This place was full of beautiful memories to me and love to go in there and shop for my art supplies ever since I too my first art class at GCC. Its so hard to go near IHOP and see the place empty. I know they moved to Colorado Blv, but I never got a chance to go. So my question, I f they are closed why are they still listed on Google as open?

This art store has everything and is a great place.

You can find all the art and design supplies at this awesome art store. Whether youre an art/design student or professional, I recommend Swains if you live in Los Angeles or visiting from out of town. Friendly and helpful staff and unpretentious. You can also order by phone for hard to find items I they dont already carry it for pick up. A friend of mine introduced me to Swains back when we attended Art Center College of Design, Pasadena since 1993 and when I moved back, was pleasantly surprised theyre doing well and remained in business.

Great place! All the items have OUTSTANDING prices. Usually quality drops when variety is really good, but not for this place! There is SO much variety, and brilliant variety, plus affordable supplies! Not to mention the kind, gentle staff!

Swain needs community support to get back up on its feet. I miss the old swans a lot but see the potential of this one one they get restocked they are having cool events and as always, great sales.

Nice place for art supplies and other unique gift items. If youre looking to give a special gift, this is a place worth going to. They have a good amount of products for kids as well. Great place for artistic folks who need materials. They also have a wide selection of holiday and special event cards.

Ive always considered Swains a fantastic art store. The last couple of times Ive been there, though, they had next to nothing, and nothing I needed. I asked what was going on, and they said there had been some trouble with suppliers, but that they would have their inventory up again soon. I hope so! I kind of rely on them.

This is a fantastic store! They have everything needed for the artist including a comprehensive selection of supplies for the watercolor, acrylic and oil painter. The staff is well informed and very helpful. As a bonus, they also have an excellent selection of toys and books. I highly recommend this place!

Great broad-spectrum art store and a good traditional toy store in one. Great selection of classic toys, including Lego sets, stuffed animals, dress-up, puzzles, and more. On the pricier end but worth it to buy local from people who know what they are doing. Store is well-staffed and theres usually someone who can answer your product questions.

This store has a bountiful selection of gorgeous notebooks/journals, fine handcrafted papers, stationary, wax stamps and pens, and a vast array of portfolio presentations. It is also a wonderful place to browse for gifts including exotic harem type totebags and pillows, English cottage like soaps and bath/beauty, jeweled and decorated little boxes, candles, and plenty of funny novelty candy. Definitely worth the stop!

New and just opened... Considering that I gave them 4 stars. A lot of empty shelves and still in process to set the store up.Hoping soon it will be in good shape for businesses

I called ahead to see if they had a particular easel in stock. I was told yes, its there. I then drive to Glendale through LA traffic... and they dont have it.They made no apologies nor offered any consolations.I like to support smaller businesses but please dont waste my time.

Love this place!! They have everything, and you can see and hold the products. Not many of these types of stores around, so shop here and not online so they stay around for a long time. Knowledgeable staff too!

Christian is the captain over there. He and the rest of the crew are great. Always positive, a big help and informed. They know their mediums and can point you in the right direction. Great prices and sales as well.Wish I found this place years ago.See YA Blicks

Love Swains the best deals out of any art store Ive been to in LA. But try not to go after a big sale because the racks get stripped clean a lot of the times and usually wont restock on some items for a while, be mindful of the local college students as well when school sessions begin otherwise you wont find what you need. Amazingly large store and have a wonderful variety of supplies that places like Blick doesnt carry. Also all their employees have been helpful every time Ive step foot in the door.

I have a sad news my favorite store closed!😟 There was only one I could buy good quality supplies! And check the website it says similar store somewhere in LA!(My old review “They have everything for art and architecture supplies. Also best customer service and nice staff are there!”)

