By Meg A. Parsont
When I was a kid, I looked forward to the ritual of buying new school supplies at the beginning of each school year. I loved the feel of the blue cloth cover of Mead three-ring notebooks, the smell of new pencils, and the glossy beauty of laminated pocket folders (often embellished with photos of horses or kittens). I even liked the sheaves of looseleaf paper, which seemed, somehow, to be full of promise.
To this day, a nice notebook can make me inordinately happy and when I walk into Gold Leaf Stationers on Amsterdam Avenue between West 89th and 90th Streets, I get giddy. The shelves of this small but mighty store are laden with a mind-boggling selection of notebooks, pads, pens, pencil cases, and other desk delights.
True to its name, Gold Leaf Stationers carries an extensive selection of fine notecards, greeting cards, calendars, and writing implements ranging from Cross pens to dachshund-shaped ballpoints to fine artist’s pens and calligraphy supplies. There are stacks of luxurious embossed hardcover journals, minimalist notebooks of graph paper, and pocket-sized notepads with whimsical animal illustrations on the cover. But over the years, the store’s inventory has evolved into an irresistible mashup of stationery, office and school supplies, art supplies, wrapping paper and ribbon, educational toys, jigsaw puzzles, craft supplies, and unique—moderately priced—gift items.
As owner Fasil Yilma explains, he has learned how to keep shifting to accommodate the needs of his customers and to counter the competition from chain stores and online retailers. “Gold Leaf started as a stationery store but when Staples opened, we were heavily impacted and introduced art supplies to try to balance things out.” But then Michael’s opened on 99th and Columbus Avenue. At that point, to recover from the blow dealt by Michael’s (now closed), he introduced educational toys and games to his inventory. And during Covid, he brought in jigsaw puzzles, which were and continue to be in high demand.
He adds, “Back-to-school season used to be huge, but now because of changes in the school system, we don’t get the peak we used to have. Most kids have a laptop and don’t need notebooks as much. But I still have core families as customers who want to engage their kids in writing. They bring them in, and the kids get excited because here, you can try a pen and get a feel for it. And get a feel for the paper of a notebook. When you go online, nothing matches this experience.”
To tempt young customers (and those who are young at heart) there’s an enticing array of erasers in the shapes of macarons (vanilla scented, of course), hearts, donuts with sprinkles, ice cream cones, and astronauts. There are glitter pens, stickers galore, paint sets, and crafting supplies. And for more mature artists, there are aisles of oil and acrylic paints, brushes, canvases, and sketchbooks.
Over the years, Yilma has developed an unerring instinct for what his customers will need and gravitate to. He first started working for the store during the summers when he was attending Oneonta University. At the time it was located on the corner of Broadway and 89th Street. After graduation, he continued working for Gold Leaf, which relocated to Amsterdam Avenue in a move that was considered pioneering back then.
Today, as the owner of Gold Leaf Stationers—which celebrates its 25th anniversary in 2025–Yilma has plans to expand his children’s party supply section in response to the high demand. He’s excited about the prospect of adding in more balloons, party plates, and decorations, but like most New Yorkers, is confronted with the challenge of space. He may convert his office into a section devoted to party goods. He’ll just need to find somewhere else to stash the scooter that gets him to work every day.
When I was in the store recently, a woman who works from home rushed in for an HP cartridge. An art student picked up supplies for a finals project. A little boy eyed the Matchbox cars. And others came in for greeting cards, wrapping paper, menorah candles, and Secret Santa gifts. (There’s an eclectic selection of items near the cash register that are just the right price range, including lovely Mandela art compact mirrors, decorative refrigerator magnets, and even music boxes that play Beatles tunes.) Except for the boy who couldn’t make up his mind as to which Matchbox car he wanted, everyone left with what they’d come in for.
“I admit I usually go to a chain store or order online” said longtime Upper Westsider Jody Prusan. “I’m so happy that I went recently to our neighborhood stationery store for my annual planner and much needed holiday cards! I was very pleased that everything I needed, and more, was at Gold Leaf.”
