Lady of the Lake

No! Can’t believe this place closed. Unilocalers were unusually unfair to this stores policies.
I never had a problem with their handbag policy like everyone else who clearly couldn’t read the signs posted EVERYWHERE hate to see another mom and pop shop close its doors. Not happy!

I will miss this store! Been coming here for the past 5 years since 2010! All the employees are super nice to me every single time and treat me like I am a friend they haven’t seen in a long time when i come in. Addicted to this store since there is no place like this in San Diego with so much variety of metaphysical stuff. I understand people are too sensitive about the Large bag policy but that is the owners rules not the employees and from what i understand many things have been stolen lately so I totally understand why they would have the policy. Other than that this store is awesome. Too bad they are closing their doors Nov 30! :(The energy of this place is good compared to others in San Diego. Will miss this place dearly.

The moment I walked into the store, I was yelled for having my back pack and that I needed to hand it over or I had to leave because of store policy. (I was on my motorcycle so I didn’t have a purse or anything) so I gave her my back pack. I completely understand the policy, but I don’t think she needed to so rude and mean about it, especially in a place where they try to promote good energy.
Anyways, I looked around and the store was actually closing Nov 30, and just about everything was on sale. They had some really awesome books, gems, bracelets, and so much more. However, I ended up walking out without buying anything.
I asked for my bag back, and tried to give a smile (figured she might just be having a bad day because of the store closing down) and she seemed a lot nicer than when I first walked in. Wasn’t a huge fan of the customer service, but everything was on sale and they had a bunch of cool stuff.

I never ever wrote a bad review until today. I only gave one star because the store is in an awesome location. One would think the purpose of this store is to spread love and knowledge about the universe. I’ve spent a lot of money in this store in the past and I can finally say I will never shop here again. Most of the employees here have TERRIBLE customer service. I won’t go into detail about what happened to me today because I don’t want to waste another minute thinking about how rude they were. In a nutshell, snotty women with not only bitchy resting faces but bitchy attitudes. I picked up a few gemstones and after the sales woman rang me up, I changed my mind and told her I didn’t want to buy anything with bad energy and walked out. They rolled their eyes at me and scoffed. Oh, they are closing their store on Nov 30^th. Bye Felicia!
(If you want to shop in a happier atmosphere, go across the street! The Controversial Book Store has the same merchandise with friendly employees!)

I really enjoy this store! The mineral and rock selection is decent and at a fair price, I’ve purchased many crystals and a most beautiful Flourite that sucked me into its energy the moment I walked in one day. They always have Palo Santo and the books and gifts are a nice selection as well. I have visited this shop plenty of times (I live in the neighborhood), and NEVER have I had rude customer service. The people working pretty much leave me be unless I ask for something. Which is fine with me, and when I ask, they are happy to help me out or answer my questions. I’ve never felt like they were watching me or suspicious of me like some other Unilocalers are saying.
And the whole ‘leaving the large bags’ at the counter thing… I completely understand why they do this. There are tons of little items that could easily be dropped into a bag or purse. I honestly don’t blame them for doing this… as most of us know… it takes a few bad people to ruin it for everyone. This store has been here for a long time, I’m sure they’ve experienced issues in the past which is what prompted them to enforce the bag rule. People forget that North Park wasn’t always the hip, quaint, friendly neighborhood it is now… it used to be pretty sketchy back in the day! I seriously doubt any of the employees would take your stuff, or even think about digging in your purse. But if you don’t want to leave your bag at the counter… don’t bring one in!

Lady of the Alkaline Lake is more like it. Sadly the sales staff of this store gives the Lady of the Lake a bad reputation. They have some interesting products and good selection of books. But the staff is sour, un-​friendly, and always seems like everyone is a suspect rather than a welcome customer.
There are only a couple other metaphysical stores and places to by stones and crystals in the region (like in Ocean Beach). What I can’t get there I’ll find on Amazon rather than try at this store.

This place ROCKS literally and figuratively speaking.
This is my go to place for incense, stones, jewelry, books oh and clothing.
Ok so they make you check your bag in big freaking deal, you’ve obviously never worked retail.
I have and can assure you more places would do it if they had the guts or the divine gods protecting them.
Psychics and tarot readers available every day of the week and they are pretty accurate especially the lady on Wednesdays!
Don’t mind the cry babies this place is Legit.

Ive been to this store a couple times now, and every time i go, nobody greets me, nobody asks if i need help finding anything. The women working here dont even make eye contact. I really felt like i was unwelcome here. Definitely will not be going back. Its sad that anyone is treated this way in a store that is supposed to be dealing in spirituality.

I don’t appreciate being talked down to, and being asked to put my purse behind the counter. So i can browse freely while the owner looks at my every move. Sucks, i really wanted to buy some crystals maybe a book. I find it hypocritical for a store that promotes spirituality to have such bad customer service. I can’t spend money here and support the owners rude ways. Karma.

