Skip to content

Rare Device: Beautiful things to hold in your hands

What is Rare Device?

The storefront is filled with lovely, approachably designed items for your home, yourself, and your family.  Every object in the store has its own story, and has been chosen because it is either handmade, well-designed, useful, beautiful or all of the above. The aesthetic is modern and whimsical while remaining warm and inviting. Influences range from the natural world to the interaction between humans and things, be it their clothes or what they choose to use in their homes. Many of the wares are locally produced, handmade creations.  There are also a wide variety of internationally created items, from such far flung places as Japan, Denmark, Canada, Philippines and France.

Where does the name Rare Device come from?

In Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s poem Kubla Khan, he calls the Pleasure Dome that the ancient Mongol emperor created, “a miracle of rare device”.  We hope that the store conveys a sense of pleasure and fantasy when you walk through the doors.

What is the history of the store?

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 Giselle Gyalzen in February 2011, and moved Rare Device to its current location in Divisadero Street in March 2012.

In September 2024, the Gyalzens sold Rare Device to Marine and Benoit Malta.

Meet Our Team

Staff portraits by Dave Medal
Interview by Rhea St. Julien