Pearl Design Ctr

If you're in need of, well, anything for crafts, this is your one stop in the city. I agree with some other reviewers that the layout is a pain, 5 floors with a very steep staircase, and a long wait for the elevator, AND you have to pay for your purchases on the floor they reside on. One nice thing they did - all the main hobby crafts (jewelry findings, Sculpey clay, sewing, rubber stamps, etc.) were moved from the 5th floor to their own shop down the street from the flagship store - on Lispenard between Church and Broadway. Makes it so much easier to get to and I've actually found the staff in this store to be quite friendly. If you're a student, TAKE YOUR ID WITH YOU. I am a continuing ed student and they honor these, too. It will save you 10% off anything you buy at Pearl. In the main store, they have everything you need for scrapbooking, pens, paper, glue, tape, paint, sketch books, poster board, paint brushes, anything! There's even a kids section on the main floor with big markers and fun things that might make good gifts for very young children. If you need a bathroom, there's one on the main floor - key's at the main cash register. Just make sure you have some Kleenex with you. 2 other Pearl stores now across the street on Lispenard are the Frame shop (picture frames and supplies) and a more heavy duty shop that sells things you'd need for tiling projects. more

If you already know what you're looking for, this is the best place to go for any number of supplies. The selection of paper, pens, paints, and anything else you're likely to need for your creative needs are here. Prices range greatly as they stock a large range of products from very cheep kiddie quality to shockingly expensive and a number of levels inbetween. The store does take a bit of getting used to as the layout isn't necessarily logical and the employees can be best described as oxygen thieves. You're usually better off asking a fellow customer and hope that they just happen to know what you're looking for. more

The selection at Pearl is absolutely phenomonal. I love being able to find so much in just one place. The service, though, is extremely lacking. Should you have a question, you will be lucky to find an employee nearby who'll answer it without making you feel ridiculous and below them. I got much more helpful advice from a friendly customer who overheard my question than from the store's employees themselves. It is a bit difficult to find what you are looking for in this place, simply because there are so many floors - I believe 7 or 8 in total, and they aren't well marked. If I couldn't find what I was looking for elsewhere, I'd go to Pearl, knowing I could find it there if I was willing to look for it. But unless I couldn't find it elsewhere, the service here makes it not worth my MetroCard swipe to get there. more

Pearl Paint restores my faith in life. There's just such a crazy, ridiculous selection of EVERYTHING in this place: paint, canvas, colored pencils, sketchbooks, pens, paper, pastels, etc., etc., etc. Every art item has at least five different brands in a million different colors and with at least five different sizes to choose from. And also, excellent prices! You just can't beat it. more

While this place is well known as one of America's leading art supply stores, it also has an amazing selection of Clairefontaine notebooks and fountain pen supplies (Waterman, Mont Blanc, Parker, etc.) at very low prices. Clairefontaine, in particular, has been getting very expensive elsewhere. While you're there, spend a few moments wandering around the many floors of incredible art supplies too! more

This is the flagship store of the Pearl Paint universe and it carries everything you could possibly need to become the creative person you know yourself to be. Whether you're an artist, an artiste, a graphic designer, or a craft devil, Pearl is the place. From the most comprehensive collection of paint and pastels in the city to a vast array of rubber stamps, from every imaginable size and weight of canvas to every imaginable color of ink. It's a terrific place to find an unusual gift for the folks who have everything. more

If you are interested in arts and crafts, then this is the place to be. They have anything and everything. They even have supplies that I never even heard of. There are so many different kinds of pencils and paper that I was amazed at the amount of choices. Definately check this place out if you have a crafts project to do. If you cannot find a certain supply, try this place, they have everything. more