Yuck. I visited this store last year to buy some Palo Santo and I felt like the manager was so rude to me because I only came in here with my wallet as opposed to bringing a purse that they could put behind the counter. What the heck?! Wouldn’t you be happy that I brought my wallet as it would be one less thing to worry about from a customer? It’s not like I had a huge coat on with tons of pockets. The day I visited, I was wearing tight fitting yoga clothes; it’d be pretty obvious if I swiped something. I know they’ve had issues with theft, but come on, I’ve visited this store since 2009 and I’ve never stolen one thing from these guys. I know that these type of stores attract weird energy and needy people, so I try to be understanding, but wow, I was really disgusted that day when all I wanted to do was just get a couple sticks of Palo Santo and that manager acted as if I offended him by not bringing a huge purse for him to grab from me as I browsed the store.
I’ve seen employees come and go here, some nicer than others but those good ones usually always disappear (and I don’t blame them). I hate to talk about this, but my friend’s ex-​boyfriend got caught up with one of the employees there and they basically ruined his life and my friend’s and his relationship. I don’t want to go in depth as to how, but the situation got very complicated and weird and everyone involved got paranoid with each other. I know that sounds funny to some people, but it was bizarre and full of drama.
I don’t get psychic readings anymore (I’m not even sure if Cindy is there, anyway), but gah, even if I did, I cannot recommend coming here. If you really need some spiritual guidance, there are tons of great psychics in San Diego, and most will let you pay card or even Paypal if you really need to (FYI: this place only takes cash for readings). A lot of them are independent contractors so you don’t need to go to a metaphysical/​New Age shop to make an appointment to see them. If I need aromatherapy/​sage, I’d much rather walk over to Controversial Bookstore or even drive over to Tree of Life in OB. At least Tree of Life the proprietor is super nice and all her stuff is handmade.
Again, this incident happened last year; the thing with my friend happened about 1 – 2 years ago. I only wanted to write an update now because I wanted significant time to come to pass so that the owner (if he reads this) doesn’t single me out. I haven’t gone here since that incident as I’m pretty over the whole spirituality stuff and would much rather patronize other businesses for their candles and aromatherapy goods.
Want to go to Lady of the Lake? I suggest making the drive to Temecula and going there. Talk to James! He’s not one of the psychics but a very personable guy who makes everyone feel welcome.

I have been coming to this store for over two years and I have never felt so discriminated against more than today. I have a four month old baby and I was told that I couldn’t shop with my baby in the stroller. The seriously asked me to leave my baby by the counter. That is absolutely ridiculous. I’m sorry, no store is worth shopping at if I am not able to shop with my child by me. I will never come back here again. I can’t even see the logic in asking anyone to leave their baby by the counter. To top it off they were rude about it.

I love this store. The store smelled wonderful of incense and oils. I think the prices were pretty reasonable to inexpensive for most items. The employees were nice too. They were gonna let me shop till I dropped. The cashier was also curteous to me that day. I think I might shop there again

North Park area seems nice, quaint friendly people-​UNTIL I came in here-​I was told to put my purse behind the counter it was either because they thought I MAY be a thief or is it because they ARE the thiefs– when your purse is out of your sight they can steal from you! Appalling is all I can say and if it is they are paranoid they will be robbed maybe they are in the wrong business or they should move their business to an area where THEY FEEL SAFE. I certainly felt safe.
Paranoid owners of a SPIRITUAL store isn’t that defeating the theme? If they weren’t so cheap they would invest in cameras if they are paranoid. Its not like they have expensive jewelry (who do they think they are Tiffanys –LOL) or anything there that someone would take a chance going to jail shoplifting for-​much of it can be found at the swap meet and other stores with even better prices!

If I was the owner of this particular store I would on the spot had fired the masculine looking woman that shaves her head with the with the horrible acne, I have excellent hearing and when we walked in, I was surprised for the first time in my life to hear my friend needed to put her purse behind the counter because it was oversize purse, so asked the guy why is that I’ve never heard of such a thing?
He explained, then the unattractive employee with the bad complexion, decided to mimic me with the gal behind the register imitating me and she didn’t think I heard her but I did so did my friend. As we walked out my friend said did you see what she was doing she was mimicking everything you said!
the ironic thing is this is supposed to be a calming, spiritual, relaxing store when you have employees like that it’s anything but !
They lost a potential very good customer. I recently spent $ 1,500 in a store Haite& Ashberry in San Francisco granted the store in San Francisco was much larger but I told the man now I don’t have to fly all the way to San Francisco when I need similar products, (thought he would smile but no personality, was he the owner?)
i felt like Julia Roberts in the movie Pretty Woman the way I was being imitated and they like the movie lost a BIG commission Perhaps acne face was jealous because I have been told I resemble Julia

You are not allowed to bring in a purse larger then 6×6 inches in this store. If you want to shop here you have to leave your purse behind the counter, but at your own risk. They claim to have no other viable option. So they are saying we don’t trust you so trust us but we don’t even care to guarantee your things are safe. Funny because every other business on the planet seems to have a other viable option, letting women have there bags. This is the most ridiculous invasive policy I have ever seen. I have no desire to support a person that is so distrusting of the public in general. Thank you for basically calling me a thief. Ironic that this is a spiritual store. If you would like to buy crystals and be treated with respect and basic dignity go to South American imports in old town.

