S & A Beads

I have been going to this place for many years. It is the only place I can get my favorite incense! Over the years I’ve picked up many unique pieces that I’ve kept or given as gifts. The store is a centerpiece of old town Takoma Park. It has withstood the test of time and I hope to be going there for many years to come. Staff is super helpful and very friendly. The owner is often working and knows a lot about the beads she is selling. If you’re looking for cool beads, jewelry, or something unique, this is your spot.

This place has the best vibe of any of the bead stores in the DC area. The whole place has that great feel of classic Takoma Park funky that you only get from *locally* owned and operated stores. And a bead collector, one of the really special things about S&A is that they have both an amazing selection of rare and collectible beads AND lots of whimsical and funky things for the casual beader. That’s a really hard mix to get «right,» but I love having antique African Trade beads mixed in with Japanese seed beads, African sand cast, and little metal charms (of which they have a ridiculously large selection). And the Staff is really great — fun and relaxed and supremely talented.

The staff is friendly, attentive, and patient. I always spend 3xs the time I expect there, just looking and asking questions. Their help was invaluable to me in starting up a jewelry biz. The advice I got and free tutorials in techniques definitely was worth the extra cost (over ordering supplies on amazon, for example).

I adore this store — it’s full of beads and charms for every budget and project. I have always experienced a very friendly staff that puts up with me sorting through the beads for what seems like an hours to find the perfect fit. Sometimes the veteran customers will help out and encourage you with your projects.
There is a bucket with random charms and a few valuable pieces thrown in to make it feel like a true treasure hunt. They have all different types of beads & charms from around the world (some highly valuable and rare) as well as a few rough/​organic shaped crystals if you’re into that sort of thing. There are also plenty of premade pieces that make great gifts or treats for yourself. There is a chest of tumbled stones that are about fifty cents each that’s great for stone collectors (beautiful pieces of red jasper, sodalite, clear quartz, etc.)
If you’re in the area you should definitely stop in and look around, you’re bound to find something you like that fits your budget.
It’s a lovely little store that I adore visiting & I’ve never encountered poor customer service.

Friendly staff repaired a necklace and a pin for me while I waited. $ 5 for each item, including finding unusual little parts needed. She said she enjoys the challenge of repairing odd items. HIGHLY recommend!

I love this store. It isn’t a giant craft store but you can find creative items. The employees are friendly.

I had a very negative experience in this store but maybe you will have better luck with the staff.

Parking is not great but I was able to find what I was looking for. Staff is friendly. Prices are high.

My wife is a huge beader, so before her birthday I went in just looking to see if they had anything I could get from her. I had a really nice talk with Cheryl, and ended up getting my wife a gift card and a private lesson. The store is very clean and well-​organized, and the people who were working that day were very friendly. Very neat to see a small locally owned bead store doing so well.

Lovely shop, but…
After reading other posts I’m not alone. Staff needs customer service training or let go to find jobs not dealing w/​public. Bad attitudes: unhelpful, uninterested and downright snooty.
Observed nasty behavior by them toward a customer. Concluded it was intolerance of the look — beard, tattoos. Disappointed and amazed that owners allow it.
I talked to the guy– Combat Veteran of Iraq War; also spent time in Haiti rebuilding after hurricanes. Nicest guy. Earns extra selling jewelry. Lesson for owners & staff: you can’t pick your customers. And… NEVER judge a book by its cover.

I usually order supplies online, but I needed a few things and thought the convenience would justify the high prices. I have been here 3 times in the last few months and I always feel like I am intruding. The last time I went the man I asked for assistance walked away to help someone else who came in the store after me. They do have a great selection of funky animal beads.

The people in that store changed my life. They have taught me about beads, making jewelry & even helping me with my business. They go above and beyond customer service. I’ve been to all of the bead stores in the tri state area & overall S&A Rocks!
It’s a one stop shop! If they don’t have it Zoe will find it. If you can’t make it, Cheryl will teach you. Brynna is there to help you find everything you need. Love Love Love that store & you will too!

Located among the dwindling shopping area in Takoma Park which has definitely seen some better days, this shop has a large assortment of beads to peruse when you have a bit of time on your hands.
The woman who was working the day I was in here was happy to assist me and provided several interesting stories regarding some of the beads they carry there.
This shop is more expensive than any other bead store in the area, but they do have some cool finds if you are prepared to look. You can park behind the store for free!

I don’t know what it is about me and this place, we just can’t make it happen. I have been in here several times, all for different valid reasons, and every time I feel like the staff is totally disinterested in my business.
I spent $ 275 on one of those visits and they were just as indifferent and cold as the times I went in and dropped $ 10. I don’t ask much. Just say «Thank you» or «You too» when I part with «Thanks, have a nice day».
I have gone in on three occasions over a period of years to have something repaired, and while they offer repair services, they have found some lame excuse not to repair my items. If you only want to make custom jewelry for people or only want to repair your own custom pieces, just say that. Don’t offer a service and then deny it for arbitrary reasons.
Go to Beadazzled. The prices are better and the staff won’t judge you for trying to shop in their store.

I’ve always come here when I am in the mood to be the creative gift giver (like yesterday) when I saw one single large bead and HAD to buy it & make something for one of my friends that would truly appreciate it. This is one of those cute little shops that really gets your mind working. They also have jewelry making classes that you can come there for (for a small fee$) and learn how to make some amazing things so you don’t have to go to the stores in hopes that they have something you’ve been waiting for find for a long time.
Go test out your creative jewelry making skills!

It’s easy to overlook this shop. It blends in nicely with the rest of the welcoming hippie shops in Takoma Park. The staff are always super friendly and helpful, but their stock is not so great. They don’t carry as much a variety as I had expected, and what they did have was more expensive than Beadazzled in Dupont Circle (something I never thought could happen). It’s a fun store to poke around in if I have some time to kill, but I don’t think I’ve ever walked out of there with a purchase.

«Oh this way madness lies — let me shun that
No more of that»
I thought I was going to die. Me, three kids under 10 in a bead shop the size of a broom cupboard and four thousand buckets of 10 million beads ready to be cast asunder. This was a recipe for disaster.
Instead, we had a fantastic time — the place was busy, but the staff were superb and under the staff’s expert tutelage — the kids made magnificent necklaces.

S&A gets three stars for having a large inventory, but only three because the quality is low and the prices high. I don’t imagine myself ever buying any beads or supplies here, but someone who is just getting started on the hobby might enjoy a visit. A lot of the glass beads are low quality India-​produced, rather than nicer Czech, so the clarity and regularity in size/​shape are poor and the prices are really high for that kind of quality. I’d say the prices are even higher than Beadazzled, and that’s saying something.
However, other than beads they have a lot of fun little items like socks, hats, change purses, etc. This would be a great place to get a cool gift for a little girl (or a big girl who likes cutesy stuff).

Among the artsy crafty stores in and around Old Town Takoma Park, this store is a great find. It is verrrry small so if there is more than 2 customers in it, it turns into extremely tight quarters.
I stopped in here on my tour o’ bead stores. The staff is knowledgeable, but chill and was helping out some newbies with their necklaces and bracelets.
This store delivers in having a large selection of all kinds of beads: African, stone, Asian, glass and more. They also have cool stuff to accent your jewelry or shoes like Croc and Evil Eye charms. If you don’t have enough time to make this kind of stuff yourself, they sell pre-​made jewelry, too.