karikter

Farewell! How sad this store full of my iconic childhood characters — with whimsy items Tin Tin, Babar, Little Prince etc… Parlez Vous? i bought my Phillipe Starck chairs :(super staff…
Walked in today — now manned by bankruptcy people — RUDE — selling all these treasures… Sign of the Times…
Au Revoir…
Closing on Sunday August 10^th, 2014

Great gift store — and if you like Tin Tin, well, this is your store as they have a good selection of collectibles and trinkets to buy. They also have cool housewares, candles, wallets, toys, travel accessories, glassware. Really nice knowledgeable service. I go there anytime I need gifts for someone or just want to check out what’s new for myself.

Helpful manager!

They are awesome! The tintin knick-​knaks would make the best gifts. The store manager is amazing and helped me in a crunch when I needed an immediate gift wrap… beautiful wrapping paper highlighting Tintin’s escapdes through the streets of Paris. Truly a gem by Union Square!

If you’re looking for either strange European toys and gadgets, a super fancy Lego set, or odd San Francisco-​type souvenirs, karikter is an interesting place to check out. I came here looking a unique toy for my nephew’s birthday and found some really interesting things that I know would be a hit for him.
I find it’s a bit pricey in here, but for the quality and uniqueness I’m more than happy to spend a bit for something different.

One of those great stores that any city needs more of. Lots of items from my childhood, lots of collectibles, one of those places when upon walking in, and leaving — you feel a little lighter.

Growing up Vietnamese, I idolized Tintin, Le Petit Prince and Babar. This is the stuff I was raised on.
This past fall I was in Paris. Every where you went there were advertisements for the upcoming movie. The Gap stores looked like Hergé had thrown up on their display windows. I excitedly ran into fill my nephew’s wardrobe with Tintin wear. Nothing. I roamed the streets of Paris looking for anything with a tow headed blond boy imprinted on it. Nothing.
I now know why. It’s all at karikter.

Great gift and housewares store really nicely merchandised. The owner or main employee or whomever is very helpful, friendly patient. Francophiles, enjoy!
My purchases (all fabulous):
— hand soap in a glass pump
— greeting cards from an English company called Polite
— rose water tonic
— black bar soap
— French mustard
Love.

This review is solely based on the fact that I was able to score a sweet looking suede Mandarina Duck bag at 70% off its current price (I checked online).
Also, love the Euro vibe.

Super cute little gift novelty shop. If you are a fan of Vespas or the Little Prince, you must come here!

Don’t know exactly how to review this place — it’s basically a collectibles shop for twee Americans who love TinTin, Asterix and other European high-​brow comics and stuff. You basically wouldn’t want to give your kids anything from the collections here — it’s shelf/​display only, given the prices and materials.
They also have an odd assortment of wall décor and knick-​nacks in the modernist vein, although I didn’t see anything I haven’t seen at similar stores elsewhere (think SF/​NY MOMA).
I bumped from 3 to 4-​stars because I was looking for something to bring to my kid and they had a few actual kid toys/​games (Spot It, in particular) at prices no more than the online stores.

First off, I love my dentist. Love love love. He lives in the dentist building.
Every time I leave I leave happy. Yesterday, upon leaving happy, I stopped in Karikter. It’s right next to the dentist building. I’ve always wanted to but never thought I had the time. Having learned to tarry the other day I put my new skill to a practical purpose yesterday afternoon and did a little shopping.
I have a friend that looks like Tin Tin. A little browner, but the hair is perfect. So I got him a little something. I got him a book about him and a t-​shirt with his dog Snowy dreaming about a bone. It’s good to get your friends stuff and tell them you love them often.
This is an excellent store where for to do that. Even if your friend isn’t Tin Tin. I could have left many more clams there than I did. Herge, my friend’s illustrator, is amazing. My coffee table will soon be full of his work. I’ll have a Snowy keychain and adventure underwear.
You have to go. And, btw, this is one of those places that’s five-​star from afar. It’s not great just when you’re standing next to it. It’s worth a trip from out of state.
If I do say so myself. And I do.

