Rena Tom, the founder, is a former jewelry and graphic designer who loves design. She opened Rare Device in Brooklyn in October 2005.  Building on the success of that store, Rena partnered with artist Lisa Congdon to open a second Rare Device in San Francisco in October 2007. This larger location allowed them to include a gallery space, with monthly shows by local, national and international designers whose work meshes with the Rare Device aesthetic. Rare Device Brooklyn closed in May 2008 so that Rena and Lisa could focus on growing the flagship store in San Francisco.

Rena and Lisa sold Rare Device to Phurba and I in February 2011.  We moved Rare Device to its current location in Divisadero Street on March 2012, where we have been able to expand the kids’ section considerably.

When I took ownership of Rare Device, I often had a newborn baby strapped to my chest as I sorted merchandise.  Soon after throwing myself into that endeavor, my father, who lived in the Philippines, died suddenly.  In the midst of all the upheaval of a new daughter and the loss of my father, creating a beautiful space at Rare Device brought needed order and focus to my life.  I wanted to create a place people could come to hold beautiful things in their hands, because that’s what I needed, too.