Maido San Francisco - Wonderful!

[stevesurf]

Thanks to all for the recommendation of visiting Maido in San Francisco - it is a wonderful store. Located in the Westfield Mall on one of the top floors, it has a breathtaking and entertaining array of pens, pencils, ink, cases, stationary, writing accessories, journals and greeting cards. They even have sushi shaped pencil erasers!

 

They are wonderful, courteous people, and a joy to visit. Here are a few pictures of this week's purchase, including:

 

-Minerva Box handmade leather pen/pencil rool in teal

-Sailor inks in blue and orange

-Pilot VP fountain pen and cartridges

-Leather-bound mini journal (gift wrapped)

-Ohto micro pen

-Mini panda note pads

-A4 1mm grid paper pad

-Sushi erasers in Uni, Salmon Nigiri and Tekka Maki

 

 

[FayeV]

Sounds like a cute store. I wish I still worked in downtown SF.

[Keyless Works]

It's a great store that I visit often but their prices can be on the high side. I have also bought from their website before. The shipping is ultra fast.

[stevesurf]

Thanks for the replies; I really enjoy Japanese retail shops as it reminds me of some wonderful visits to Japan. I especially like that they have some unique, handmade items, like the pen/pencil roll and other leather accessories. They have a large array of mechanical pencils, leads and miniature pens. Their Sailor fountain pens are so very tempting and there's quite a number of nice Pilot, Tombow and Ohto models.

 

What was funny was I got a miniature handmade leather journal for my sister and asked for it to be wrapped. Then the really nice Japanese gentleman wrapped it "pleated" style, only to have the young ladies in the store give him a hard time, making him do the wrapping over using that wrapping style used in Japan where they only use a single piece of tape and many folds. Again a nice touch; my sister most likely will not even want to unwrap it!

[cellmatrix]

they also have a store in san jose on santana row. Their fountain pen and ink selection is great (the big three japanese brands: pilot platinum sailor and they also carry lamy). However their selection of japanese stationery is even more extensive and impressive.

Edited August 31, 2014 by cellmatrix

[Pentulant]

Both stores are nice, but I definitely prefer the Japantown location. Much more variety. And you can get noodles in Japantown.

[FayeV]

they also have a store in san jose on santana row. Their fountain pen and ink selection is great (the big three japanese brands: pilot platinum sailor and they also carry lamy). However their selection of japanese stationery is even more extensive and impressive.

 

So I've stopped by Montblanc at Valley Fair a few times this year, and it totally slipped my mind that Maido is across the street at Santana Row. I better get over there to check it out before the end of the year (holidays) when traffic in that area is even worse.

[zaddick]

Thanks for the reminder about this store. I'll have to wander up there one afternoon in the next few weeks. One cannot have too much ink after all. :^)

[Lou Erickson]

The store in Santana Row is where I got my Pilot blue-black, which is apparently hard to find in the USA. Nice ink. Nice people, too. I couldn't imagine paying the full retail for the pens, though. I'm way too ch... frugal. They have some Rhodia paper, too.

 

Haven't made it to the other stores.

 

I also didn't know there was a MB store in Valley Fair - I never go there. Maybe I'll go look at ink.

[michael_s]

Which of the 2 Maido shops in San Francisco would be better to visit to handle Pilot/Sailor/Platinum fountain pens and buy Iroshizuku ink? Or are they basically the same in that department? Will be visiting San Francisco in a few weeks...

 

Thanks,

 

-Mike

[Pentulant]

No doubt about it, Japantown has the more varied selection.