The Gold Bug – Pasadena – Pasadena, CA
address:
22 E Union St
Pasadena, CA 91103
Neighborhood: Pasadena
TEL: (626) 744-9963
Hours:
Mon-Sat 10 am – 6 pm
Sun 10 am – 5 pm
About This Business:
Reviews
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I was just in awe of the amazing assortment of FABULOUS things in this store. ?I have always wanted to go in but since I’m such a night owl it’s never open.Someone called the items “somewhat dark” ?but for me the darker the better. ?A breath of fresh air for the person who doesn’t think like the “mall” crowd. And if you are looking for gifts that are unforgettable, look no further.The service was amazing in spite of the crowds of people asking for help and buying their special loved ones that ?very unique item for the holidays.
Great shop but 2 stars for closing early ?Saturday Sept 3rd. As I walked up there was another patron trying the doorknob. We both looked at our cells and read 5:50 pm. Grrr…I wanted to buy the hummingbird necklace as a present for a friend down south on Monday and wouldn’t be back in the area. *frown*
I love Gold Bug (it’s similar in many ways to Paxton Gate in SF for those of you from the Bay Area) – so many amazing things to see, many of which you’ll never see anywhere else. ?But really, does their customer service have to be so very cold? ?I’ve been in many times and bought many things and sadly my reception is always the same – lukewarm at best. ?Would it kill you guys to be a little friendly?
I eneded up giving the artistic side of the store a five start rating, but he material associated with it a zero for dreadfully gross effect, evening out to a good rating. ?CREEEEPPPY!!! ?Felt like washing off in a shower after I stepped out of the store. ?As an artist, I wanted to appreciate the store more, as the website does a great job of that. ?However, with everything hitting you at once in the store, it’s quite the Adam’s Family meets Pee Wee Herman experience. ?None like it, but something I’d never buy from for fear of that kind of energy following me elsewhere. ?It stays and belongs with that location. ?Nothing but a parking structure above it, so no one would be cursed living in the building. ?Not for the faint of heart. ?Very eclectic. ?But disturbingly so. ?BEWARE
Similar to San Francisco’s Paxton Gate. ?An excellent collection of oddities.
The store itself is kinda quirky, they have a lot of stuff I would never buy, but a few things that are very different in a good way. ?I give them a good score because:-I was able to get some art for my brother and sister-in-law.-Unlike all the other reviewers I found the staff to be not only helpful but genuinely nice.While I was there, there were two women working (not the man others complained about) and they were great.
I really liked this store. They had a little of everything, for the eclectic soul.
The Gold Bug is like no other store you’ve visited. LOL. Get your dead bug fix here!!!!!!!!!!!! Istumbled upon the store after hours in the middle of the night one weekend on the way to a bar…These pieces at the window lured me to come back the following morning. ?A unique store no doubt and they have many pieces that were rather exceptional. The craftsmanship of the items here have tons of detail.Most items are very dark but exquisite. Not for everyone but definitely a special store that is worth the trip, even to look.
Awesome place, great inventory, but WAY WAY WAY overpriced. ?I think we were looking at earings for my mom…but they were $2,250. ?I asked the woman if that was $22.50 (serious question) and she said “no, $2,250 those are made by..* someone I never heard of*”Service wasn’t bad for me though, the lady and her daughter were very nice and the store is extremely intriguing, but like someone else said…more of a museum than a shop.
Well, in the end service matters.I’ve been to this store at least half a dozen times, and purchased items a couple of times. I was enamored of the place…I mean it has stuffed beavers with crowns!…who wouldn’t be excited right? It’s actually the kind of place I imagined real rock stars might shop…or their stylists.That is until they took a serious look on yelp and realized that the owner would just as soon piss on their alligator skin boots as sell them something… it’s my own impression that he thinks he runs a museum that has the unfortunate aspect of having to sell things. Laughably rude. He took my coffee away from me after I was in the store for ten minutes saying that a previous customer had ‘spilled it on the leather and not wanted to pay’…Anyway, it’s no fun to shop in a place that places no value on your ability to actually purchase something. I have money, I spend it, but you can be damn sure I won’t be spending it at Gold Bug despite the fact they have cool stuff. Cool stuff doesn’t make up for asshole service.
Amazing! Fantastic! Disturbing! Beautiful!This store is unlike any other store you’ve seen. ?It’s difficult to describe the feeling of discovering The Gold Bug for the first time. ?You get lost in another world… a fantastic world of imagination and eerie beauty. ?”Quirky” and “whimsical” – yes absolutely… and I agree that the visual presentation is impeccable. ?Displays change frequently, so each time you go there will be new things to see. ?My eyes pop open and I can spend at least a half hour telling my friend, “Hey! Look at this!” every 3 seconds. You can tell that every single item in there has been carefully selected to fit into the ambiance – most are hand crafted by various artisans. ?The owner mentioned that he just returned from a trip to New York where he acquired a few new pieces. They have lots of unusual art pieces, jewelry, statues, clothing, and cards.Be careful with children there… ?they might break something or get a little traumatized by taxidermied animals with crowns on ther heads or baby heads with antlers or something. ?Although I have seen mature little kids in there who are fascinated with everything and seem fine with it.Last week, I visited again for the first time in at least a year and discovered their new STEAMPUNK section. ?It’s very very cool. The clothes are great (too pricy for me though) and the metal art pieces are fascinating and interactive. ?They have one where an eyeball moves around and blinks at you and another metal dragon robot that dances to the “I dream of Jeanie” theme song. You have to see it to believe it – it’s like something from a movie set. This is a high end store, great for window shopping & wishful thinking. ?So much on my wish list… But, I seem to find a few items here and there that I can afford. ?My last purchase was a pair of beautiful lace cuffs to compliment an outfit.Definately check out this store. ?I’m not sure if the store was named for the Edgar Allen Poe story of the same name, but I think he would approve.
