Fountain Pen/ Stationery Shops In San Francisco

[Minty]

I would appreciate any recommendations for good fountain pen and/or stationery shops in San Francisco. Thanks.

 

"Don't start vast projects with half-vast ideas."

[sbroda]

Flax Art & Design (http://flaxart.com) has a good selection of pens, ink, and stationery.

[AltecGreen]

Flax is a good place to start.

 

 

Another place is Maido. Try the one in the Westfield Galleria on Market St. They have a selection of Japanese pen and Japanese stationery. Their pens come directly from Japan and they have some interesting pens. The other Maido is in Santana Row in San Jose.

 

 

Castle in the Air in Berkeley is pretty interesting. They are located on Fourth St. in Berkeley. They have some pens but are better for their selection of obscure inks. Also a good place for dip pen nibs.

 

If you are looking for some more upscale pens, try .read bookstore in Blackhawk.

 

 

The Bay Area is not a have a lot of pen stores. If you want to look at pens, you might want to consider other avenues.

 

 

If you make an appointment, you can visit Roger Cromwell (aka Penopoly). He operates out of his huge house in the East Bay hills. If you need a pen sherpa for a Roger visit, we can put something together.

 

If you want to look for vintage pens, try going to the Pan Pacific Pen Club Meeting. It's like a mini-penshow and many pens are for sale. Many of the areas collectors frequent the PPPC. The next meeting is Sept. 1.

 

Pen Posse! A better place to see pens is to come to one of our Pen Posses. If you need to see a certain pen, we most likely can find a member who has that pen. A good place to chat and see interesting stuff. Our next planned meeting is August 26th at Peter's Cafe in Milbrae. If that does not work for you let us know when would be a good time and we'll call a special pen Posse. We'll meet anytime and anywhere.

[tenney]

And just a couple of stores from Castle in the Air is a Japanese paper store that has some fantastic paper.

[FarmBoy]

Peter's Cafe.

 

Large selection of Vintage Italian and Japanese pens with the possibility of an obscene number of Parker and Esterbrooks dropping in. On occasion the German pens are well represented but they usually only come when we have chicken.

 

Farmboy

[kernando]

They ended the confusion and started calling the Japantown one Maido also. They have less, so mainly Pilot, and hold out on Sailor and Platinum. Also, it's for teenaged girls and their boyfriends. Maido at the mall on Market is for grown-ups.

 

Are you visiting, or are you here? You will find more pens and knowledge wherever others hang out, rather than in any stores.

[tenney]

In the Japantown mall there are TWO Maido's in the same area -- one on the ground floor (more for teenage girls), and one upstairs (a few fountainpens).

[spraine]

Hi-

Any good bottled ink stores in Concord area ?

 

We're probably traveling through Alamo, San Ramon, Fremont, Milpitas, San Jose...

and on south.

 

We'll also be in San Francisco briefly and near Berkeley.

 

Thx,

Steve

[AltecGreen]

Hi-

Any good bottled ink stores in Concord area ?

 

We're probably traveling through Alamo, San Ramon, Fremont, Milpitas, San Jose...

and on south.

 

We'll also be in San Francisco briefly and near Berkeley.

 

Thx,

Steve

 

 

Nothing in Concord.

 

The best choice (only choice) in that area is Read bookstore in Blackhawk Plaza in Danville/Blackhawk. I haven't been there in a while and I hope they still carry pens and such. They have a selection of more upscale pens.

 

If you are in Berkeley, then go to Castle in the Air on Fourth St. In the city, visit Flax and/or Maido on Market St.

[rwilsonedn]

Hi-

Any good bottled ink stores in Concord area ?

 

We're probably traveling through Alamo, San Ramon, Fremont, Milpitas, San Jose...

and on south.

 

We'll also be in San Francisco briefly and near Berkeley.

 

Thx,

Steve

If you cross the bridge from Fremont to Palo Alto instead of driving through Milpitas, there are two or three art stores and one stationery store that have interesting stocks of bottled ink--more than just the usual major brands.

ron

[spraine]

Thanks!

I'm really hoping I can make time.

Steve