Casa Bonampak

Frankly, it doesn’t really matter how nice the stuff is in a store, if the owner or employees are going to be downright rude to you.
I was checking out books and Frida Kahlo stuff. I was selecting things to buy as gifts. Since there is a lot to see, I was taking my time and browsing through it. I already had a sale worth some money, like around $ 60.00 worth. It was getting close to closing time, maybe a few minutes before, and suddenly the lady there (apparently the owner) turned out the lights on me, to say, «Hurry up and quit wasting my time. I can’t be bothered to wait for you». It was so rude. No one has ever done that to me anywhere, in any other store I’ve ever been in.
I was offended and disappointed and just felt Bad.
Then when i went to pay her (I did not continue shopping, to get the rest of the things that i was planning to get, since she obviously was in a hurry to leave and wanted me to get out of her store), she did not smile or greet me or treat me nicely at all. So she lost money, and apparently she did not even care, or was too self-​absorbed to realize what she was doing. Well, she lost more than she realized, because she lost me forever. And now, I can tell the world about it on
Thinking back I should’ve just returned it all to the shelves and walked out. I regret having given her all that money, after she did that. It was such a bad feeling.
This happened a while ago (some years now), but you just don’t forget it, when you get treated rudely at a place you really though was cool and wanted to support.
Not going back, obviously. There are other places to get these things, like Luz de Luna on 24^th St., where they treat you decently.

This is the cutest store! Casa Bonampak is an authentic mexican art and gift store in the heart of the mission. I especially love the clothes made by local artists. Lots of Frida Kahlo inspired gifts. I got my SF Giants Sugar Skull t-​shirt here. I love the ladies that work here, always there to help and easy to talk to, great vibe all around. Oh and did I mention they have the BEST face painters here for Halloween and Day of the Dead weekend!?! This is the place to get your face painted as a Sugar Skull for Day of the Dead, they had epic artsits here last year, hope to see all the same artists there this year ;D

Best selection of Mexican decorations for party. We purchased the white banners. They also have good quality jewelry.

It was my first visit to Casa Bonampak. I spent about a half hour with Nancy sketching possible ways to hang the gorgeous papel picados they sell. She helped me figure out how many I needed and creative ways to consider displaying them. I loved her warm, easy approach and they items they carry are super beautiful and well crafted.

Amazing Store!!! I buy all of my papel picado and sugar skulls and dia de los muertos stuff.

Very nice place, we got our Papel Picado for our wedding. Friendly and helpful staff, decent prices.

Really nice Mexican decorations. !
the lady upfront never greeted us or said hi.
just acted like she didn’t notice all of us walk in.
awkward.
i love how you can personalize the decorations.
definitely a place to check out.

I love love love Casa Bonampak and Nancy, the owner. I first used to go to there when it was a small store on 24^th Street and continue to since it expanded to a large beautiful, open space on Valencia St. Papel picado, Mexican crafts and tchochkes, clothing, fair trade products, a great atmosphere and top notch customer service. So, what are you waiting for? GO!

My man and I ordered customized papel picado for our wedding celebration. Nancy and Tracey are creative and fun to work with. The papel looked absolutely fantastic and was a huge hit. We saved a few banners and paper flowers for memories sake– they really are works of art.

A super cute store to buy all manner of Mexican decorative items and gifts from tshirts and jewellery to postcards and art. The main drawcard though? Custom made flags «papel picado» to decorate your next party.
I bought some tiny colourful flags from their huge pre-​made collection but would love to get some specially made for a fun occasion.

Although I wasn’t raised in the mission I can tell you that being mexican it’s an area that my family frequents often from visiting the panaderia to pick up some fresh mexican pastries or even a quick trip to pick up some tortas de milanesa (mexican sandwiches). Since Dia de los Muertos (day of the dead) starts on friday i thought it was muy important that i got a head start on buying some decorations.
I was pleasantly surprised to find some really cool papel picado; a really intricate thin cut paper with different symbols american and mexican as well. Of course i also bought a calavera T shirt and some other cutesy skeleton decorations. I love all the culture in here, so many handmade beautiful items, along with some cool 49er and giants Day of the dead shirts! i’ll be back even just to look at all the lovely things!

What an inspired, truly original store giving one a Mexican Store feeling. I love all the arts and I can feel the love all the vendors put into making these products.
I bought some wonderful earrings for Pride here. They were colorful and handmade of course. Would definitely go back here for some culturally-​oriented gifts.
Hats off to the owner for putting together a great sampling fo fun gifts and fun stuff.

This place is great! — I love that Nancy Pelossi visited this place!
They have so many cute papel picados for every occasion (politics, celebrations, etc etc). They also have a selection of fashion pieces such as tops and skirts and nice leather purses from either Ecuador or Paraguay. I am so glad to see how this place grew from the smaller store on 24^th back in the early 2000’s. They have a good selection of cards for every occasion as well.

I ordered custom banderitas from them for my upcoming wedding & they are beautiful! They have stock designs but I asked if I could submit my own which wasn’t a problem. I gave them a PDF version of what I wanted and they sent me a proof a few weeks later. I worked with both Nancy & Tracey, they were both very responsive via email or on the phone. Tracey sent me regular updates on the process & provided me with tracking numbers once my order was shipped. So easy to work with & I’m very happy with the final product.