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Really glad to see this
THE BEST. And owner Fasil Yilma is always so helpful. Always so pleasant.
Completely agree—Gold Leaf Stationers is a gem. So glad we have it in the neighborhood. And the service is always friendly.
This is a wonderful store! A real gem of the neighborhood. Go shop there!
I love this shop for gifts, games, stickers, pen refills and my annual Manhattan Diary. I’m so happy customers continue to patronize Gold Leaf despite online options.
Good to know they carry the Manhattan Diary – another reliable gem.
Great feature! Gold leaf is an absolute gem in the neighborhood.
These kinds of stores are so needed and so welcome. And the ones that stay in your memory forever!
Love this place. Great for a last minute gift or to stock up on my favorite pen.
Oh how I wish I had written this article. Gold Leaf is absolutely one of THE best stores (along with Magpie) on the UWS or frankly in the whole city. Just an amazing selection of wonderful things and so much more pleasant to shop in than any chain store. And there’s no way you could discover all these toys, art supplies, games, pens, stationery etc. on line ….you have to see them in person. Please patronize this wonderful store. It was stuck under a sidewalk bridge for ages and finally is uncovered.
I’ve sent maybe people to Gold Leaf over the years. Love it (along with Maypie and Runaway Poppy)
Love Goldleaf!!
Whether you need a humble pink eraser or elegant stationery, it’s here. Great selection of puzzles and toys.
This shop always has what I need, even if I didn’t know before I went in. Folks there couldn’t be nicer. one of uws gems
Love Gold Leaf Stationers and Fasil Yilma is a treasure. The store has such a broad array of wonderful items for creative people of all ages. we are so lucky to have it in the neirghborhood.
And they notarize!
Great store, nice people. Amazing how much they manage to cram into that small space. I always manage to find what I need there, plus a few things I didn’t know I needed. Fingers crossed that their rent remains manageable — we need good owner-operated, independent shops like this on the UWS>
I’ve been going to Fasil’s wonderful store for years to supply my after school art program here on the UWS. He and his employee Mark have always been the most helpful, even delivering large heavy boards to my studio ten blocks away on occasion, when I needed them right away. I am so happy you are doing this profile on a neighborhood gem. The article was so well written and the photos really capture the variety and color of the treasures you can find in this exceptional small business. With the upsetting news of recent closures in our area of long standing stores (Absolute Bagels, Telio’s, Whole Foods on 89th), I hope this article will encourage us to shop small for the holidays and throughout the year to come. Thanks so much and keep these profiles coming.
Well, this story put Gold Leaf on the map for me. I try to always shop at “Indies” instead of chains. They reflect so much more of the culture of the ‘hood’.
You will love them!
Thank you for posting this! I’ve had so much trouble finding art supplies at the 2 places I normally go to (one who had significantly downsized). I didn’t want to order on Amazon because they’ve been shipping in bags instead of boxes and the contents are always damaged. I will definitely be hopping on the bus and making the trip up there (for everything shown in the photos), ; )
Great to know about the extent of their offerings. I will patronize them. Sounds like a very cute store!
I didn’t know about this place as it is slightly out of my nabe. Thanks for the article!!!
Yes, the store is wonderful, but it will not accept credit cards for purchases below $10.00. That is a nuisance for those of us who no longer carry cash…. Was forced to walk all the way to Staples as my envelopes did not add up…..
PS The Gold Leaf address is: 606-608 Amsterdam Ave. near 90th St on the west side of the street!
It’s a wonderful store with great service and always “just what I need”. As Staples tries to move their customers online, this place becomes even more important. They also have a notary public. Remember when banks used to have them? I went to Wells Fargo with a document and they said, “we don’t have one anymore, but go to Gold Leaf!” They are a neighborhood gem indeed and hope they continue to thrive!
