Thematic Attic

Sad that this place closed down already. Reminds me of the movie you got mail. Apparently people just want to buy from Amazon if not, the bigger bookstores.
personally I always appreciate that small shop charm — & thematic attic had it. The book selection was pretty good and they have titles that I’ve never seen.
Needless to say, on their last few weeks but, I purchased 50 Worth of books — as things were 50%- right before Christmas. Guess who’s getting books for Christmas?

Woooohoooo… valerie replied to my comment and she really gave me a big laugh. HAHAHAHA… she claimed i spent 2hours in the store and my kids wondering around and remove everything to the floor. Epic!!!
If she wants to do hours by hours breakdown… let me do this. I went there exactly at 4.45pm right after my son’s karate class. We were there until 5.30pm. So. no…that was not 2hours ok.
Yup, i was wondering around as i was looking which book to buy due to their large selection. Yes, my kids were looking around for the same reason too. Yes, my kids take some books and put down WHICH i then put it BACK UP. No, my kids didn’t damage anything. No, they didn’t destroy anything. No, you were not being nice at all. You sternly came to me and said «mam, please don’t let your kids…» every few minutes in stern demanding rude tone. You even scream that all the way from cash register while i was in maths section, which i chose to keep quiet as i dont want to fight. And everyone looked at us. So who is rude and loud?
You set your whole store as a children bookstore with a very inviting and welcome feeling, that show everyone, especially children, can walk around and explore and play with your traintable. But your attidue is totally opposite that. On the other hand, the other owner, i assumed your husband, he is delightful. Very friendly and super… let me repeat… FRIENDLY and NICE.
I honestly never say anything bad or negative ever to anyone. You are the first ever. You can see i am not very good in writing negative bad review even, as i just dont know how to be rude, mean and negative to someone.
So say whatever you want. Change however you want about that night in your mind. I know what happened. My son know what happened, and yes… he still remember until today of what happened and how rude and mean you were.
It is thanksgiving holiday. I am thankful i am not a mean horrible negative person. I am thankful my family are healthy and happy. So i wish you will change into a better person. Even i dont like you because of what happened, i wish you be well and happy. And please… start changing and start be a happy person, and thankful.
If only that night didn’t happen, i will buy a whole lot on your store to help you guys out. Too bad.

Nice store honest people

I can’t believe I didn’t write a review for this place yet. Wonderful store! It is a teacher’s dream. Great variety. Every teacher should check this place out.

I have loved shopping at Thematic Attic for the 16 years that I have been teaching! The staff love what they do and care for everyone who walks through their doors! It has been a home to so many and I am heart sick that they are closing up shop. Thank you guys for making many great and wonderful memories for my students with your special array of merchandise and extensive knowledge of all things educational.

Extremely helpful staff and a wonderful selection of children’s book for every age! They really do go out of their way when it comes to customer service. My 2 ½ year old LOVES to get books from here. Each room is a different theme and there is plenty of interactive things to keep her interested and amused including the gentle and sweet dog we saw behind the register.
I would HIGHLY recommend this store to anyone, especially teachers because they can get a discount with school employee i.d. My husband is an educator so I will have to bring him with me next time! ;)
If you do bring your kids, parents just need to keep an eye on them. If you teach them well they will behave in any environment. Like I said, I have brought my 2 ½ year old, and I keep my eye on her, but even SHE knows not to run amuck in this store and pull things down, because they do have areas in certain parts of the store that have expensive figurines. My little one just calls me over and ask for something if she wants to see it. We have both always been treated with nothing but kindness from their staff! Thank you for being one of the few creative and adorable children’s bookstores in the area because they are definitely few and far between!

