Richards Variety Store

I was so excited to go to Richard's Variety Store because in my hometown there was a very similar store. We walked in to only walk back out after being here for 1 minute. The owner very loudly told everyone to make their way to the front of the store with 10 minutes left till closing. He then proceeded to stomp his way to the front door and hold it open telling everyone to leave. He then yelled come back and see us to which another person replied "We definitely won't be." I don't understand how someone with such poor people skills could own a store that's catered to children and families. It's the holiday season and I would have to say, don't get your presents from this store

No doubt, you get a weird feeling in this store with how the owners treat their employees and how they are all staked out hiding to try to catch someone stealing something. However, you can find some of the coolest, ecentric to old school gifts. It's like going in the dime store when you were younger. Old games to odds and ends you need. I mainly go there for the card selection - the cards are great, unique and will make you chuckle. Ignore the staff, in fact consider it an expereince. This place will crack you up.

Don't be fooled, this deserves ZERO stars. I was browsing the store for a good 20 minutes when an older man, Jack, came up to me and said, "Can I check your bag." I thought he was being courteous and I told him that I was fine. He asked again, and I said no thank you. Then he got very firm with me and said it was store policy. I told him I would find my husband and I would leave. He followed me around the store and then started shouting for my husband. My husband heard him shouting and Jack told him in a very loud voice that I wanted to leave. My husband thought something was wrong. I was completely embarrassed because everyone in the store was looking. I told my husband that I was pretty much being asked to leave by the man. Jack escorted us out while repeatedly saying in a loud voice for everyone to hear that it's store policy. I get it, but I find it an insult. I told the man I'm sorry he couldn't trust his customers and that I would never take anything. He said, "You never know." Wow! This is a real problem when customers feel in the wrong when they absolutely have done nothing in the first place. This store needs to go out of business with management like that.

I like the merchandise so I used to shop there every now and then. I won't tolerate it any more. On many occasions, I have been followed around the store as if I was going to shoplift. It's so obvious and irritating to say the least. The owner actually scolded me on one visit for the way I was carrying my merchandise. He's very rude and suspicious and I won't give him another cent.

" You Wont be able to Shop with Your Purse "\t\nI am in Atlanta, Georgia with my fiance who is working on a film called The Blind Side with Sandra Bullock. We are proud owners of an Art Gallery called STASH GALLERY in Miami, Fl. When your out of town working - people on the set refer you to go to certain restaurants, clubs, stores etc. Richards Variety Store was one of the stores we were excited to go to... Upon arriving, They have a woman at the door who takes your bags. ( shopping bags and puts them behind the counter which is customary in most stores) But I wasn't asked for my shopping bags, I was asked for my purse... I became very upset when I saw a woman with the same size purse as I had walking through the store. Let me add here that this woman was white - I am mixed\t\n Puerto Rican, German, & black foot native american indian. When asked why the lady was allowed to shop with her purse and I was not, the owner added that she slipped by... I am almost positive the woman who held the purse slipped by because she was WHITE. I was highly upset and highly disturbed by this incident. \t\nThis place treats its customers like people who steal if you are other than white. It makes your whole expierence there very unpleasant. To make matters worse the owner apologizes to my fiance ( who's french & white ) instead of apologizing to me... the colored girl. On top of that, he employs black people to check in bags and mop floors and has a couple of white girls manning the registers. What bothered me most was the stereo - typing that was going on... I was made to feel like I look like a person who steals. It really messed with my self esteem. Especially when you have shopped all over town and no one has done this to you. I am staying in BUCKHEAD which is a pretty expensive place to live. Instead of spending a couple of hundred dollars - I spent $80.00. ( i go to these kind of stores because I am an artist who uses a lot of nic-nac's in my pieces of art. ) After everything was said and done - I will never go to this store again\t\n and My fiance and I will be telling every one on set not to go there unless they are white. ( oh let me add - on top of taking my purse I was followed around the store ) To me, this was crazy... I have never stolen anything in my life - I believe in Karma and being a business owner I know how I feel when something gets stolen from me. So you can only imagine how I felt when I was being profiled and targeted. Let me also add that I travel all across america and the world and I do a lot of shopping. This was the first time I was asked for my purse. I hope if anything this review gets back to the owner, maybe it will teach him a BIG lesson. He just lost a lot of good customers, our whole film crew.... I would recommend going to Urban Outfitters or Junkmans Daughter or An Old American Store if your in Atlanta... you will have a much better time nor will you be followed like a criminal. \t\n Love & Luck, Evo Love - evoloveunlimited or myspace/Stashgallery miami

Comparing Richard's Variety Store to Ace Hardware is like comparing caviar to fish sticks!\t\n\t\nAce has a much higher quality of merchandise, and as smarter shoppers know, when it comes to tools--you get what you pay for. You haven't saved a dime or spent wisely by buying tools that will break or rust after one or two uses. Moreover, selling junk puzzles and Halloween costumes does not merit distinction as being a true hardware store. Ace has over 65,000 products, with a sales staff trained to advise you on issues pertaining to plumbing, electrical, carpentry, painting, etc. Thus, the only similarity between the two stores is that they are both inside the Peachtree Battle Shopping Center.

Richard's has the best selection of greeting cards--even some "adult" cards. They compete directly, undercutting prices of the Ace Hardware a few doors down on many items (as well as the Rite Aid drugstore on the other side), so be sure to compare prices. They have a good selection of household cleaning products, tons of sewing notions, kids' party favors, picture frames and seasonal items. They invested heavily in the Beanie Baby craze and still have lots of Ty products. Their toy selection will save you an annoying trip to Toys 'R' Us. They have a wonderful selection of puzzles. Lots of toddler toys, too. Very interesting collection of household items. I love browsing at Richard's. Plus, I really do try to support independent merchants whenever I can, but in this case, it's not even a sacrifice.

Yes we were out early today, looking for holiday decorations, as we both combine Chanukkah/Christmas. Richards is always a first stop. Located in Peachtree Battle, along with our favorite lunch stops, Pasta Vino and Jalisco. This place is just part of our hood. The quirky staff, makes it even more fun. And we are in the store all the time. Such bargins are everywhere, kitchen gadgets, toys, cards/wrappings, and even Asian decor, although it's always the same, and nobody really buys it. But it's really such fun, when you know you are getting a bargain. And one of the owners is always in the store putting out new merchandise daily. This is a combination of the old five/dime and variety store. An Atlanta original, and not a chain. Go!

And Richard's is an allspice. I recently went on a little shopping spree to buy gifts for a coworker leaving the job. What a fun place. As I turned every corner, I was pleasantly surprised to find even more quirky stuff--from beach gear, to children's toys to kitchen and bar accessories to funky greeting cards. A lot of the items in the store are below what you'd find at a chain place. If you don't know what to get someone, you just might find it here.