As a museum and a place to play dress up, this place is A+ amazing. ?Equal parts creepy and endearing, disturbing and curious, I could explore the shelves for ages.As a store, not so much. ?Everything is flamboyantly overpriced. ?I mean, $150 for feather earrings? ?I could make those for under five bucks, please direct me to the nearest Michael’s. ?Those better be archaeopteryx pinions or something.I’m afraid this isn’t so much a review as a reminder to myself to back there when I’m a zillionaire…or when I’m bored.Side note: I recognized some of the leather as a designer I like to check out in Downtown, Skingraft, and was thrilled to find a jacket that fit like a glove – but at over $500 even with the 30% “sale” there’s no way to afford it.
The store concept and the things they carry are pretty much amazing; the jewelry is quirky and wearable, the statuettes and baby doll heads, bird leg weights (etc) are pretty unique and cool…I’d love to buy their stuff, but, unfortunately, I am not filthy rich enough to spend $75 on a pencil.Everywhere I looked there was something I wanted, but I will not spend $2,090 on a necklace, when I could go to Tiffany’s and get a diamond and white gold ring for that. Hot Topic used to sell the same stuff (maybe not better quality, but pretty much the same concept.)Another con was the people working there…they seemed nice I guess, but the man kept looking at me and my dad like he was wondering why in the world we were even there and when we were going to either steal or break something. His gaze kept following us, and nobody else in the store. I don’t think I look like a homeless person, or someone in need to steal things, so that was a turn off.Their clothes are pretty cool too, if you’re a size 0 or -2. Even my dad commented on this problem…who’s going to spend $120 on a shirt only a skeleton can fit in?Over all, I hate to whine about the store, because it’s just SO cool, but it’s so overly priced AND judgmental that I can’t help but mention it. Maybe when I win the lotto I’ll swing by and buy a $210 thin silver ring. Maybe.p.s. They have a sign that says “no cell phones, no cameras.” Do they not realize EVERYBODY has a cell phone these days…?!
Absolutely remarkable merchandise! A feast for the eyes…we had been planning to visit this store and finally committed to doing it last Sunday. ?The place did not disappoint. ?There were plenty of things to see (though touching was another story). ?The visual presentation is impeccable. ?We picked up one of the cement baby heads and a rat ornament…we have our “eye” on one of the kinetic eye art pieces that is so whimsically awesome…certainly a planned purchase for the future.So why just four stars? ?As beautiful as everything is, there is a certain coldness from the salespeople. ?The “May I help you?” from the male salesperson came off brusque and off-putting. ?Funny enough, another customer at the store was there to pick up a package that her mom had left the day before because she had gotten in an argument with the same male salesperson. ?He explained that he was just trying to help and couldn’t get the information from her. ?”Help”? or HAMMER…I don’t know, both words start with an “H”. ?Maybe a refresher course in Customer Service Warm and Fuzzy 101 is due…or better yet, read “How Not To Get Lost in Your Own Fabulosity”.Other than that, it’s a store that we plan to visit each time we’re in the area!
I really want to like this place. In fact I DO like this place… to a certain extent. This is more than an “I’ll just pop in and take a look”, it’s an afternoon of ooh and ahh and keeping your hands to yourself. There’s stuff crammed into every single inch of this space, each more wonderous and often more macabre than the next. Problem is, not only is this stuff slightly overpriced, it’s not as unique as one would think. Crazy patina baby head = “awesome!” but 40 copies of the same head with different finishes and a $25+ price tag each = “not so much”.They’re also listed as an “art gallery” but when the photographer boyfriend inquired about shows, the owner lady fumbled for a minute and then said “Well, we consider ourselves an art gallery because we collect and sell unique and hand make works of art that are… jewelry.” Um, ok, I get it, different use of the term “gallery” but her attitude in answering the question really put me off.This places just screams kitsch to me in the worst way: Twimom. While I appreciate their attempt at bringing the “dark” into the light of Old Town Pasadena, I can’t help but think it’s a combination of the movie Practical Magic and the stores Anthropologie and Hot Topic all mixed together.Maybe I’m just not open enough, maybe I need to be more willing to pay $75 for a sequined black eye mask, and maybe I need to spend more time in here just soaking it all in. Or I could just hook up with Stephanie Meyer and watch the Craft.
True that over the years, Old Towne Pasadena has become a pretty “shi shi” place, replacing the movie theatre with a wretched Tiffany’s and so on, but there IS a glimpse of light at the tunnel! Enter Gold Bug, a bizarre bazaar of Steampunk goodies and fancies to satiate all curiosities. This little shoppe around the corner of Fair Oaks and Union carries circa 1800 odds and ends whether it’d be jewelry or clothing and random trinkets. Being that this store carries many incredible artists, prices can get a bit steep for certain items but definitely worth the price. This little wonderland has become my new favorite store in all of Pasadena.
Dear Gold Bug,WHEN THE HELL ARE YOU OPEN? I’ve seen The Gold Bug a dozen times, all from the outside. I love the lamps, the taxidermy, the jewelry, but the hours are so unfriendly I’ve never been able to see the INSIDE.I’m part of the working class, so coming to the store between 10 and 6 is not very convenient. So, on Wednesday I had a day off and dragged my sister down Union. Was it open? NO. I understand that when you’re a small business your hours can be variable and everyone wants a night off, but jeezus. Can’t you be open one weekend night a week??It’s worth going to the store, even to see it from the outside. I hope someday the hours will be more worker/night owl friendly.