LOVE THIS PLACE!!! This is my «MUST VISIT» for SF. They carry things I can’t find. I’m a big fan of TinTin and Moomin and they have tones (comparing to other stores) of their stuff. And I always walk out of here with something I love.
If you are a fan of TinTin or Moomin, you won’t be disappointed.

One of the cutest stores in Union Square. Walking around Karikter is a lot like browsing a design blog in 3D. The store carries mostly goods that are imported from Europe. Definitely a good place to find unique gifts or inspiration. Friendly staff.
If you love TinTin or need gifts for a TinTin lover, DEFINITELY come here! TinTin dishes, mugs, books, T-​shirts, calendars, and more. Moomin and Babar merchandise available too.
In addition, the store sells laptop bags, luggage, cards, wall décor, clocks, notebooks, bath products, and more.
Examples of cool things I saw on my latest trip here, in addition to all the cute TinTin merchandise :)
–An Italian leather-​bound notebook that fastens with a USB connector. I thought the USB connector was purely decorative, until the owner told me it can be detached at the back and doubles as a 4GB flash drive
–A fashion-​friendly, quilted leather laptop case, available in red and black. The quilted leather reminded me of a Chanel bag.
There is an Alessi store right next door as well so you can hit up both when looking for gifts!

OH MY GAWD! WHERE DID YOU FIND THIS?!
If you want to hear that, you have to come here.
The next time you visit Urban Outfitters for your copout I-don’t-know-what-to-get-this-person-gift (c’mon, admit it. you do it. I do it. we all do), walk a few blocks north toward kar’ikter and thank me later. They carry all the cute, nostalgia, culture, and charm without the manufactured authenticity.
For me, I found exactly the gift I was looking for (in this case, the Tin Tin DVD boxed set), and things that I didn’t know I wanted, but realized I had to have (like the Michelin Man figurine as a gift for another friend). They also have sleek and artistic functional items, so there’s something here for kids, big kids, and everything in between.

Fun fun fun little shop! It’s for the discerning Euro kiddie within us all.
There were books and kid-​appealing merchandise featuring Frenchy characters. You know the gamut: Tin Tin (pronounced in French «tan-​tan» with a nasally sound), Babar and some other cartoon icon whose name I can’t recall.
I remember being in my 20s and loving Tin Tin for some reason. I think if I stumbled upon this shop 10 years ago (or thereabouts *smile*) I would have totally flipped for this shop. Still having outgrown my nick-​nacky stage, I still found other items that I coveted. There was the plastic mini stool/​side table that was clear acrylic with diamond cuts throughout. When the light shone through it creating beautiful mini-​rainbows it made me want to whip out my credit card and take it then and there. However sticker shock (it was nearly $ 200) dragged me back down to consumer reality.
One of a kind stuff here and it’s all good fun for the young and old.

Neat store with a lot of interesting and unique gifts for kids and adults.
Not quite my cup of tea but I can see coming back just to check out their selection and perhaps finding the perfect gift for someone.

It’s like a toy store for grown-​ups, a little something for everyone that reminds them of their childhood. One-​of-​a-​kind decors that are really good finds. If you want unique furnishings this is the place to check out.

A nostalgic and sophisticated toy store — wonderful knick-​knacks, artwork, random home décor items, stationary, books, posters, and little figurines.
I gasped in delight when I saw BABAR the elephant, the Little Prince, and old Pop-​Eye items. I don’t think they sell items like these in any mainstream store. There are other characters here that I don’t recognize, but all look reminiscent of an older classic era. Great artsy gifts and vintage decorations, ranging from sketchbooks, to tin signs, clocks, and Lomo cameras can be found in this gem of a place. It’s a bit pricey, but definitely unique and worth the visit.

Cool little shop to buy last minute knick-​knacks for the little ones in your life.
If you’re a Francophile then you’ll especially love this place with all the Tin Tin memorabilia.
They even got Smurfs! I hadn’t seen those little blue guys in years. Then it dawned on me — those guys are French too.
Okay — I’ll say it. I like this store. It’s got a lot of character…