Nope never coming in here again~
My friend noticed this story because it seemed to have pretty cool stuff. As soon as we walked in we were interested in an item until they told one of my friends to put her bag behind the counter. Her bag wasn’t that big and from the start my friend noticed the owner and that employee were saying bad things about us. Not cool. Get better customer service.

This store is pretty great, and you can’t beat the prices. The only thing is that the owner is an ass. He’s rude to customers, and just not the easiest person to get along with. Somehow though he manages to hire very nice people on his staff. Of course they don’t last too long, because again, he’s and ass and the pay is minimum wage without raises. Just ask the store owners around him, I’ve heard stories! Still worth going into though, it’s worth the ornery owner for the deals you get!
The best psychic there left recently, but there are two others I’d go to… we’ll see if they last!

Tempted Chun P. to join me for an afternoon of shopping by promising a stop at Hammond’s for ice cream first. The trick worked! Then we walked over to Lady of the Lake for a little crystal shopping.
I’m a big fan of New Age type of stores, and agree that the vibe here is just a bit off. Being greeted by a sign demanding your handbag/​bag right when you walk in the store isn’t welcoming. This is the first New Age store I’ve been to that has that policy.
That said, the rest of my shopping experience was mixed. Once I asked for help at the register, a kind lady helped me pick up an octagon window prism for a friend going through some rough times who could use a few rainbows. (Though I was dismayed that many of the prisms I looked at had faint scratches on them.) She also wrapped it up and placed it in a nice box that I can easily drop off at the post office. I really appreciate her going the extra mile!
I also picked up a fluorite obelisk to place by my computer. I heard from my friend Jon that they were good for absorbing negative excess electronic energy, and even if that ends up being hocus pocus, at least it looks really gorgeous. When the guy at the register was chatting me up and picking the sticker off the bottom he asked me what I was buying it for and when I explained he said, «I’ve never heard that?» and then shared about maybe «putting it on your body where you’d get acupuncture.» The exchange seemed a little awkward and I kinda sensed he was making fun of me, and just let it go.
What I found a little strange about the store overall were some of the definite non New Age books. There was an Ann Coulter book on the shelf and some anti-​Obama propaganda. I didn’t really expect to find political discourse in a healing crystal shop. I suppose Caroline Myss did recently delve into politics in her run for Congress so I guess that the worlds are crossing a bit here, but I didn’t really expect it.

I loved these New Age Energy stores in the nineties, they had many in Belmont Shore, I even worked in one for extra $$$ and cool stuff they had & I sold-​expensive, marked up 6 – 8 times, but cool.
Street parking is the only option, metered and enforced, in a area that you would not expect to find a store like this, perhaps that’s why we experienced what I’m about to review.
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The owner is not as cordial as her staff, and staff is nice, but the owner has everyone hand over large bags & purses upon entry; understandable, but the staff follows you everywhere, which is most annoying.
This place truly is a version of 1998, been there done that places that went by the wayside because you can get it at Walmart and other stores, I mean truly the same stuff!
Not inexpensive either, yet eclectic inventory abounds.
If you are looking for something unique, based on my primarily relevant to a customer experience, then by all means, stop in.
Energy stones washed in sea salt & Scarabs are there too to ward off your negative energies that follow you this time of year and, year round for those who dabble in things that vortex.
At THIS time of year, I’m sure this place will be booming, but for MP, I’ll pass, yet on my scale of :
1) A-​Okay in a good way.
2) A-​Okay.
3) Just A-​Okay.
#2 is fair, but beware, you are followed everywhere, looking over you shoulder not to hear, «May I help you find something?»
No, it will be, «Don’t touch this, don’t touch that, that’s a display model, and I hope you don’t knock that over, it’s expensive.»
Okay, we get it, «DON“T touch!»
And, like Dee, Marty & I were not handing over our shoulder bags with our wallets, and other things in them to strangers who could Okiee-​Doke our stuff, identity etc.
Also, even if we removed our wallets, putting our shopping bags with our purchases from elsewhere & our shoulder bags aside in an area designated for such & bags is not a good idea either, anyone could walk up and take them as the staff is to busy playing Sherlock Holmes & Dr. Watson to notice as they follow you around as suspects in & out of doors:

I used to love to go to this store any chance I had when near the neighborhood that it is in. I always bought something there. There was a different caliber of employees in the store at that time, that truly seemed to love working there.
One fateful day I came in the store to shop. I was asked by the shopkeeper to leave my purse with them. I did not comply to their request and told them that I did not know them «from Adam». Why would I be so gullable as to give a teenager my purse with my credit info in it, especially while I am preoccupied shopping? As I was leaving I talked to the manager and suggested that he buy a twelve unit self locking locker for customers to store valuables in. Guess we came to an impasse as he was opposed to the idea. Honestly, I cannot recall his reasoning, because at the time it seemed like an irresponsible reason as to why he said he couldn’t get lockers for the store. Guess people who leave their purses do not have anything of value in them to worry about. Not the kind of customer I would like to attract in a store I owned!
10÷31÷15
Yikes! I just drove by the store. There are going out of business signs posted on the Windows.