Mongrel - Richmond, Virginia

Sarah S.

I had been wanting to go here for over a year, and finally got the opportunity (it’s been a year!). I was not disappointed. I recently needed some new housewares and was delighted by the selection - including one that I had randomly seen online and had never hoped to own! But now I do! (It’s the cheese one!) So happy, looking forward to going back! Keep up the good work, maybe add more year-round pride flags?

D L.

Awesome little gift shop packed to the brim with all types of stuff. I have been coming here for over a decade. Huge card section in the back. Kitchen ware has been popular in terms of gifts I have doled out. Novelty socks too. For myself it has been magnets and other knick knacks. The people here are great. They are always helpful and nice, especially the one wearing the Semester at Sea t-shirt several years ago.

Lexy M.

Love this shop! There are so many different options for gifts or items for the home. There were a lot of cards and gift bags if you need that, too. There were a surprising number of socks with cute wrappings like sushi socks wrapped like sushi rolls. You could spend a lot of time at this shop just looking around or finding gifts for friends and family. There’s a range of small and large items, too.

Isaac A. J.

A cool shop to find family gifts, art, games, tots, stickers, pins, and housewares. A bit slim on the aisles in walking around but there is plenty to see. The service is nice inside so go forth and explore!

Vanessa D.

Super cute locally owned gift/curiosities/card shop. There's always a little of something for everyone here. Super unique cards. It's fun to just walk around and look at everything. Their displays are always fantastic and well curated.

Nova

I visited Mongrel yesterday (not my first visit) and had a mixed experience. While they offer a fantastic selection and an awesome seasonal display, I felt uncomfortable due to the behavior of one employee (potentially the manager). As I browsed through the store, I noticed that the employee made their way near me every time I moved around, making me feel like I was being unfairly singled out or suspected of stealing. There weren’t a lot of customers in the store at the time, so it was weird that they were doing that. Their actions created an uneasy atmosphere for me, especially because they made zero effort to greet or interact with me.

On a positive note, another employee who rang me up was very pleasant and friendly, which somewhat improved my experience. However, the feeling of being racially profiled made me not want to shop here again.

Ironically, a store that offers a decent selection of products that promote inclusivity lacks awareness of how profiling can negatively impact customer experience. One suggestion would be for employees to greet customers upon arrival so that everyone feels comfortable throughout their time in the store. I hope management can address this to ensure all customers feel welcomed and respected.

angela M.

It has been over a year since I visited Mongrel on Cary Street in RVA. I was followed around like I was a thief then and it happened again today. Every corner of the store that I shopped, there was a young brunette white girl following me. She was not hiding the fact that she was following me, she just lurked the entire time. I still spent $100 bucks in this store that has the same items you can buy online from a major distributor for much less. I asked the girl at the counter if theft is a big problem in this store because I had been followed the entire time and she said she didn’t know because she just started working there. I have decided to return the items because, in my opinion, they don’t appreciate the buying power of the black community. By the way, I was the only black consumer in the store and everyone else appeared to be shopping unbothered.

Karen

I travel from NY to FL twice a year and Mongrel is always part of the drive. I can spend an hour in that store admiring all the original and funny items. Never leave empty handed. It’s fun and you will laugh out loud.