Dancing Bear & Gruene Gardens — Local services in New Braunfels

Rude and condescending, on the part of the owner and staff, pretty much sums up our experiences at Dancing Bears. Potentially fun nick-naks, but the attitude of the owner and staff is offsetting and mood-killing. My wife and I, along with our “accomplists” visited The Dancing Bears and were treated like a pack of thieves. One example, my wife brought two Christmas tree ornaments from another room to show me and ask my opinion. She was, immediately, grabbed by the arm by the woman shop keeper and asked if she would like for “those items” to be held at the front desk. They were hardly large or bulky enough to require assistance. And, the attitude was not pleasant or helpful . . . more accusatory. We immediately returned them to where she found them. I am 71 years old, a retired CEO, and hardly need to be stealing $3.95 trinkets. My wife and I were doing nothing more than “holiday shopping”, and in a pleasant mood up until this incident. Just know that, when you enter, you are under surveillance and profiled as a “threat to the establishment” as opposed to a potentially “valued customer”. This was our second unpleasant experience, the first being the same season last year. We won’t be going back for a third. My daughter said, “Let’s get out of here, so we left Dancing Bears and went next door, where we spent $700+ with two very pleasant and professional ladies.

The one star from this review is for the inventory of trinkets, nothing more. I see other reviewers have voiced...

I was here with my mom and sister taking a look at the pretty sculptures outside... there are no “no photography” signs and my mom took her phone out to take a picture. Soon a man came out telling us in Spanish to leave... I guess he just assumed we didn’t speak English and proceeded to escort us all the way back to the street. A simple, “please don’t take pictures” or “no photography allowed” would have sufficed. It felt rude but we just went to the next antique shop... there’s plenty more...

Wonderful Shop of Goodies! You get the feeling of walking from room to room in a beautiful old home, only it is filled with wonderful collectibles - new treasures, not antiques. There are stationary items, inexpensive jewelry pieces, wall art, home decor furnishing, candles, just way too much to name. Leave your husband outside, or better off at Gruene Hall with a beer and give yourself plenty of time to go room to room looking at each little treasure. This...