goo-goo-gaa-gaa over this place. It's part gift shop and part toy store for adults (and I don't mean those sorts of toys). I have to suck in my gut just to peruse the aisles (or aisle, I should say), so I don't knock anything over and break it.
I guess my 30-something year-old self going on 50 doesn't like knick knacks. Plus it smells of hipsters. Oh well. I'm just glad it's not another nail salon, dry cleaner, or Starbucks.
My absolute favorite "pretty thing" store. Lucky for me, the prices are such that I have actually been able to take some pretty things home. Came here for a friend's wedding present once(by the way, the wedding was in two hours) and left with a beautiful, "much more personal than half a linens set" gift, that cost me much less than the average trip to Bed Bath and Beyond.
Go here for: jewelry, non-cheesetastic children's gifts, home decor, clever cards, Oakland travel guides (I know!), bags, quirky vintage knickknacks, and of course, candles shaped like succulent plants
Popped my head in on a whim while waiting for a buddy to show up at the Starbucks down the street and spent way too much time in here but bought this cool little doll for an Indian babe I'm dating. The peeps were cool too.
My friends in NY always boast about the wonderful store across the street from their apartment...they say that they can find a perfect gift for anybody they know without leaving their block. That's how I feel about Urban Indigo. It may be down the hill rather than across the street, but, since it opened several months ago, I have been enchanted by the unique, diverse inventory, and have purchased more than a few presents, both for myself and others.
The owners of Urban Indigo have impeccable taste. Few people have the design aplomb to pull off Dia de los Muertos knick-knacks alongside Victorian-inspired bird illustrations alongside sleek Japanese serving trays, but the ladies at Urban Indigo display these items -and countless others- in perfect harmony. I am a huge fan of the vintage-y children's toys in the back...they are cute as hell, and solve the problem of what to buy the child who has everything.
Oh, and did I mention that Urban Indigo is surprisingly affordable? Somehow I doubt my friends in NY could make the same claim about their neighborhood gem. Score 1 for Oakland.
We are fortunate enough to livein the Lake Merritt area where one can walk to all sorts of great and useful places.
I do agree with other reviewers that there are multiple cute locations in which to find similar gift items, or collectables, but I include an A-OK because I do enjoy this shop, and because it represents the gift shop in a neighborhood where we have tea shops, post office, banks, libraries, farmer's markets, coffee hangouts, and grocers.
One of my dear friends hooked me into checking out their inventory every few months when we stroll the avenue, and it is more from habit than need for any more clutter, but it just is really fun and adds a positive spin to my day.
After years and years of looking for a little hotel desk bell, the kind with the button on top where you call for someone's attention, I found my own red desk bell right here. Check it out when you are on Lakeshore.
Great fun especially for your young parents looking for unique gifts for kids and other Gen X parents.
It was such luck that my friend and I randomly came across this store one afternoon. Really cute stuff....the kind of stuff you would see at a friends place and think "where the heck did they find that?!" I was pleasantly surprised at the prices... I bought a beautiful tea-candle glass log that I thought would cost a lot but wasn't.
Definitely agree with the reviews...its the perfect place to find a unique gift for someone.
I'm such a sucker for these upscale, tsochke havens. Urban Indigo is a good one though. They have a robust kid's toys section in the back and they're a great place to drop on in and pick up a quick gift for birthdays and the whatnot.
Wouldn't mind if they expanded their card section a little bit but that's just 'cos I'm a greeting card fanatic.
One thing that I really like about the place, although it isn't something you can buy, is their flooring. They're really cool - to me at least. It looks like they bought big, birch plywood sheets and screwed them down into the floor. Some sanding, some natural stain and voila - cool floors. I could be wrong about what they are but that's what they look like...
Yes, all the reviews are true - you can find the perfect unique gift for anyone at this store. I have found presents for my little cousins, my best friend, my boyfriend, my sister, my mother, etc. It's also a great place to go to treat yourself to something you don't need but really want without spending much money. The staff is friendly but lets you browse peacefully. I never leave this store without buying something.