I can’t believe people would give Gold Bug one star. ?And the complaints that go along with the one star are: my dog broke a piece of art and I had to pay for it; my annoying, sticky kids were touching the art; and last Wholesale Jewellery, but not least, my ignorant relatives thought they could handle expensive art without being told to not touch it. ?Hmmm…Yeah, I don’t know. ?The owner totally sounds like a sour puss. I mean, c’mon people. ?Watch your dog, watch your kids. ?The art in this store is expensive. ?There are signs that say, “Please do not touch” or “Please ask for assistance”. ?Additionally, the owners always say, “If you have any questions, please ask”. They are helpful. ?I’ve gone in there plenty of times to buy small gifts (we’re talking like $20 worth – I can’t afford the real art in this store) and they are ALWAYS totally cool with me. ?Lastly, this place is not a ripoff of Necromance. ?Necromance is definitely a cool store, but the inventory, for the most part, is different. ?There is no comparison. ?Necromance also does not have local artists displaying their $400 and up pieces in their store.
an amazing unique shop filled with whimsical and alternative art pieces. The quality of the items for sale is top notch. The Andy Paiko bell jars were incredible. I was too afraid to ask the price but when I checked online I was so shocked at how affordable they were in comparison to if you bought a Venetian piece of similar workmanship…amazing. The steampunk line is incredible….very well made. I was really tempted to purchase one of the Jan Hilmer pieces or a Kmrii bag….I’ve never seen them before and the quality was definitely worth the cost. The saleswoman/owner was incredibly helpful and respectful. Yes, many of the items are expensive–no question– but in comparison to other places that offer unique items I thought it was fair, and in some instances less than expected. Many of the pieces are artist made/designed items, not mass manufactured goods, so the cost will reflect both that aspect and the artist’s popularity. A great shop if you want to be inspired, surprised or if you want to add to your wearable and non-wearable art collection!
I had a mishap outside Gold Bug today. I was admiring the jewelry thru the window and my dog walked over to the open store door, tangling his leash around a cement gargoyle that was on the sidewalk. ?It got knocked over and the head was broken off. I went to the door to let them know what had happened. ?The gentlemen in the store came over, I apologized and he immediately informed me that I would have to pay for the gargoyle. ?He explained tartly that customers were responsible for items damaged by children or dogs in his store. I was stunned. If you leave your store doors open, don’t be surprise that a dog might stick their head in. ?My dog did not go into his store and knock over a display. ?He tipped over the only thing put outside the store. A top heavy cement item that had an undersized base.He than complained that we had also scratched the front of his store. Accidents happen. I freely admit my dog knocked over the gargoyle, but scratching the facade of the store? I couldn’t see any visible damage.So, being honest, we decided to pay for the gargoyle. ?(I could have just walked away and not pointed out what the dog had done) We were quoted a wholesale price, then charged a higher price at the register. At that point we didn’t want to argue, so we just paid it.Here is my suggestion to Gold Bug. ?You are in a location with a lot of sidewalk traffic. ?Lots of people walk their dogs in Old Town. Keep the doors to your store closed. Do not put merchandise on the sidewalk outside your store. ?Particularly merchandise that can be knocked over by sidewalk traffic.
Gold Bug is a totally unique shop/gallery located in Old Town Pasadena. This place houses a plethora of original art with an emphasis on natural history, taxidermy and Victoriana. They have amazing jewelry, leather Steam-Punk clothing, taxidermied animals wearing crowns and chandeliers made of ostrich eggs. If you don’t like seeing elegantly presented dead things, I would suggest you stay away.Now, as I already mentioned, most of the merchandise is original art…in other words, it’s expensive. Artists need to make a living. Making art is work. It’s pretty annoying that a lot of people don’t understand this. However, there are plenty of small items, pieces of jewelry and cards that are well within most people’s price range.I purchased a pair of leather riding gloves here that have become one of my favorite pieces of clothing. And every time I wear them I receive compliments. ?Many people on Yelp have posted complaints about the owners. They have never been anything but pleasant to me and eager to discuss the art on display. However, when you have tons of expensive merchandise that can’t be easily replaced (or replaced at all) you’re going to be sensitive about people touching things. Don’t bring your damn children in here unless they are extremely well-behaved (or heavily sedated). Same goes for your annoying dogs.Please visit them. Just keep your hands off the art.
I originally gave this store 5 stars. ?I loved it. ?I thought it was very original and I think I even said it was ‘genius’ in my last review. ?I don’t care how cool the stuff in the store is, I will never ever go into this place again after my last visit and I will make sure to tell everyone I know how I feel about it too. ?The cool things, jewelry and clothes in there for sale are totally clouded by the owner who is a complete dick. ?I don’t even live in CA. ?I am from Sun Valley, Idaho and my boyfriend lives in South Pasadena so I am in the area frequently. ?We discovered Gold Bug this past year and both loved it immediately due it’s uniqueness and the wonderful things found inside including an old friend’s line of work which we didn’t know was being sold there. ?We have been back two or three more times since my first review. ?The second time we visited Gold Bug the owner was very unhelpful and just plain rude. ?Being a therapist and dealing with disturbed client’s in the community and jail I gave him the benefit of the doubt and wrote it off as him having a bad day. ?Everyone has bad days, right? ?Well this guy has too many. ?The last time we went was on Valentines Day. ?I actually passed up a trip to Disneyland to go shop a few of my favorite stores in the area, the #1 shop being Gold Bug. ?From the moment we walked in the owner was rude, ignored me when I wanted to look at something and was completely arrogant. ?I buy a lot of jewelry. ?It is a problem, I admit it. ?I also make jewelry and do my own metalsmithing. ?I like some of the artists there and was looking at a ring that was already over priced at around $850. ?When I picked it up, before I even said anything, he commented that that was a good price because he hadn’t changed the price yet to reflect the inflation of gold and it should and would be doubled that soon. ?Buddy, knowing how much gold and silver is right now, personally, $850 ALREADY includes the inflation! ?I let this go because, whatever, the guy has to make a living and I’m sure the rent is steep in this neighborhood and maybe it is the designers prices. ?Once again trying to give him the benefit of the doubt. ?Then I pick up a different ring that has a diamond embedded into the main stone. ?I look at it and asked him nicely if he knew how the diamond was set into the stone, epoxy maybe? ?He took the ring from me and retorted, “That’s the designers problem, not mine, I just sell it” and turned his back to me. ?Really?! ?Is it that you don’t know or do you just not want to tell me because you are an asshole? ?Because If I were to spend your asking price of approximately $1,200.00 on this ring, I sure as hell want to be sure that that diamond is going to stay put and not fall out of the raw rock holding it. ?As I said, I buy a lot of jewelry, and I have shopped at many a gallery and I have NEVER been to a place where the salesperson either doesn’t know about a piece or won’t plain tell you for whatever reason how something is made that you are interested in purchasing. ?It’s like going to an art gallery and having the gallery manager or salesperson tell you about a certain dry brush technique or that the piece is encaustic and what that means exactly, ?”No ma’am, the wax won’t melt in your house unless you have the heat kept at 250 degrees…” etc. etc. ?You know, the important details. ?Can you imagine asking about a painting and the salesperson rudely saying, “It is the painters job to figure out how to do it, not mine, I’m only here to sell it!” ?Uh…no. ?SO unprofessional, especially for a higher end store. ?Not only would I never buy anything from a salesman, let alone a store owner like that – I would never ever want to sell something in that store and have him represent my art. ?How embarrassing! ?The man was then rude to my boyfriend who was in a different part of the store so we just left. ?As much as I prefer fine art and one of a kind pieces I was so incredibly angry and put off by this man, that my boyfriend suggested we walk over to Tiffany’s that is nearby to try and restore my faith in jewelry/art salespersons. ?And I don’t even really like Tiffany’s, or hadn’t in the past. ?The store was absolutely packed and a nice woman approached me while I was looking through a case and offered to pull out a $25, 000.00 diamond ring which I tried on while she told me all about it and elicited questions from me.Time to get your lithium levels checked and find some cognitive behavioral treatment for your personality disorder dude.
