Customer Testimonials
Nicole Abate Ducarroz recommends Sign of the Bear Kitchenware and Tableware. April 29 at 3:01 PM
Love this locally owned and operated FULL of wonderful finds establishment!!!
Thank you for always having the simplest things I need for baking (tools, cute cookie.cutters, gel food coloring...). It is so convenient to not have to go out of town when inspiration strikes. Sign of the Bear always has just what I need.
Go above and beyond. Great gifts from under $20.00 to the most complex tools for the kitchen.
Bob O'Boyle reviewed Sign of the Bear Kitchenware and Tableware — 5 star
Great place for whatever you need for your kitchen !!!
The People are amazing and always welcoming
Jordan Knoke reviewed Sign of the Bear Kitchenware and Tableware — 5 star
January 5,The staff here is so fun and knowledgeable!! They make you feel like family and it is this kind of business model that will bring me back over and over again! Thank you!
Françoise Hodges recommends Sign of the Bear Kitchenware and Tableware.
April 29 at 5:55 PMThey absolutely have what you need, and by some fluke, if they don’t have it, Laura and her crew will get it for you!
I just wanted to share a really positive experience I had with Laura Havlek at the Sign of the Bear. I needed something for the kitchen as we were having a minor issue and I wasn't sure if a store that supported food preparation would be in the same class a grocery store or not. I could have got what I needed from Amazon but I wanted to support a Sonoma store, if possible. I emailed Laura from their website to see if they were open. She replied in short order and informed me they were painting the ceilings but if I would text before I arrived, she would meet me at the door. I met her at the store, told her what I needed and she worked her way through around the painting chaos to find a couple of options for me. We conducted the transaction right there at the door. That kind of service is rare and I know there is a lot of frustration, fear and anger being expressed in other threads but Laura demonstrated to me that which is good in all of us. I just wanted to embrace the positive as an antidote to the anxiety we are all experiencing and give Sign of the Bear the kudos it deserves. Stay well and shop local...when you can.
Sign of the Bear Kitchenware was tagged in this post
30 Apr · 27 neighborhoods in Recommendations
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Thank you Chip for highlighting a gem of a store! In the age of chain stores this is a Sonoma treasure. Cheers to Laura!
30 Apr
Stephen + I thank you so SO much. We are thankful EVERY day. <3
1 May
4
Agreed with these kudos and I love the sweets signs of support for Sonoma she has in the window. A very wonderful business, run and owned by a local family!
30 Apr
4
Stephen + I are thankful EVERY day. <3 These last 5 years' assorted disasters have surely made us fall in love with Sonoma all over again.
1 May
1
Laura Havlek So true: Falling in love
2 May
1
Great Experience, totally support local Amazon will be just fine.
30 Apr
2
Stephen + I know ALL of you are why we're here. So thankful.
1 May
2
Thank you Chip, I shop in town all the time, when needed, except for Kaiser pharmacy & CostCo, I never leave town, love my town & all the stores here
️
Edited 30 Apr
3
THANK YOU ! We know you do <3 grateful
1 May
1
She got me replacement Soda Stream cartridges! So helpful! Love that store!
1 May
3
Darn, I wish I had known that. I need a replacement. Does she have them in stock or does she have to get them and can she do exchanges or just new? We go through 3-4 bottles of "spicy water" (as our granddaughters like to say) a day.
1 May
2
Thank you for sharing this! I’ve been thinking about them for weeks because I need a couple things, (in my now sparkling clean kitchen
) and very much want to support our local small businesses where possible. I just adore Laura and Stephen, having known them for maaaany years, as have so many of us in our little town. I’ll contact Laura next week and see if it’s convenient for her to sell me what I need. Thanks again.
1 May
3
Hi beautiful Roxanne ! Stephen + I thank you so SO much. <3 <3 from the Plaza
1 May
1
They are the best!!!
1 May
2
Agreed! They are the best!
1 May
3
Thank you all SO much <3 <3 you're gems, all of you
1 May
2
You inspired me to buy some new pots & pans from Sign of the Bear. Thank you. Love that store & will email them right now.
1 May
4
She is a gem.
1 May
3
Dear Lyn - you are SUCH a gem, thank you <3
1 May
1
That’s awesome that she went out of her way to help you? You don’t get that type of personal service anywhere else!
1 May
3
Thank you v v much. We're so grateful for our dear town.
1 May
1
Fantastic!! Great story, too.
1 May
3
Thank you so.
1 May
1
They are wonderful people and in times like this especially, it is so important to support our locally owned and operated businesses! It’s the only place I do my kitchen shopping for us and all of our gifts for friends and family.
1 May
4
THANK YOU ! (we love you all ! )
1 May
1
They are the BEST!
1 May
4
Thank you SO much. We are so so grateful for you, Teri. <3
1 May
1
They are a great local business, that understands customer service!
1 May
4
Thank you SO much, all you Goedewaagens are so dear. <3
1 May
1
I can't tell you how many times I needed them during all this. They are the best!
1 May
3
Great story. Thank you for posting it to share. They are wonderful people.
