Just Browsing

Not only was the service wonderful but helpful also. Sara knew so much about the area that we found a lot of stuff to do.

My first visit to Lake Arrowhead was going off without a hitch. My spouse and I had just had a pleasant lunch followed by a tour around the lake from Captain Jim, who pointed out the mansion-​esque cabins owned by celebs and captains of industry. But at 4:30 p.m. a brown-​haired fellow with thick glasses left a bad finish on an otherwise decent day. While in the shop «Just Browsing», he whizzed past to say «We’re closing» — in that disapproving tone of a parent telling a kid who knows he’s done wrong, yet again. My spouse and I had purchase in hand but this guy was headed for the back room when he made his «fly by» announcement. There was no one at the cash wrap, no one else to help. As I put down my purchase he reappeared with lightening speed at the front door. On the way out I said to my spouse, «I would have liked to buy that but I don’t want to be an inconvenience.» The employee, approximately in his early 40s, ignored not only my statement but did not wish us a good day — the door literally slammed shut on our heels.
I worked in retail and there is a way to close out a store — and not. When working in a gift shop or the like — and «Just Browsing» is precisely the type of retail store I had worked on more than one occasion as a young adult — the responsible and professional approach is to say «We are closing in ‘X’ number of minutes. Is there anything I can help you with?»
My spouse and I checked the glass display window and the front door and found no signage to indicate the establishment’s hours. This is my one big beef with mom ‘n pop shops; those that do not observe regular hours cannot expect customers — let alone first-​time visitors to the community — to understand that they don’t have *regular hours*. In this case, «Just Browsing» closed on the HALF — 4:30 p.m. on a Monday — during the less-​than-​exhausting off-​season no less! I fully appreciate having worked for independent (non-​chain) shop owners that working in a service oriented business is tough. The hours are brutal, particularly around the holidays, and the commitment to keeping a business going is no easy feat. And yet, in lieu of the hours posted on the outside the only signage present indicated that the owners are retiring and would like to sell. Now I could be wrong, but my spouse and myself did not get the sense that the man who closed the store was the owner — it’s unlikely given that no successful business owner wants to leave a bad taste in the mouths of the very people who make their livelihoods possible.
We all know that «life happens». Pesky tourist though I happened to be at the moment, I too know a thing or two about «bad days». Still, when you work in a service occupation you know that just because you are hungry, your feet hurt or you are having trouble at home you don’t deal out your frustrations on your unsuspecting customers. When I set foot in «Just Browsing» I had only had two hours total experience in his community and two hours sleep the night before. When someone who is getting paid to serve a role acts «put upon» it’s time to look for another job. Period.
In the end, I hope the sales associate had a very good reason for shoeing us out before we were offered help completing our purchase — and I’m not talking the «I’m cranky» excuse, either. It had better have been a «my dog just got hit by a car» kind of reason! Word to the (hopefully wiser) owners at «Just Browsing» — if you want to sell your shop, let alone your goods, don’t staff your establishment with individuals who stand around looking perturbed or bored because that vibe — let alone outright rudeness —- undermines your effort. In any economy, in any town, with any clientele, sales starts with attitude! Unfortunately, as visitors to the community of Lake Arrowhead, this lone retail experience is the only «first impression» we’re ever likely to form. After being shown the door — literally — we were in no more mood to shop elsewhere. We came. We saw. We left. For good.

Needing to pick up some gift items for my co-​workers back at home, my mom and I decided to waltz on in and just browse. Har har har! Yes it’s very touristy and kitschy, but it’s what I needed. The big draw was 50 cent bags of duck food! We were wanting to feed the ducks too. They have a very big variety of wares for sell, need a pug necklace? They got it. Need a Dream Catcher? They got it. Need a Lake Arrowhead key chain and license plate frame? They got it. Need crystal bracelets in a variety of colors? I got those! They have something for everyone. The store was nice and air conditioned, since it was a bit warm that day. Very friendly staff too. The prices aren’t too bad considering it’s location. It was A-​OK in my book!

Typical tourist town toy store.
They carry everything from singing plush animals, to dogie license frames, popcorn shirts —
(do people really wear this?), roll up sun visors
and of course the obligatory $.50 duck food so you can go down to the lake and feed the swarms of ducks.
There’s some nice «Indian Themed» merchandise in the back of the store like dream catcher jars and sculpted animal busts.
It’s fun to just look around at the gimmicky gift items. Appreciated the «Brunettes make good lovers…
) book: P

This is a great shop run by a great person! While visiting Lake Arrowhead, I stopped into this shop just to browse (no pun intended!). It is beautiful with lots of trinkets, toys, clothes, jewelry, décor, among many other things. Lots of random things that are entertaining, interesting, and fun. There is something for everyone! After walking around the shop and looking at everything, I found plenty of things that I wanted to take home. There were beautiful necklaces with natural stones that I really admired, a little «mining bucket» full of gorgeous colorful stones that you can fill a little bag up with (just $ 4.99 to fill up the bag with as many stones as you can!), and some stunning little arrowheads in different colors that I purchased to make into earrings. The atmosphere of the shop is relaxing and the owner is so nice! I had a great little conversation with him while he rang me up. It had a great mountain village feel with a lot of rugged themed things and Native American themed things (which I absolutely love!) There was even a little corner that had some toys and food for pets (you never know when you might need some). It’s a little store with a little bit of everything and I really enjoyed it. I will definitely stop in the next time I’m in Lake Arrowhead!

This is a rather bizarre assortment of things that makes me question whether the Lake Arrowhead Village website categorized it under ‘Art Galleries’ since that’s its intended purpose or they just had no idea what it was. As the name implies it’s a fun place to walk around. It’s full of those tchotchkes that make you smile and wonder who buys them. I guess if you’re one of those people who buys them, this is your kind of place.