I have very mixed feelings about this place. On one hand, “The Gold Bug” is one of my favorite E.A.P. stories ever, and my boyfriend and i never got bored looking at all of the bizarre artwork. ?But on the other hand, some of the bizarre “artwork” consisted of different kinds of dead&stuffed animals, including beavers, goats, birds, etc. I have pretty strong feelings about that sort of thing, but i have to admit, it did make for some beautiful pieces of art. As much as i don’t want to admit it, i was thoroughly impressed by most of the work in this place.I got yelled at by the famous mean owner for taking pictures. Not that it stopped me, haha. But anyway, my boyfriend and i definitely spent at least an hour or so in this little store fascinated by absolutely everything. From the crazy/disturbing books about disease to little homemade light bulbs (which we later made ourselves for less than $20 rather than paying $65 for one).What it comes down to is this: it’s a great place to come and check out. Hands down, fascinating one-of-a-kind stuff. Just be prepared to have to deal with some very stuck up employees who seem miserable with their lives. I suppose i would be pretty depressed too if i was stuck in a room full of dead animals and haunting books about disease and death.Will i be back? Yes. Will i buy anything? Probably not. Will i stop taking pictures when they tell me to stop? Hell no.
The Gold Bug is a unique and amazing store… and I wasn’t paid to say that on Yelp. ?The store features an assortment of unusual, one-of-a-kind art, jewelry, clothing, and items that are pretty much beyond description. ?Want some creepy doll heads? ?A cast bronze nose? ?A pair of steampunk bloomers? ?A taxidermied baby goat? ?This is the store for you! ?For everyone else… there’s actually some cool semi-normal stuff in here, too.The window displays are outstanding and very eye-catching. ?I can happily peruse the windows even if the store is closed – there are jewelry cases, mannequins, and art readily on display. ? This makes me want to come back and see what’s new in the store! ?There are a lot of expensive items in here, and other reviews are absolutely right – this isn’t a place for dogs, kids, clumsy people, etc. ?It’s generally wise to keep your hands off delicate merchandise whether it’s labeled as such or not! ?I’d hate to break a $5000 ceramic otter and have to pay for it. ?So I don’t put my hands on everything! ?There are plenty of items in every price range, at least $10 and up. ?You’ll probably like the super-expensive stuff the best, because that’s how it works. ?I’ve found the owner incredibly nice, very genuinely interested in and knowledgeable about the handmade items he carries. ?I’m sure broken items make him mad. ?I purchased two lovely pieces of jewelry (a necklace and a ring) made from antique watches. ?He showed me some related items and talked about the artist who made them. ?It was a fantastic experience and I’ll be sure to return when I’m back in town!
This store is pure uniqueness and I cannot believe it took me more than a year to take up a friend’s suggestion that I stop in here. Perhaps it was the hefty price tags that kept me away, but pricey or not, the owner of this soon-expanding boutique was friendly and inviting and made me feel comfortable perusing the jewelry cases stocked with necklaces made of geode and stalagmite slices, rings featuring gemstones inlaid with diamonds and collections based on seedpods or fossils. Even on sale a lot of them were more than my monthly rent, so while undeniably beautiful and special, I was content to let them lay in their lucite trays with pinned butterfly specimens underneath. While I found the jewelry to be the highlight here, they also had a great collection of handcarved and painted wooden bird sculptures. I am considering buying one of the crows perched on a branch for a raven-loving friend as a housewarming present, but at $170 each I am going to have to think on it a bit. They also have other wonderful oddities like a large skull carved from crystal, three dimensional shell mosaics, chandeliers dripping with ornate adornments, creepy baby head sculptures, and old botanical prints. This is a fantastic place to indulge your inner natural science dork or splurge on something for your favorite sophisticated goth.
A fantastically whimsical shop. Then again, I’ve never found a taxidermy/steampunk/assorted oddities store like this that I didn’t like. Definitely expensive as hell, though. In my experience, service has always been friendly but I can definitely understand walking into the store and feeling intimidated and watched.
I love the decor and items for sale in the Gold Bug and the merchandising is truely inspiring. It’s one of my favorite stops after getting my brows done at Bau Haus every month.But the reviewers noticing the owner’s attitude are accurate. I have observed on more than one occasion the owner talking trash about browsing customers (while they are still in the store, epp!). This guy really doesn’t like children – leave the kiddies at home while you shop here. You’ve been warned!Great merchandise. Slightly evil owner. Sort of goes with the macabre theme?