Im not sure why there have been so many negative reviews about this place. Ive just moved to the So. Cal area and Im a current art student near Glendale. Swains is my first choice for an art store. Ive been there 3 times now and each time I get individual assistance when I need it and they have a really good checkout system.Today in particular, I had a long list of supplies to buy, and I didnt know where most of them where. Despite the chaos of others trying to get assistance, the employees were patient with each of them and explained to each individual what particular sale they were having on an item and even went as far as reserving your name for the items that were too heavy to carry around (they were kept on a nearby table).I remember the first time I went, it was during their opening day of their grand sale. the Manager was nice enough to hand out free water bottles to those who were standing in line because it was pretty hot that day, She also helped me sign up for discount cards and pointed out which ones of my items were buy 1 get 1 free so I got the best deal possible.Overall, the employees are knowledgeable, patient, energetic, and friendly. Swains seem to be cheaper than Blicks or Aaron Brothers and have incredibly good sales. I recommend it to anyone.

Yesterday AMANDA, answered my phone call with such enthusiasm and she rushed into the store to find out if she had the item I needed. AMAZING Customer Response and she sincerely cared. When I arrived in the store, the things I needed were at the cash register ready for me. Thats above and beyond. I will be a loyal customer in that store. Thank you AMANDA - you gave new meaning to the words Customer Service and it is so GOOD. Lets say is right GREAT!

In the 80s this was the place.Now its really about a convenient location since there are no other stores nearby that are on the small side and not crowded.Staff attitude can be entitled.It could so easily be so much better an experience for the consumer.The management/owners could provide the right kind of training. A lot of employees dont know what good customer service is. So its really up to the management to move this store beyond the I know they have what I want but I only going back because of the location and Im not going to spend a penny more than I have to because the customer service is usually so lacking....

I have been buying supplies from Swains for over 20 years. Their staff is ALWAYS helpful, knowledgeable, and friendly. Some of them are art students some have been there for years, but I have never had a negative experience. When they have their sales the prices cannot be beat. They have what you need, or they can order it. They have a great selection of unusual gift items and artsy greeting cards, art centered calendars, and toys for the kiddies. They also have some wonderful art books you are not going to find elsewhere for those who enjoy visuals in a variety of forms.

Has a parking lot w/ free parking. The store has lots of different art products. The staff is extremely nice and their customer service is outstanding!

Great independent store! Cute Wonton mascot. Hard to find or rare items can be found here.

They Never have anything I want. Says they are open until 6 on weeks and they aren’t even open right now. Don’t waste your time here.

O love the store, you can find everything related with art and all kind of projects, toys and more, great customer service too.

Nice artist-oriented store with unusual cross-section of vitals and helpful advice. Kind of low on some stock recently, maybe struggling--unfortunately.

I find the best materials, they order what else I need. Great place, and full of inspiration, fun, beautiful extras!

Well supplied, helpful employees, private parking. Ive been going to Swains for years, and they never disappoint.

Wonderful customer service. They do have a great selection of art supplies!

Great prices, sales and service! They have a big variety of items Im sure youll find what you need, no problem.

It changed into a full art store and I liked that, the staff was nice and I found everything I needed there

The location has changed, the store was much much nicer at the Glendale street, new one is smaller and looks like warehouse.

The selection is great and the prices are reasonable.My favorite part of this store is the childrens section. There is a great of toys aimed at fostering a childs creativity.

They were literally out of almost every single paint, two stars because they had a good deal on a canvas...

Newly transferred branch. As usual, well-stocked! Love this place!

New location is practically empty, hardly any items in stock. Maybe in a couple of months they start to fill in all the empty racks. Disappointed

If you really are an artist this is the place for you. Service is wonderful and they know their stuff.

Great independent art supply. A good selection with many brands you wont find at the major chain stores.

I used to love this store and went there all the time! They sell an amazing variety at good prices and it was always just fun going through the store to see what they have and what I can try out - however, for the past year the store has been a ghost town. 90% of the shelves are empty, and nothing is ever in stock. I’ve asked multiple times about whether it’s because it’s after a big sale, or around when stuff would be back in stock, and multiple times the employees just shrug and say “uh we don’t know we’ll get it when we get it”, which is insanely frustrating. This has been the state since after summer of 2017. DON’T WASTE YOUR TIME COMING HERE. I guarantee that whatever it is you need, they will carry the product but the shelf for it will be empty. I don’t know that a place that is missing that much of its major merchandise should be even be up and open/running.

