The Golden Crane

The only reason I didn't give this place 5 stars is because it's far from my house, but that's hardly their fault. As to people who think their clothing is overpriced, it's comparable to other stores in town, and not only that they offer so many cute styles that no other store in town does. I'm wondering if someone got mad at the owner over something and posted the bad reviews. She doesn't travel often and seems very genuine and down to earth to me. She's also one of the founders of Jackson St. Youth Shelter. As for the clothes, she has everything from yoga wear to retro 50's style dresses. And everything is so cute. I am 29, and I love almost everything in her store. Stop in next door at Stash Yarn Shop for locally made yarns, too! more

Yes, it is important to support your local business. Yes, it is nice to see fabulous imports. But when the idea of unique gets majorly jacked up in price, you feel cheated and that is exactly what this store is like. The other review of this store is extremely correct: the owner rips people off price wise. This is a store that I would look at as a last resort for trying to find something 'unique'. Better yet if you go in there, just find the company of the products you like and do a google search and see if you can find them elsewhere for much cheaper, and it is almost a guarantee that you will. Rumours abound (from what I have heard) allegedly that the reason why the employee turnover is so high here, is because the owner is constantly fighting off her creditors and has at times been unable to pay her employees with money, but offers them trade of in store items instead (how can an ugly caftan pay the rent is a question I have wondered over the years). I imagine what money is made is so the owner can travel on supposed business trips to sunny locations to keep up her tan (have you seen how leathery she looks? Like an old Coach bag) The other review is correct about the prices. I have completely felt cheated a couple of times buying jewelry or other little items at her store, only to find them a couple doors down for much less (must be jacking up the prices to break even). I wouldn't support a business where an owner knows in their heart that they are overcharging their customers. Plus so many of the clothing options have no shape, and look terrible that I can see why the idea of Dorothy from the Golden Girls was brought up. The owner needs to wake up and realize that it isn't 1984 anymore. Try import stores in other cities, you will be better blessed in gifts and choice, as this store is collecting dust. more

I have grown up in Corvallis and have always thought this place wasn't anything special as far as clothing went. She carries nothing that is cutting edge, and her trinkets (for example, an incense burner that can hold a smoldering stick enclosed in the box goes for 20 bucks at her place, while the EXACT same a couple doors down at Northern Star sells for 6.50) are overpriced and tacky to say the least. Her inventory styles haven't really changed in nearly 30 years but there will always be a small select group of wispy salt and pepper haired women in need of a Gutamalan woven jumper dress to make that lavender turtleneck POP to offset the fact they are wearing logger socks with their birkenstocks. Or for those women who like to dress like Dorothy Zbornak from the Golden Girls, well..this place is for you! That dress you saw there in 1996, I betcha it is still there! The jewelry is beautiful, but again a couple of doors down you can find it for a much better price. Sorry to say, it amazes me this place is still in business. Don't waste your time, you can get the exact labels from other vendors for a much better price. Cons: Overpriced duds for those that want to look like Bea Arthur more