I stumbled upon The Gold Bug while I was looking for jewelry stores in Pasadena, and I was pleasantly surprised. ?While they didn’t have what I was looking for specifically, They had an abundance of other treasures. ?Having read the negative reviews below about the service at this store, I have to say that on this visit to the store, the two staff members who I interacted with were very helpful. ?Furthermore, the male clerk helped me find a reasonable gift that was within my budget.
Gold bug is like stepping into someones imagination and being able to take a little piece home with you! ?I always have to be prepared to spend at least an hour in this amazing wonderland. ?My hubby has started a tradition with me each year on my birthday…the tradition is called Gold Bug! 
?They have an amazing selection of cards, jewelry, gifts, decor and creatures. ?The store is like a painting! ?Everything is merchandised beautifully! ?They have a wide range of price points that can satisfy any budget! ?I honestly have never left this store without a purchase! ?One more thing, just so you know how truly amazing they are….I am a local shop owner (just down the street) ?as well and here I am singing their praises! ?I love Gold Bug and the proprietors of it!
The store is unique and well merchandised. ?It is quirky, whimsical, disturbing and creepy. If you don’t like bugs or taxidermy animals, then you might not want to check it out. But if you like interesting pieces, or want to purchase an interesting, unusual gift, this is the place for you.I have found the prices for the items other than jewelry consistent with other retail spaces selling the same or similar artist items. Certainly if you shop regularly for hand crafted pieces, then you will not find the prices particularly high for a retail space. ?Also, there are several items in a very reasonable price range for a small gift. ?The jewelry seems higher priced than comparable jewelry found in art gallery type stores BUT my shopping was prior to the run up in gold and silver so perhaps my opinion is stale. I have to disagree with the negative comments about the owner. I have shopped in the store several times. ?The owner is very knowledgeable about his items and the availability of additional pieces from an artist. ?Also, I have shopped two times with my kids – ages 6 and 8. ?The owner has always been nice, helpful, pleasant and VERY patient. He was charming with my children who pestered him with questions. And my children aren’t particularly well behaved, although they listen when I tell them not to touch. For the most part.
Take a trip down gothic lane. ?Or should I say hackneyed gothic lane? This shop offeres uninspired macabre fashion for the suburban vampyre set. ?If your idea of edgy consists of taxidermy, baby doll heads, or, better yet, baby doll heads affixed to taxidermied bird bodies, then this place is for you. ? Or perhaps your taste runs towards resin casts of deer antlers, or unicorn Christmas ornaments or something equally tired? ?How about a stuffed baby lamb topped by a golden crown ready to decorate the mantlepiece of your dark castle? ?There are ?taxidermied mice dressed as Sunday golfers or french maids under bell jars for your viewing pleasure. ?Or how about a coffee mug with the image of a spider – oooh so creepy. ?It’s just so….ugh…..obvious? Out-dated? ?Rather than creep me out, this shop just annoys me. ?(But there is a nice S&M section in the back.)
What a beautiful shop!Delicate, unique earrings, eclectically, odd furnishings and beautiful mounted insects were all thoughtfully displayed and caught my eye as I walked past the store’s window. I felt compelled to walk in.Inside, the distinctness continued. There were little metal letters in the shape of twisted branches, French ephemera, European soaps and deliciously weird doll heads with big horns spiking out from their foreheads. I think the name of the store is in reference to Edgar Allan Poe’s short story of the same name and the shop’s objects reflects that style.But ack, I caught a glimpse of the price of some earrings. Triple digits!This is where the wealthy Goths, Witches and VooDoo type peoples shop. When I get there bridal jewelry, I’ll definitely come back here.
everything about this store is amazing, down to the owners and all the artists that contributed to the opening.Pricey? Yes. But if you stick around you’ll see an abundance of things under $50 or even $20.I totally forgot to mention the beautiful jewelry! especially the rings… hand crafted!! they run about $500+
Who gave this store a 1 star? Really?The people that own/operate this shop are the nicest people ever. Great service and very informative.It’s pretty much a one-stop shop for macabre gifting. nuff said!
If you’re a fan of The Museum of Jurassic Technology, Tim Burton, Alice and Wonderland / Sir John Tenniel, Mark Ryden, Entymology & Natural History or Edgar Allan Poe, you’ll love this place.It’s a bit misleading for Gold Bug to be categorized under “Jewelry,” although they do carry it. ?But then, one of the things I love about this place is that it’s so hard to neatly categorize – occupying an interesting space between a gift shop and an art gallery. ?Unlike most gift shops (full of ugly music boxes, hummel figurines and cheap wind chimes), where I often have the reaction “There is nothing for me in here” – I had the opposite reaction in this store. ?Every single thing I saw looked interesting and desirable. ?This is easily one of the most interesting and unique stores in all of Los Angeles. ?It has a very specific vibe which you’ll get when you see it – kind of like finding a cabinet of curiosity in the attic of your favorite eccentric aunt.A few things I saw stuck out in my memory:* A collection of ingenious and accurate bird calls, ranging from a murmuration of starlings to a single house sparrow.* Butterfly and beetle specimens.* A beautiful antique Victrola* Weathered concrete casts of hands.* Concrete baby heads, some with horns, or attached to machinery. The same artist had made a giant abacus in which the beads were baby heads.* Old anatomical drawings* Sculptures of birds, both alive and dead.* Beautiful magnifying glasses and paperweights
I haven’t even stepped foot in this place, but I am DYING to! ?After eating at Cafe Santorini last night, I was walking with friends to Memorial Park Gold Line stop when I halted at seeing this store.It was the hanging sign that piqued my interest first. Then, I turned my head and looked through the windows of the closed up shop, and my jaw dropped. I nearly had my face and hands pressed up against the glass, looking at the unique things I could see inside.Little creatures. Glass hands. Shells about. Just… amazing things! ?I cannot wait to visit this place and fall more in love when it’s actually open!*drools*
The Gold Bug is the most interesting store in all of Pasadena. The staff are very helpful and friendly.
