Penny Post — Local services in Alexandria

I confess, I am a papyrophilia. Stationery and pens are my jam, and I collect enough paper and pen products that I could theoretically open up my own shop.

Upon learning that Penny Post opened in Old Town, I was ecstatic. Being a papyrophilia, I always yearn for more stationery stores. The art of handwritten letters and cards should be treasured forever. Thank goodness Penny Post is helping to fill that void.

Although the shop isn't that big, it's a bright, airy, and beautiful space. Everything is decorated the way you imagine a perfect stationery store should look. And there are so many trinkets to see!

Penny Post carries greeting cards, notebooks, notepads, paper, pencils, pens, office supplies, desk accessories, wrapping paper, ribbons, washi tape, party supplies, bags, prints, candles, chocolates, and lots more. They also can help you customize cards and invitations. The store also carries a selection of calligraphy items from Meant To Be Calligraphy, an Alexandria-based calligraphy vendor.

I've purchased a couple of pens, a tote bag, and cards here since they opened. This is such a fun place to shop, even if you're just window-shopping! I've always received stellar customer service here. They even held a couple of events for National Letter Writing Month in April.

Perfect place to stop by if you're in need of any paper or pen products! I highly...

My wife and I made a trip to Alexandria specifically to check out Penny Post, and boy were we disappointed! We had beautiful parking karma, finding a spot less than a block away, so we thought it was meant to be. WRONG!

When we got inside, the store wasn’t too busy. The aesthetics of the store were cute, and that’s where the goodness ended. A customer was being checked out, and they were cheerily chatting with the cashier. We couldn’t wait to get similarly friendly customer service, but we didn’t receive so much as a hello from any of the staff.

After being ignored, we ambled over to the fountain pen demo area, and an employee bypassed us and began working at the same table. Still no greeting. It was so bizarre. The store isn’t that large, and I was hard to miss: buxom Black babe with locs in a bright yellow skirt (the wife is hella cute too).

After a while of being ignored we headed to DC to shop at Jenni Bick. Upon entering THERE, multiple staff members greeted us and offered assistance. We left there over $300 poorer, but satisfied with the great shopping experience...

I was in the store about a month ago, and I'm still thinking about the experience. Penny Post is an undeniably cute little shop with a wide variety of items in a small space. I spent about an hour in the shop. There were three people working (one was having lunch at the writing table for some of the time), and there were periods when the store was busy. The store is definitely more stationery store than a pen store. Unfortunately, most, if not all, of the items that came boxed or shrink-wrapped didn't have one out, nor did they offer to dip a fountain pen that I inquired about. It was a missed opportunity because I'm an easy sale, and I'd have purchased a Kaweco Liliput if I'd liked it. The staff was very chatty with some customers, and indifferent with others. Oddly, they were completely befuddled when a customer asked for "document ink". The staff came off as not being very knowledgeable, and more interested in talking amongst themselves than selling anything. I might give it another go at some point, but...