Alright folks, here’s the skinny on the THEMATIC ATTIC.
We’ve been shopping there since they were located across from the post office in downtown Covina (been a while). And let me tell ALL OF YOU READING THIS– they know customer service, their product, and their clientele.
I can always get honest and informative input when I inquire about any topic or product; and conversely, I’m left alone when I’m just browsing. They do special orders and bust their hinder-​quarters to get those orders in ASAP.
The atmosphere and ambience is fantastic (the themed rooms are EXTREMELY cool… I think I like it more than my kids) and the selection is ridiculous (I mean that in a good way). It’s hard to imagine they don’t have what ya’ need, but as mentioned earlier, they do special orders for those hard-​to-​find items.
As for kid friendly… bring ‘em, but be sure to be a considerate and responsible parent– KEEP AN EYE ON THEM. I have never had a problem with my kids in the store (and I have had two generations of little ones). The store is wholly designed to BE KID FRIENDLY– ITS THE POINT OF THE STORE!
Look, there’s s no such thing as perfect customer service (everyone has good and bad days… even shoppers). So, if you’ve had a bumpy visit before, I’d say give ‘em another try– they be some good folks and they love what they do!
Ok, as for the dogs… it adds to the charm of the store. We live in a time where everything is sanitized for our protection– how drab! Even my little ones love the dogs– think of it as old-​time charm in the 21^st century.
Last thing…
I’m not a stooge or one of the owners– I really am a long-​time shopper (not that some of you reading this will believe it). I was moved to «pen» this review as a result of all the negativity I read on Unilocal concerning this store and the fine folks that own it. Mind you, not that they need defending, because their years of dedication to parents and their kids, educators and their students, and homeschool families speak volumes for who they are and what they’ve done!
A big THANK YOU to all of you at THE THEMATIC ATTIC!

My mom has been an educator for over 20 years and I’ve always gone with her to this teacher store it’s so cute! I love how they are organized by math, science, language arts, ect.
This year it was time for new posters and walls so we came here as we have for years but this time I have a 2 year old and I was reading the reviews on here and I was quite hesitant on brining my daughter here nice many of you have said how mean the owner was to children and how they weren’t allowed to touch things and explore, which was quite peculiar to me since I was young I have NEVER once had a problem with their staff and had always played with the sample puzzles or the train they have. So we came anyways and man were you guys wrong! My daughter came right it pointing at AT&T the «Mickey Mouse» items and even sat down and began playing at a small table with toys and even the same train set! Not once was I told anything about her playing.
The owner did come up to me several times and asked if she could take my items to the front so I would not be holding them, which was very nice of her. Sine after awhile your hands do get tired of carrying all those borders and posters. Plus I’m sure after a while they would bend funny after holding them a certain way.
After we had purchased our items she has thrown in a free pencil which was very nice of her, the owner and her husband even mentioned how well she played and how children never want to leave (since she was crying on our way out).
The only sad thing is that they not longer give out desk Calendars. But we all had an enjoyable experience! And for those of you who are scarred to bring your children with you because of the other Unilocalers, don’t be!

The people there were so nice! The selection is great and super organized! Plus they give you a 10%discount if you are a teacher! My toddler son didn’t want to leave. They have a train table inside so kids can play. The also have chairs so you can sit and look at books. When I am in the area or looking for something hard to find this is the place I will come to even though it is pretty far!

I used to love it here when I started teaching. But then I became a mom! Rude and horrible customer service. Dogs are running around everywhere but god forbid you walk in with a child! You get the dirtiest looks and eye rolls! Not to mention the place is over priced!!! I’d rather spend my money at lakeshore where my daughter is welcomed than this flee infested pee smelling rat hole.

I love this place! I am a teacher and not a parent so I really cannot comment on how the owners treat children. I have read many negative comments about people feeling uncomfortable when taking their kids but I can only comment on a non-​parent perspective. I have been there when there has been children and have not noticed any rude behavior from the staff. I can say that the place is very neat and there are many expensive products everywhere so I can see why the owners may be nervous, but again, not I’m not a parent so I may just be experiencing the store differently.
As a teacher, love the products and the customer service.