The reviews about the dick head owner are completely true. I too have mixed feelings about this place. FIrst off- it is a blatant rip off of Necromancy on Melrose and another identical place in SoHo NYC. For a place serving an upscale client in a boutique neighborhood, the owner should learn customer service skills that inherently come with such a price tag. Places like nordstrom and bloomingdales are successful because of their outstanding customer service. This guy is just… a dick.For details on an experience identical to mine, and reasons why he is.. a dick.. read the other honest reviews from people he has affected.His business will surely not survive as he is completely rude and nasty.beware.
This is absolutely one of my favorite stores. ?The owners are delightful, very helpful and knowledgeable about the artists and the merchandise. ?The merchandise is like nothing else you will find anywhere. ?I personally, have one of the concrete baby heads and reconditioned china heads sitting on my mantle. ?I found a spider web under glass for my sister-in-law, silver-covered walnuts for my students and a pewter jackalope for my mother-in-law. ?The jewelry is gorgeous but out of my price range. ?I also love the hand-carved ravens. ?Alas, they are also out of my price range. ?I don’t mind collected insects or taxidermy animals but if that makes you squeamish, you might want to avoid this store. It is an unusual combination of cute and creepy, often in the same piece.
I call it “creepy chic”. It’s eerie, other-worldly, fantastical, Pan’s-Labyrinth-y. Go. Only if you go, will you see what I mean. I LOOOOOVE the bug mosaics. (parking sucks)
Shopping: A girls best friend. However, in my case both Shopping, Abstract art, Anatomy charts, steampunk-enhanced inventions, bizarre clothing and taxidermy are MY best friend. (I really think girls should be more open minded about the places they shop at) 
The Gold Bug is not your ordinary store in the city of Pasadena, in fact i would love if this store was right on Colorado blvd for all the world to see, but i think in it’s obscurity it preserves itself as being one of the finest stores i have ever been into. Please ignore the one star reviews! the staff at The Gold Bug are charming, sweet and very helpful and are quick to ask for your email to further forward you information on their lovely shop. Every item in this store is unique in it’s own magical little way from the Taxidermy skulls embellished in white and gold to it’s to it’s AMAZING selection of steampunk/victorian clothing, you want to give yourself a good 40 minutes to soak up all the awesome here. My personal favorites are a collection of steampunk cellphones made by artist Jason Anderson. Unlike many other steampunk/victorian based gadgets and props, Mr. Anderson’s steampunk curiosities actually work! just like a real cellphone. Beautiful, handcrafted rotary-cellphones serving as a great conversation piece. Why have texting when you have such an item! Please be sure to ask the shop keepers to show you these amazing inventions! Also, if you have a special lady who is in love with surrealism, art and any of the above subjects i mentioned in my firs paragraph the jewelry is to die for! spoil her a bit and purchase a one of a kind item Amazing service, amazing art, wonderful clothing, books and anything you can imagine to be out of the ordinary and sophisticated obscurity you’ve really did fall down the rabbit hole didn’t you?
I have to agree with Sharon S. on this one. I absolutely adore everything about this store, but one look at the price sends me running out the door. Of course I always get drawn back in with their creepy, yet playful knick-knacks, stunning artwork, and taxidermy. Gold Bug is a treat for the eyes and I always try to make a stop whenever I’m in the area. Hopefully one day, when money falls from the sky and into my lap, I’ll come here to furnish my home with all of their delightful oddities.
It is clear to me from reading the other reviews that the owner of Gold Bug is smart enough to commission his friends to write positive reviews about “the proprietors” of his store; however, he is not smart enough to actually function as a decent and responsible proprietor for what is otherwise a terrific store. I visited Gold Bug on Saturday for the second time and purchased a pair of earrings from a lovely woman. Although I adore my earrings and many of the items in the store, I’m not sure I’m comfortable going back. As I reflected later about my experience at Gold Bug, I was struck by the childish, unpleasant, and impulsive behavior by the omnipresent male owner. Apparently, another customer had caused damage to one of his cheaper items while I was in the store. This caused him to throw a noisy tantrum which lasted throughout my purchase. When the woman helping me asked Grumpy Gold Bug Guy a question on my behalf, he was sulking and wouldn’t speak to either of us. When I spoke to him directly, he wouldn’t make eye contact and ignored me entirely, even though I was right across the counter from him. Hmph. All I had done to him was mind my own business and purchase one of his jewelry items. Why was I punished? I’m still trying to polish off the tarnish his ugly attitude left on my treasured earrings.Obviously, Grumpy Gold Bug Guy fancies himself a knockoff of the Seinfeld Soup Nazi. That people-hating shtick might work if you have an affordable product that fills a basic human need like hunger. But when you’re running a business in a depressed economy and your product is superfluous, then Grumpy Gold Bug Guy, you might want to rethink your approach to customer service. I have no intention of “punishing” Grumpy Gold Bug Guy in turn by boycotting his store. On the other hand, I don’t feel comfortable recommending the store to my friends if the atmosphere and service is often aversive. I know you don’t know my friends, Grumpy Gold Bug Guy, but many of them can more-than-afford your products. Is your disdain of the human race so important to you that you’d shoot yourself in the foot by driving away business with your sour ways?
This place makes me both incredibly happy and incredibly depressed- Happy because there are so many BEAUTIFUL objects, and depressed because I will never afford to own a fraction of them. I try to get something every time I come here, even if it’s wrapping paper! The owner is really friendly- he’s chatted with me every time I’ve gone over, and has been nothing but delightful. He knows his stuff, and that’s always good with this kind of store.If you’re looking for a quirky gift for someone (or a beautiful dress/coat/hat/piece of jewelry for your girlfriend *hint*hint*), you’ll be able to find something here. Last time I found a neat housewarming gift for my dear gal pal- it was an Edwardian (I think) paper doll where you could exchange wigs! They also have strange little figurines, different taxidermied animals (they make sure to not get infested ones, yay!), leather accessories, and even dinner plates!I also consider this store a gallery- the walls are filled with artwork, and you could spend hours just looking at all the small details of the jewelry. Seriously, I’ve seen people outside at 1 in the morning, staring at the display case- and it’s not like Gold Bug is on a major street!Come here, look at all the pretty objects, watch your step Pandora beads, and be respectful- the owner has put a lot of hard work into curating this store, and it shows.