P.S. There's an upper level that's not to be missed.
I am known to be effusve in my star-giving, so this time around I'm going down to four instead of five stars-just because urban indigo is a fifteen minute walk from my house, and not a ten.
What a perfect place to take over the old earwitness! I picked up a wood toy mushroom and new commuter coffee cup (ceramic in the shape of a paper to-go cup) the other day, somewhat over feeling guilty for having gone here many a time and never buying anything. I like to fully support the local boutique-ification of my fair city, and this along with atomic garden over on college fills a certain need I have for well-crafted knick-knacks. Way to go. I hope they stick around.
the buyer for this place is a friggin genius.
I ALWAYS find something here.
there is some "I'm trying pretty hard to be cool stuff" (deer heads, paintings of deer heads, weird sailboat art) but so many lovely beautiful things as well.
I personally wis they'd lose more of the hokey "archie mcphee" junk in the back and put in more art and clothing made by locals... but they get 5 stars anyway for being a jewel on lakeshore ave.
check it out.
Adorable store to find a wealth of things for that hard to shop for friend ... in which case, don't bring them in here if you're going to buy something for them, lest they decide to buy it themselves. Then you are screwed.
Don't forget to visit the upstairs and don't carry a big purse or ladder with you when you go here ... the place is cozy and any fast movements whilst carrying large purse or ladder would result in damages.
This is a beautiful, inventive store and i am in love with pretty much everything in here. The products are all thoughtfully chosen and you can pretty much guarantee that you'll find a unique gift item here for your mom/sister in law/secretary/girlfriend/me.
Japanese teapots, globe paperweights, a nice selection of serving ware, cheese knives, kitschy owl ceramics, and funky locally made jewelry. They always have a nice selection of jewelry made out of old typewriter keys, which have come in handy as fun last-minute presents on more than one occasion.
a very nice layout that isn't too overwhelming, especially when you already have a hoiday shopping headache (in that case, try to avoid wandering int Juniper Tree down the street without a shot of caffeine first or migraines will ensue).
There is also a kids' section in the back and a little dia-de-los-muertos style craft section near the middle of the store. Something for everyone on your list, and no worries of giving the same gift as someone else.
Every article of jewelry that I have purchased from urban indigo has received numerous compliments.
I always find something that is worth buying and I find that the prices are pretty fair.
I usually only go in during "off" hours as it is a really tight space and more than a few people and it feels congested.
Yes! This is an upgrade and a welcome addition to the hood. There's lots of Oakland stuff here - maps, cards, books, etc. I bought my Walk Oakland map here.
Overall, just a great gift shop with funky, cool items for all ages. Nice and friendly customer service too. This place can def compete with the any hipster store in SF!
Looking for a nice cute gift for someone? then definitely check this place out. Yes, you can find some Oakland-related items here.
Note that there is an upstairs section with home decor items - staircase is at back. Gifts for kids at the back of the store. Service was provided by friendly staff.
Definitely a hidden gem in the East Bay, folks.
This is a new addition to Lakeshore. Urban Indigo took over the music store that used to blare tunes down the street. You wouldn't recognize the space anymore. The owner has put in a lot of work transforming the space into one of those unique shops where there are lots of fun things to browse and remind you of all of those cool stores you wander into while you are traveling in other cities. She has an eclectic mix of cool cards, really nice jewelry, fun kids stuff, and artsy stuff too.
Go ahead an pop in. I am sure you will find something for that upcoming friends birthday or a little something for yourself.
Wow this little eclectic gift store blew me away. I have never seen such an array of higher end type nick nack gifts at prices so reasonable. The store is a cluster-fuck to navigate and I ended up visually overstimulated by shelf after shelf of coolness. Can't wait to go again with friends. You will find something for anyone here so those hard to shop for types can be pleasantly surprised. Nice addition to the area.
PG&E "rebate" CFL sale.
Neighborhood: East Solano Ave
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