I have been doing this for a couple years now, however this year due to my scheduling. I am going to not be able to do this trek as I have before, yet I still want to be able to recommend places in New York City that is vital for paper shopping needs. This is tour is not a complete of list of paper buying sites in NYC. So if any instructions are not clear, please contact me at animemiz [at] gmail.com.
Paper usually seen at this tour range from kami: mono or duo, tant, ribbons, or washi.
A handy dandy Google Map listing these locations is available here.
-Linda
Needed
- Metrocard: $1 surcharge for a new metrocard + travel budget /Single ride is $2.75 so two rides is $5.50 etc.
- Good walking shoes
- Water
- Umbrella (in case of rain)
- Print out of this self-walking tour.
- Smart Phone with an external battery charger or good paper map
- NYC MTA Subway Map or App
- Pocket change
The tour
Chinatown/Soho (Nearest train stop Canal Street/Prince Street: N/R/Q/6)
Kam Man: 200 Canal St, New York, NY 10013
The first floor of this store has a supermarket, so what you're looking for is the 2nd floor, up the stairs. There's an alcove where is a variety of paper of pattern, mono, tea leaf. The biggest size is a paper pack that has a red mask on the cover. There's a grass folder craftsmen that has a small stall outside this store. This is in the heart of Chinatown, so expect plenty of foot traffic and distractions from other tourists and fruit sellers.
(Foodie side detour) Chinatown Ice Cream Factory
Muji: 455 Broadway, New York, NY 10013
This is one of my favorite spot for bargain Kami paper.. for about $1.25 (not including tax) for about 80 sheets of plain kami. Muji will appear about two more times on this list, since there's more than one location.
Pearl River: 477 Broadway, New York, NY 10013
This store has been open for more than twenty years, is a tour favorite, since people can also buy Chinese souvenirs from here. This store is closing at the end of this year, so by next year - don't expect this store to be around by 2016 convention. Paper found here is on the first floor, near books and other paper goods. You'll walk past fabrics. If you walk near ceramics, you're too far. Pearl River paper selection is similar to Kam Men
Paper Source: 83 Spring St, New York, NY 10012
This is a paper store chain that has decorative paper, crafts supplies. Good for peeking in here for inspiration. Their origami paper selection is quite small.
East Village (Nearest subway stop either N/R to 8th Street or 6 to Astor Place)
This is one of my favorite place to go look at paper, their paper department is on the second floor where there is limited spaces. There's origami paper on 2nd floor foyer - going into the second floor. There are lots of papers to find and buy in large sizes.
Muji Cooper: 52 Cooper Square, New York, NY 10003
(Foodie Side Tour - This is St. Marks lots of food options)
Chelsea/Flatiron (Nearest Subway stop: Union Square 17th Street side exit - N/R/Q/4/5/6/L)
Paper Presentation 23 W 18th St, New York, NY 10011
Officially the address is on 18th street, there's a backdoor/side entrance on 19th, so people can detour to Muji Chelsea. Paper Presentation is a great place for scrapbook paper/ cardstock/Stardream, parchment etc.
Muji: 16 W 19th Street (Between 5th and 6th Avenue), New York, NY 10011
(Foodie Side Tour Dough on 19th street or City Bakery on 18th Street)
On 6th Avenue heading toward 23rd Street (Nearest Train: F)
- Blick (chain)
- Michael's (chain)
- Staples (chain) Great place to buy memo cube paper.
- Container Store (chain)
Enveloper: 45 W 21st St, New York, NY 10010
Similar selection to Paper Presentation - and other paper selections at Blick, Michaels, Paper Presentation, however this is on a side street, so traffic here might not be as much people.
Midtown (Times Square 42nd Street N/R/Q/S/1/2/3)
Kinokuniya: 1073 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10018
Paper selection is on the basement of this bookstore. Also there is food on the second floor. Restroom facilities on the first floor.
Muji Time Square: The New York Times Building 620 8th Avenue (40th st.)
Suggestions – this is a train stop that is relatively easily accessible to the 1 train, so people can consider doing this as a last stop so that way there's a 1 train ride back up to Manhattan College.