Upscale, artsy, dark but light hearted, this place truly is a gem. I purchased the most amazing black fingerless leather gloves. The owner told me that they were handcrafted in San Francisco. Surprise, surprise, I lived in S.F’s leather district, and thought they looked hauntingly familiar in a bdsm kind of way. They jewelry and art are amazing, I could spend days and serious dollars in here
I feel this place is a rip off of Necromance. Only it’s triple the price, unfriendly staff and in general it just has a feel of making the stuff hip enough so the pasadena twilight kids would buy. If you like this try the store i mentioned (just remember it’s actually two store fronts side by side) and see how its done proper.
fragonard. for you francophiles, paris-lovers, they carry (limited) products of the perfume line. the sea fans. hourglasses. handmade cards. though some of the stuff is a bit pricey (a paper lantern for $75-125?) you’ll find cool stuff within your price range.the store has a slightly creepy museum vibe. lots of dead things and glass cases harboring treasures. the owners are quirky but very sweet.
if I could afford to, I would buy everyone I know Christmas presents from this store. The shop has exceptional jewelry and really extraordinary knick-knacks. Simple beautiful and slightly weird items. Truly one of a kind. (with the prices that match!)
yet another review because i read other reviews that are wholly off the mark.first off, this place is one of the most unique places in los angeles. ?good for the owners to have the balls to open a place like this. ?every time we’ve walked in (thrice to be specific) we’ve purchased something. ?there are many more things we’d really like.i wonder, actually, if some of the negative reviewers are PETA supporters or rescue nazis? ?perhaps.my gf and i have spoken with the owner on those three occasions that we’ve visited this place and found him really cool, informative and helpful. ?we look forward to going to pasadena for many reasons but going to this place is a nice treat for the eyes.much of the inventory is art … when does one really need to touch art with anything besides one’s eyes? ?i mean, really. ?come on. ?fingers leave oils and residues: ?would you want to buy an expensive piece for your home that had been handled by those not knowing any better?i think not.perhaps if you don’t like the owner here you’re a bit insecure?perhaps.
CAVEAT EMPTOR!My husband and I had been fans of Gold Bug for years. ?For his birthday one year, I went in hoping to find a book he had admired. ?They were out so the owner suggested a gift certificate and let me know when they would be reordering that particular book. ?The owner told me that they were out of gift certificates and that I should pick a card and he would write the gift certificate out inside of it. ?He even helped me pick out a saucy card that said, “Try begging.” ?The owner then told me that he would initial the card and either he or his wife handle sales so there would be no problem redeeming it. ?I asked him about it twice and each time he assured me it would be okay.Before using the card, we purchased several gifts for friends here. ?Today, my husband tried to use his gift certificate (written on the “Try Begging” card), which had been lost in his dresser. ?He came in once with a receipt for the gift certificate but no card and the owner accused him of trying to use it twice. ?Later, my husband returned with the “Try Begging” card, which the owner had signed and initialed in lieu of the more typical gift certificate (because they were out when I purchased it). ?The owner processed the sale but did not offer an apology for implying that my husband is a thief and a liar. ?The owner and my husband argued over this point for a minute before the owner suggested that they go outside. ?The owner threatened to call security because my husband had asked for an apology over a gift certificate mishap that he had authorized, instigated, and even initialed. ?It ended in the owner snatching the merchandise from my husband and giving him a full cash refund. ?Unbelievable! ?What a complete asshole!
I was kind of disappointed when I came here. To me it seems like an extremely overpriced gothic Z Gallery. Literally, the price makes it seem like its toward celebrities, and only the eccentric ones. If you are ever looking for real taxidermy that is not outrageously priced, I suggest Necromance on Melrose in L.A.
Gold Bug!!!!!!!!!! oh this store is awesome. ?Awesome I say. ?First time i went in here was for a birthday gift for my X girlfriend. ?I must have wandered around in circles for hmmmmmmmm maybe 45 minutes. ?It’s like a museum built from old drug attics minds~~!!??…….. ?The woman and man that work here are both fantastic, and when I first went the woman helped me create a beautifully packaged present. ?She probably spent a good 30 minutes getting it just right. ?I can’t praise this little store enough if I could give it 6 stars this would be my first 6 star review. ?I’m not sure my X appreciated the gift as much as I enjoyed picking it out, but I guess not everyone appreciates beauty in objects the way I do. ?They have everything from skulls, to insects, to pretty jewels, to graphite bird claw pencils, to creepy horror movie doll heads!!!!!!
If you like weird, The Gold Bug is your weird mecca! Lots of unique art, photos, jewelry and clothing. This is Steampunk heaven! I highly recommend this to anyone with a fascination for dark, creative art. Psstt, I am currently taking donations for the flying squirrel mirror! I do not recommend this for the easily offended(they have taxidermied creatures). ?A bit pricey, but much of the merchandise is quite unique and I like to support creative artists! Saving my money and going back for more.
I love the stuff in this place, it is so quirky and I love the jewelry collections they have there.I live quite close so always tend to have a look in the window as I go past and have popped in from time to time.I think the only downside of this shop is the owners are a bit odd and nervy and this puts me off going in there more often.When I asked a question about what a necklace was made of the woman said she didn’t know, which was a little unhelpful, I also bought a necklace from them and they wrapped it and put in bag. I didn’t realise until I got home that the necklace wasn’t really wrapped up at all, but just put in a bag and because it had a thin 24″ chain it took quite a while for me to untangle it ?as it had got all wrapped around itself.
This is by far the most interesting shop in the greater Los Angeles area that I know of. While some of the items (notably the jewelry) are a bit expensive, there are some items that are quite affordable. Where else are you going to find baby heads with horns (rhino baby!)? It totally brought out my inner goth that’s been dormant for over a decade.