I really want to like this store because it has such an amazing selection but it is so uncomfortable to shop there because they really make it known that they do not like kids. It’s more like a museum where you are not allowed to touch anything than a fun bookstore. I understand this is a small bookstore and my kids cannot ruin their inventory but I also don’t want the stink eye if my child opens a book.
However, they do have a fabulous math tutor that does workshops. He is very patient and makes math fun for kids, I highly recommend him.

Just had another fun visit to the Thematic, the Disneyland of book/​toy/​activity stores. I have made many visits and purchases here over the past few years. I highly recommend this wonderful gem for classroom needs, gifts for that special child, and everything in between. I have only ever found the owners and staff extremely knowledgeable, who happily go out of their way to accommodate their customers, even if they have to order something for you. I think the negative reviewers have a biased ax to grind and need to get over themselves. Unruly, unsupervised and destructive children do not belong in ANY public space. These parents themselves are out of control and need to get a grip. The owners welcome children, and regularly host all kinds of great activities and events for them. The Thematic Attic is my go-​to place for special, unusual gifts. Try it, you’ll love it!

Bad customer service. After getting off the phone with the owner I didn’t even want to go into the store anymore. Too bad she lost a sale.

I come here whenever I need to get books or toys for my toddler. They have great educational items. I come here all the time with my toddler. I have not once feIt unwelcome with her. I can’t wait till my toddler is old enough to participate in their workshops. A great gem in Covina!

I really want to like this store for the huge selection but just can’t get over the bad customer service. Like others said, this store is not welcoming to children. I’d prefer to shop without my little ones but it is just not possible all of the time. I’ve shopped here since 2006 often buying my children’s teachers gift certificates or for the high quality laminating.
The selection is outstanding and the place is beautifully arranged to feel cozy and inviting. I appreciate all of the different displays and love looking around; however, I always leave feeling unwelcomed. I don’t mind the dogs running around the store and understand that this is a small business owner but I just shake my head at the lousy customer service. I hope it gets better because I love the selection.
I was in the store a few weeks ago and could hear a lady (assuming it was the owner) reprimanding an employee for his bathroom use. I thought these types of employer/​employee conversations are best handled out of customer earshot? It was slightly uncomfortable when you want to pay for your items and this is the conversation you walk up to. If you are going to shop here– leave the kiddies at home otherwise you will end up walking out feeling very unwelcome.

This education supply store is charming and offers many teaching tools. I come here for the level reading books and the workbooks. I shop here as a parent. I appreciate the set up in the store; it is well organized. I also enjoy looking at the decorations. I applaud the owner for being so creative and artsy. I have been an on-​going customer for 3 years now. I am really happy that the books I buy are in excellent condition. This store is set up more like somebody’s cozy home. I read a few bad reviews written by angry parents. I feel bad that they wrote a bad review stemming from their emotions only and not on what the store actually offers.

This place is absolutely awesome if you love books. We were in there an hour and it felt like only 10 min. Great place to hang out. The employees were super nice and very friendly. This is a must visit place.

I love this store! It has a great selection of books, flash cards, games, posters, workbooks & toys to enhance the themes being taught at my son’s preschool. I try to shop w/​out my son though. My 5 year old wanted to touch & play with all the displays. I don’t blame the owner for reprimanding my son, afterall I wouldn’t want to buy something at full price that is worn & torn.
They do have a train table, dollhouse & comfortable chairs for the kids but I think it just looks like too much fun 2 ignore all the displays.

One star because the selection and layout of the place is really good. Educational toy/​book store, great for that project your kid is working on.
However, the caveat: I would be careful taking small kiddoes here. They aren’t allowed to touch anything without being watched like a hawk.
NOT a friendly atmosphere IF the owner is present.
Take the reviews with a grain of salt. Owner has been known to write her own 5-​star reviews.
Note to owner: Instead of sending PM people who write honest reviews, maybe you need to take heed of what people are saying and BE NICE to your CUSTOMERS and their kids. This time, if you PM me, I will post it here.