A.I.Friedman

So I have been recently been bitten by the craft bug. Waiting to start work does that to u, but I am still rich. In ideas! I didnt know about this joint until Unilocal informed me it was great for crafts. I said if Unilocal is suggesting it, I must trust it with all my heart. Well, Unilocal wasnt wrong. A cross between a Home goods and Michaels and Toys r us, da Friedman is a place of home busy working. Come in the store and decors and framing shower your eyeballs with goodness. Walk the wrap around and you hit art supplies, drawing books, desks, and other craft goodness. Hit the 270 degree point, and its Toys r us, no kidding. Shopkins, boardgames, drawing stuff for kids, so much awesomeness. My kid hit me up for the «I love you Daddy. Can u buy me a toy?» How could I say no? All in all, come on by and check it out. Right off of US1 in Port chester.

This store could be a 5 star however they did not have my particular craft (I’m into paper filigree –aka quilling).
Now to my review…
I loved this store. I described it as a sophisticated Michaels meets The Christmas Tree store and they had a baby. It has home goods as well as art supplies. I was impressed with the selection of paper, paper crafts and supplies.
I was VERY impressed with the selection of ready to use frames and the framing department in general. The staff in the framing department was knowledgeable and helpful.
We looked around at the office furniture and found a couple of items that were perfect for our space. They have an interesting selection.
As another reviewer wrote she buys gifts here as well as art supplies, going forward I think I will be shopping at A.I. Friedman’s for my gifts too.
I haven’t been impressed with a store and the selection of offerings in a long time. This store made such an impression I had to write a review.
Cleanliness: 5 stars
Customer service: 5 stars
Selection: 4.5 stars

A.I. Friedman has become my go-​to store for just about everything. I get arts and crafts supplies for my kids here, cards for birthdays, holidays and other milestones, party supplies, art supplies, seasonal and decorative items, framing supplies and frames, birthday gifts for kids, scrapbooking supplies –they have it all. If you are traveling a distance to get here, you may want to call first to check and see if they have the specific items you are looking for. This isn’t a Michael’s-type big box store and it’s definitely NOT a Bed, Bath and Beyond wanna-​be. The store has definitely expanded since renovating its location. They now sell Stonewall Kitchen, there are also lots of seasonal and home decorating items and fake flowers. In the summer they sell sandals and beach cover-​ups. I could spend hours in this store. My kids love the train table set up in the kids section. They sell lots of Thomas, Melissa and Doug, Alexa, Crayola, photo albums, baby books/​journals, date books. I could go on. You won’t be disappointed.

This is to give credit where credit is due. Mr Tony Wikimsom is a pleasure to work with and to be helped by. I wish all my endeavors were that easy!!!

Joanne in the framing department was superbly helpful! She helped me shop on a budget and was courteous, professional, and knowledgeable.
Frames are reasonably priced, but you have to mount almost all of the hardware yourself, so keep that in mind. All in all, great experience.

liked it better when it was an art supply store, now its got food and decorating junk amidst a small selection of what it once was. feels like bed bath beyond. couldnt find the markers or pens i was looking for. sad day. hello amazon.

Good selection of supplies and good prices but the staff take forever.

Knowledgeable staff– there’s one gentleman who works there who always manages to find me and I’ve picked his brain quite a few times and he really knows what hes talking about.
Great paintbrush section
tons of polymer clay to choose from
lots of cool pens
This place is for sure for the serious artist. I primarily go there to get my Supplies for «fine art» like paining drawing, sculpting. I recently bought a drafting table there that I love!
I haven’t visited the framing department but it looks quite extensive.
They also have really beautiful cards.
I think people should understand that AI Friedman is more geared towards artists– Vs. Michael’s which I think is more for hobbyists or «crafters»
The checkout is a little touch and go– Sometimes the young cashiers are too preoccupied with each other but overall they are efficient.
Overall, I really like it!

Not bad, but Portchester was a bit of a trek for me since I didn’t have a car in college. And the Thomson Art Supply is on the main strip in White Plains, so it was far more accessible.
This place has practically any kind of art supply you can imagine. Paper of different weights, textures. Pens of all kinds. Paints to go crazy with. Pencils that have so many different thicknesses and shades, it made my head spin. If you get the chance, it’s worth checking out and picking up a few things. My half-​dozen partially filled sketchbooks can attest to that.

Not good for beads. I had high hopes for this place, but most of what they have as far as beading supplies seems to be directed toward children. I didn’t see anything I wanted there (which is unusual when you put me in any place that has beads!).