If you like quirky and macabre this is a nifty shop to look around. ?After reading the polarized reviews of the place I felt I should put in my own two cents. ?The items in this store are unique and can be quite interesting to look at. ?I want to emphasize, look at because most of the items in the store decorative pieces and are not meant to be handled. ?There are a lot of ?delicate looking items that are hand made. ?I did spend some time talking with the owner and yes, he talks a lot and yes, he’s very opinionated and complains but I chalk that up to him having quirky boutique artsy personality. ?I just ?think the shop has a narrow demographic.
Such an incredible store. Not that I can afford much within but I certainly enjoy looking around the store. It’s a higher end version of Necromance (on Melrose). My friend purchased a few gifts and the guy behind the counter was just great. He not only was funny and helpful but wrapped the gift up in a very dramatic way (a beautiful feather was included in the wrapping). The perfect place to find a gift for those who covet a darker aesthetic.
Be sure to reserve at least a hour if you get here….so much to check out….no point in trying to describe, just get there. ?Steampunk mixed with ?one off jewelry and lots of furry critters… Go Go Go
Fans of Mark Ryden, taxidermy, and anthropomorphized fantastical creatures, you are home. Look no further for that death-is-beautiful artwork. I love looking at this stuff but can’t afford most of it. Each purchase is gifted with a peacock feather and altogether makes for a unique present. I know I certainly felt that way when I made my boyfriend buy me a graphite vertebrae necklace with the velvet ribbon strung in place of the spinal cord. Now I just need that badger in the window.
I have to agree that the owner of this shop takes himself too seriously, but if you’re looking for a unique gift in Pasadena, you’ll find one here. ?But we’ve all been around and the bad manners of the shop owner is a turn off. ?Chic isn’t chic when you’re a snot.
i loved this place. it was magical, well thought and delightfully surprising in a ?disturbing, cool way. every item in the store seemed to be carefully selected, and truly there were things i have never seen before. (and i shop FREQUENTLY, in quirky boutiques.) ?Stacy greeted us as we came in and chatted very politely the entire time we looked at each curiosity. He made us feel very ?welcome, even though we did not make a purchase. I will definitely go back to buy something fantastic for myself, and someunusual gifts.My favorite things today were the bird calls, tiny thorn earrings, rock on a chain necklaces, and a pair of sweet stuffed beavers.
Just a quick update, they just expanded to twice the size as before and the rest of my previous review stands.
I had seen the website and some pictures of the store on Flickr (taken by a friend of mine who lives far away) so I couldn’t wait to check out the store. It was amazing. I love insects, cabinets of curiosities, old doll heads, etc so this was like the perfect aesthetic for me. Some of the art and jewelry was definitely out of my price range but they had some more affordable things like these imitation Natalia Brilli leather brooches and scented candles in mercury glass. I had heard mixed reviews about the friendliness of ?the owners but they were actually extremely nice while we were there-very cool people. I have a feeling the theme of the store is probably too weird or esoteric for a lot of people so they probably get a lot of gawkers and people manhandling the art pieces that are out in plain view.
If you are looking for odd, random and cool things to put around your house, then I highly recommend The Gold Bug. They have so many cool and weird items, from bugs to heart shaped items and so much more. It has this sort of Tim Burton-esque feel to it.
Is the owner occasionally cranky with clientele? ?Yes. ?Do I care? ?No. ?Why? ?Because I patronize The Gold Bug for their beautiful, intriguing and unique gifts, not to seek out delightful guests for a dinner party. I live in Sherman Oaks, and though it’s a 20 minute drive at least to make it to The Gold Bug, it’s always a must-go destination when shopping for an unusual gift or new bit of beauty for my home.Though there is a lot of merchandise that’s priced out of my gift-buying budget (many things are well over a thousand dollars) I can always find some interesting trinket between $40 and $60 dollars. ?My favorite items are the graphite art objects which are beautiful and useful (you can write with them, like a pencil!) and the Tree of Virtues individual paperweights.Though I tend to prefer to wrap my own gifts, I always opt for their complimentary wrapping because it’s beautiful, elegant and oh so stylish.Keep the kids at home, the dogs outside and your hands to yourself unless you’re serious about a purchase, and chances are you’ll walk out of the store with a glorious treat for someone and your ego intact.
Ok, I’ve come back to this place over and over. The first time I walked by because I liked the sign. ?I was pretending to pound on the window cause I saw how this place is my dream….and didnt see the owner standing there. ?They were closed but he let me & my friend in so we could browse. ?Plus the owners are super sweet! ?Sometimes I don’t buy anything, but just love looking and seeing the craziness and beauty of it all. I wish I had all the money in the world so I could shop here whenever I wanted. I have bought a couple of pieces of jewelery for myself and freinds, and got some tidbits for family. This is one of my favorite places in all of LA, other than Amoeba & Wacko. ?You gotta come check this place out. ?You havent lived otherwise.
words cannot describe the beauty and artistry of this store.if only I could afford you beautiful dead butterflies and ornate shell chandeliers….
This place is easy to miss as it’s not located on Colorado blvd., but it’s a unique and eclectic store full of things you can’t find anywhere else. Perfect place to find something no one else has seen before or for that friend who has everything. Really interesting displays and merchandise. Recommend for just walking by and window shopping or stopping in to see the weird taxidermy animals on display.
This store is so fun to shop. One of a kind items~The owner is very helpful and informative. The jewelry is amazingI highly recommend checking it out!
i had been here a few times before,never leaving empty handed.this place is a gold mine.treasure everywhere! i have owned many businesses and mostly when i walk into a store i know exactly what company,showroom ect,everything comes from.this place stumps me! i love that!i read a few reviews here about the owner.don’t let them scare you! he is very nice, has a great eye and is fun to talk to. everything is fragile,lovingly merchandised so don’t ?go putting your mits on everything and maybe keep your kids from doing so and i promise he won’t bite.
Not worth dealing with the owner. ?Sour Angry Bug would be a better name for this store.
were very rude
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