Everyone benefits from businesses like this one – the customer gets an excellent selection of beautiful, quality products, the community gets connected with cultural education and exciting events, the local merchants have a heartfelt ally who really understands and cares about the neighborhood, the makers are compensated fairly and have a great outlet for their goods, and, hopefully, Nancy (the owner) gets to enjoy all the many rewards of a job well done.
Just wandering the store is a marvelous experience, inviting you to dream up some colorful festivities to share with your loved ones. They’ll show you how! They got all the ingredients for sugar skulls, and you can custom design your own paper banners. From cute T-​shirts to exquisitely embroidered textiles, there’s something here for any style or budget.
Places like this are treasures.

This store is a great place to come for decorations – they’ve got patterned oil cloth (9.99 a yard), TONS of handmade tissue paper flowers, and paper banners and streamers. They’ve also got cards and a variety of other things.
A fun place to come in and browse around in, when I was here the people working didn’t bug me, which I like in small shops like this. It’s always stressful to come into a place that’s too small to get away from the salespeople and not feel like it’s okay to just BROWSE, so I appreciated that.

Papel Picados, flores de papel, Mexican tin crosses, calaveras de azúcar for Día de los Muertos, cascarones at Easter, Peruvian llama matchboxes, mantilla postcards, Mexican bingo, Lotería, handmade, fair trade (they are a member of the Fair Trade Federation since 1998) and mayoreso (wholesale goods), among other tesoros para las fiestas. Casa Bonampak is run with the intention of preserving Mexican and Latino cultures, both present and ancient, since 1997. Their original location was at 24^th & Mission. But has since found a bustling home at Valencia.
Casa Bonampak has been highlighted in National Geographic, Sunset Magazine, Brides and InStyle, among others. Casa Bonampak, owned by Nancy Charraga, was named after the archeological preservations of the Lords of Bonampak Murals in the Mayan Temples in Chiapas, México. They’ve also recently purchased jewelry to sell in the shop, from the Moi Enomenga Huaroni Indian Leader and artisan from the Amazonas in Ecuador. While in San Francisco protesting Chevron’s usage of his tribal land, his art found another home at Casa Bonampak. This earthy devotion to the indigenous peoples of Latin America is palpable here. Some of my favorite items here are the Mexican Karma Dresses and billowing blouses with ornate floral stitching plus the postcards. I wish they had a more intense selection of literature and cards in Spanish (and maybe even Portuguese).
Casa Bonampak also, admirably, aims for community involvement, and offers various courses and activities for all, especially for the Spanish-​speaking peoples of San Francisco, like beginning photography lessons and does not skip a beat in being inclusive. Bonampak is not only a shop, but also a bit of an education. The owner makes sure she communicates with her shoppers and expresses the diversity of Mexico, and all of Latin America, even noting on her Facebook page, that Chinese designs and totems also have influences in Mexican culture.
Go for the chance to see something new, get ideas for your next gathering, and don’t miss the random paper money under the glass at the front.
Pro-​tips:
* Exchanges with receipt are given 14 days, if you have buyers remorse.
* Sale items, flower and decoration sales are all final, no exchanges, no refunds.
* Order online or organize décor for a party at their website,
or contact them via 1−888-Pachanga (which is colloquial Spanish for ‘party’) or by e-​mail at
.
* They are closed Monday, open Tuesday to Saturday from 11am to 7pm and Sun from 12 to 6 pm.
* Make sure to Check-​In for a free gift!

Joy’s 2 dresses: Joy couldn’t make up her mind buying one dress so, I bought her two different colors!

Weffy’s heading off be a do-​gooder in Latin America this summer and has informed me that «No, you cannot come over and visit». Aren’t teenagers great?! My next best option is to don my blinged out «Sexy Nica» t-​shirt and head out for the Maria Elena plate at «Oye! Managua» making a pre-​dinner stop at Casa Bonampak.
Casa Bonampak is all hand-​made fair trade goods from Latin America and is a hot little place to pick up some things that you can’t find anywhere else. Having a fiesta? Get over here for buckets-​full of day-​glo colored paper flowers, hand-​embroidered cotton blouses, Frida Kahlo inspired jewelry, day of the dead tchotchkes, and the piece-​de-​resistance: Elaborate hand-​cut paper decorations known as Papel Picados.
The Papel Picados can be made up in advance to say anything you want and can be made in any size or quantity desired. They’re really quite impressive and would make distinct and memorable decorations for any festive event. They can duplicate logos and other artwork, all in brightly colored cut out paper; It’s like paper dolls as done by MC Escher.
Casa Bonampak has been featured in Brides and Sunset magazines and also has an on-​line store. My only recommendation is that they should beef up the physical store so that it’s overflowing with goods so luscious that I can’t help from breaking out my wallet.

I removed my photo of the storefront from my original review since it was taken at their former location.
I went there with three gal pals. I bought several sets of Papel picados – one of Che for my son, one Birthday for me (next month), one Southwest décor for a friend and one Aloha for another friend.
Their new space is roomy and sunny. Beautiful blouses and skirts.
Cute Che teeshirts for kids, Handmade cards from Africa and Mexico.
Frida Kahlo cards too. A huge variety of papel picados (samples all hanging from the ceiing) all colorful; ranging from «Obama-​nos.» Gay Pride,” «Love,» «Peace,» Quinceneras.” «Mazeltov,» «Wedding,»
and more. You can also order customize papel picados.
They also have a wide variety of crêpe flowers from tiny to huge.
There is also a nice selection of jewelry.
Very sweet staff.