1 May
4
You all are totally awesome and humbling and we are SO grateful for all of Sonoma and you <3 <3 <3 (Laura, Stephen + Sign of the Bear) <3 (and thanks Lyn Hay + @Shelley Carlisle for telling me I needed to read. Love you all loads.
Edited 1 May
5
1 May
3
1 May
4
So happy to see this post! Thanks Sign of the Bear for figuring it out, one day at a time.
1 May
3
Thank YOU, Maggie- & everyone <3
1 May
3
Also -any Tues+Thurs+Sat, join Sonoma's super young (5,6,8,9 ! ! year old) cooks with 6-min cooking lessons for us on FaceBook. We + Kelly Mcklesky started simply hoping to be an outlet for their creativity and they are AMAZING. The Elkhoury clan yesterday made (excellent!) 5-ingredient bagels, Keaton Abodeely tomorrow with almond butter energy snacks, Grayson Sanders made crepes, Ellie Sunshine made strawberry shortcakes, Grace + Anna made ice cream (2 ziplock baggies), Nina Stuckey made French Toast, and Savanna Fraize made lemon bars-- and they all did SUCH a great job. So in love with our town.
1 May
8
Sign of the Bear has always been my go to store for kitchenware, small appliances and specialty items. This is another affirmation of their excellent service. Can't wait for them (and Eraldi's and Swiss Hotel) to reopen!
1 May
3
So grateful for you, Lorna. Thank you ! <3 have a beautiful weekend!
1 May
2
Love Sign of The Bear!
1 May
4
<3 <3 <3 Right back atcha, Christopher Oscar ! <3
1 May
2
Yes, I wish them the best. I love shopping for what I need and for gifts at Sign of the Bear the best kitchen store in the world.
1 May
3
They have been nothing but helpful ! Thanks for posting. Local folks are OUR community. If we cannot be civil to one another, where are we? This is not the time to be throwing stones. Without local establishments .. we will have a ghost town
1 May
3
I love that store! So helpful!️
1 May
4
I can't wait to see your fresh painted ceiling! My absolute favorite place to shop-- from potato peelers to espresso machines. Laura and Stephen, you rock!
1 May
3
Laura havlek and the entire family are the greatest! Will always go there first for anything. ️️
1 May
4
One of my very favorite stores. They are so friendly and happily help find whatever you are looking for. Yes! Shop local
1 May
3
Hi Chip I have found Sign of the Bear to be lovely place to shop. What a plethora of kitchen and dining merchandise. All the people are polite, ask if you need help, locate and lead you to the item you’re looking for. Best of all when you are checking out you will have an intelligent and pleasant conversation with the clerk. Plus they gift wrap!! I highly recommend !
1 May
3
I've known Laura since she was in first grade. She was extraordinary then and still is. Sign of the Bear is one of the Sonoma treasures.
1 May
4
I love hearing this! Although, not a surprise. It’s the store on the plaza I’ve missed the most during this strange time! 🥰
2 May
2
This is great news. I've shopped there for years...And I need to now. But, as far as emailing them , , through their website? I wish I could find an actual website...!!??!
2 May
1
This is what I found and used: https://www.sonomavalley.com/listing/sign-of-the-bear-kitchenware-%26-tableware/403/
2 May
1
Sign of the Bear is one of our absolute favorite places to shop in Sonoma because of the great product and awesome people! Can't wait to get back in there!!!!!
2 May
3
SO thankful for you ! <3
2 May
2
Being a lover of cooking since age 8, I am like a kid in a candy store whenever I go into Sign of the Bear. Laura and Steve and staff throughout the years have always been warm, welcoming and dedicated to being of service. They have always been community oriented. It is truly a treasure of a local store for all of those reasons, plus, the amazing assortment of items. I am so grateful.
Edited 2 May
6
Met Laura at the door today for an item I wanted. She is always so accommodating and upbeat. Can’t wait to support this business more I better times !
2 May
2
That shows how very special the people of Sonoma really are. We are all here for each other.
2 May
2
She is just the best. It is my go-to store!
2 May
2
Laura and Stephen has now saved us on a couple of occasions with needed kitchen gear. Amazing customer service, high quality, hand picked products. In fact I’m in need of a couple of carbon steel pans, so will be checking in with you soon for more 6’ window shopping :):):)
3 May
2
I also have had the same experience with them. They are above and beyond what is expected.
3 May
2
She is the best!!! We are lucky to have them in Sonoma!!!!
3 May
3
Such a FABULOUS store owned by such a FABULOUS family! Looks like we all agree on that!
3 May
2
Laura is a true local with family roots that run deep here. Alway pleasant funny and helpful. Love her!
3 May
4
On day 2 of lockdown I accidentally smashed my pour-over coffee carafe -- emergency!! Laura Havlek saved the day and I was able to pick up a new Chemex pour-over system from Sign of the Bear. I just paid over the phone and picked up outside her store. Super easy, and it felt great to support a local business!
3 May
3
Had a similar experience. Needed CO2 canisters. I called to see if they were open. Steve explained they are there painting and that they will meet me at the door to exchange my empties for full ones. Laura was very kind and careful. It was great to be able to support them and not make Jeff Bezos any richer.
9 May