You can feel the store once has potential but now it’s dying. Not much left in stock, isles are pretty empty

Its hard to keep my eyes of their merchendise So many pretty items and so different .Not everybody carries them.

Large local art supply. Lots of stuff for the real artist and plenty for the aspiring one as well.

Great place to find art supplies! However, they recently moved so I would call to see if they are all set up.

Horrible service and rude people. The lady in the back near the childrens section is rude and unfriendly. She gets annoyed by children playing on the displays toys. Then why on earth put these toys in display like that? If she is too bitter to handle that job then why be there? Maybe she should be in the back somewhere where is nice and quiet for her, seriously. Swains manager should really look into this because customer service is a big part of what makes or breaks a store. I will think twice before ever going back there. There are other store choices so they should be careful on how they present themselves and treat their customers. I only gave good reviews on the quality and appeal for their store selection but that is not highly important for me since there are others similar stores with the same selection and appeal.

Unfortunately is not as it used to be, I remember when it was located near Vons, I used to like going there. They used to have lots of things.I visited the shop today and was almost empty, they do have some art supplies but maybe not that much options as before. Is sad to go inside.

Place has great service and love how old fashioned they are

New owners seem unclear on running a business. Two months plus into their new location and its still a desert in there. I guess they spent all their money on buying the business leaving nothing for stock. I dont expect much from them in the future, and Swains--the art store--will be sorely missed.

Great place to get professional art supplies!

I loved this store, so sad it closed.

Sad to see this place go. They were always my go to for art supplies.

The new space is a little hard to see from the Colorado boulevard speedway and parking is a mess (only about 8-10 spaces), but the selection of materials is still good and the service is great.

The staff was condescending and unhelpful. They treat you with disdain if you look different or maybe dress different. Plus, they are in process of closing up, I think, but dont want to say anything. Half the store is empty, too bad I used to like going there.

Great staff well stocked pleasant location 😃!

Great store with racks on racks of supplies. Friendly employees!

Needs better management, never has what I need,

Wide variety of product. Not to expensive.

Prior to walking into their store, I called in and asked if its possible for them to cut double-ply corrugated boards so I could fit them in my car(I drive a hatchback. The boards come in 32x72 (2-8x6-0). The person I spoke to said yes. So I drove down, came in and got the boards. I got to the counter and asked the cashier and also told her about the conversation I had with one of their staff members on the phone, and she said they dont cut double-ply corrugated boards. Obviously, I got frustrated. So they called their manager and who said the same thing. The manager said I would have to cut the boards at their rear parking lot and they would not lend me a box cutter or a straight-edge so I would have to use my own. I didnt bring a box cutter or a straight edge because I was under the impression that they would cut them for me. So, I had to buy the cutter and the straight edge (wasted money) and then cut the boards at the parking lot over the uneven asphalt which damage my boards. Bad customer service. The F is wrong with their employees. Im gonna avoid ever coming here again. That was quite a waste of my time.

Smaller version of their former store. Still lots of everything to choose from.

Great store for art supplies.

Im a fan of Swains and have visited their west side store often. Unfortunately the Glendale store isnt well stocked. Hope this changes in the future.

Do much cool stuff !

Its been close to a year and the place still half stock. Im going to need to find a new art supply shop

Offered to purchase for Tuesday pick up anything the store might be missing.

It’s a good store for art

Meh. Felt and looked empty. Been there just the one time. But seems like they got a little bit of everything. At least its still open:) Parking is small.

Great art shop! Plenty of tools!

Horrible customer service. Im shocked that their doors are still open.

I was able to order the paint that I use

BEST ART STORW EVER

My favorite art supply store

So much to see in there! They have everything you need.

One Star because Swains is now closed permanently!

Gone, closed, another art store bit the dust.

My favorite art store in LA, hands down!

Nothing there. Empty shelves. Disinterested cashier. Boring.

Love the new location!

Amazing products

Assortments are limited

Closed forever

Love it