Such a great piece about a wonderful store. Thank you! No matter how small or obscure the request, the people at Gold Leaf care enough to look into their stock to find it, or be clear that it is not what they carry. Total respect for the needs of their customers. Two other small west side stores that emphasize art supplies: Janoff’s Stationery near Columbia University and the art supply store at the Art Students League of NY on W 57th Street. In all three places, the staff are experienced and lovely.
We love Gold Leaf for all those reasons and they do excellent framing. They are so nice and welcoming.
Gold Leaf Stationers is just a little bit off of my usual path so I need to plan to go there but I am never disappointed. Can’t say enough about Gold Leaf. It’s a wonderful and unique UWS place with very nice staff, love them. Janoff’s, although smaller, somehow always manages to stock really superior art supplies among many other things. Please patronize these awesome stores! We are so fortunate that they are both still here!
I love Gold Leaf Stationers and shop there when I need art supplies. Unfortunately I am a sculptor so they don’t have much of what I need, but for pens, paint, etc, they are are so much better that the huge chain stores. Every year they sold me a new calendar but I now have one on my phone. Facil has the most beautiful smile and always remembers my name.
Wonderful to learn about this great store! Near Lincoln Center we once had a quality stationer, undoubtedly lost to higher rents or new developments. I still miss it. Will visit Gold Leaf very soon!
It’s great to see this wonderful response to this wonderful store!
Years ago I rushed up there needing something immediately. They had just locked up for the day but opened up so I could make my purchase.
FYI. Fatil is a notary. $2
What a great piece!! Small businesses like Gold Leaf are the backbone of a neighborhood. Looking forward to visiting soon.
Shopped today and they had just what I needed to close out my holiday shopping. These were the UWS gems of past years. Please support them!
Love this, Meg! I can spend hours in a store like Gold Leaf!
I’m so pleased to See Gold Leaf Stationers featured here. A wonderful gem of a store. I’ve been a loyal customer for over 18 years. Great for all writing necessities & convenient for gift giving for all ages. From beautiful pens, pen refills & journals to quality art supplies & so many wonder items for young ones. The owner is always very helpful & happy to help. Going there tomorrow to pickup an annual journal, calligraphy pen & holiday gifts.
Yes, a great place, I buy pens and my little appointment book every year, and am so glad to read that this seems at least as if they are here to stay.
They are always helpful and just really nice to everyone. It’s such a welcome change from the impersonal stores we all have to shop in. We’re lucky to have them. I’ve been shopping there since they were on Broadway
Gold leaf is a wonderful stationery store.
There are two others that are very special that have that memorable quality: Westside stationers at 99th and Broadway and Stationery and Toy store West 72nd Street. The latter used to be called Jay’s stationary but they moved across to the north side of 72nd Street.
These are exactly what kind of stores the kids will remember when they grow up. They have a special charm that just doesn’t exist in the chain stores
I love them. They are so nice and they have great nitebook
All of this plus excellent and affordable framing! I love Gold Leaf!
Gold Leaf is wonderful. I go there for everything from thank you cards to printer paper to my annual Filofax refill. (Love my old school planner!) Fasil is always so helpful and kind. Glad to see so many Upper West Siders know and support this gem of a store.
I was actually in the store yesterday afternoon when I learned about this article—a customer was talking about it just a couple of hours after it went up! Agree with all the comments here— wonderful store and people!
echoing others here that Gold Leaf is the ONLY place I know of to get decent art supplies on UWS south of Columbia and north of Art Students League on w 57th. Specifically high quality pencils, erasers & drawing paper.
OMG I didn’t know Gold Leaf existed! Now I know what I’m going to do during winter break off from school……
Huge fan. One of my favorite spots in the whole city.
I’m so glad they are there. We go at least once a month, often twice. Check it out!!
Gold Leaf is our go-to spot for getting gifts for any birthday parties that our kids go to. The owner is a lovely, patient man.
It is a great store. I have to avoid it so I don’t buy more really cool but unneeded writing implements …. But maybe I need Christmas presents, come to think of it ….
great store in a pinch for good art supplies as there’s a dirge on the uws
jam packed