AWCH Yippee: I Get to Go Shopping!

Many members of our AWC Hamburg club responded enthusiastically to the request to complete the following sentence: “Yippee, I get to go shopping at (fill in name) because (fill in reason).” Here are their responses.

For Everything:

Karstadt because I have a customer card that gives me a 1% discount in the form of payback (cash whenever or points to pick something out of a catalog) AND the card means that I get loads of coupons for 10-20% off throughout the year and sometimes free gifts. The card also works at Alsterhaus. (Mary W)

AEZ (Alstertal Einkaufzentrum) because it’s covered and warm and dry, which are important points in inclement weather; there are lots of shops together in one place with a variety to choose from; there’s a food court in between for a rest if you are in “shop till you drop mode”; it’s decorated with much taste according to the season (Christmas, Easter, etc.); and the people in general are friendly. (Coppelia HB)

For Electronics:

Media Markt seems to beckon me “Come in, I have something you would be interested in”. Usually I am too weak to resist and go in. I like to see what they have in the way of electronic devices that are new and find out what they cost and whether I could buy the same thing in the States at a lesser price. My favorite is at Poppenbütteler Weg 31 in Hümmelsbüttel. (Natalie W)

For Clothing:

Peek & Cloppenburg because it’s good value for money; they’ve got a wide selection of all sorts of blouses, shirts, pullovers, jeans, and jackets; and people are very friendly. I prefer the new shop in Norderstedt in the shopping center. Hamburger Straße used to be good, but they are closing down now. The one in the AEZ in Poppenbüttel is not bad either, but the best choice you get is in Mönckebergstraße – nice for men, too – so is Anson’s. Also you can exchange things at any of the stores around town. (Jutta K)

Eddie Bauer at Alstertal Einkaufs-zentrum because I like their clothes, especially since they often have more classic clothing styles. Buying jeans there is a must. (Lara v L)

Angelo’s at Eppendorfer Weg 117, tel 422 83 65, for the most chic, most sophisticated casual looks in Hamburg. There are two stores abutting here, one with very casual jeans and t-shirts and the second somewhat more upscale (and pricey) with items ranging from casual to pants suits, skirts and some low-key dressy things. Both stores have great clothes for men including suits, and shoes and bags for both sexes. Our whole family is hooked on the place! There is another branch at Ottenser Hauptstr. 24 in Altona too. (Adele R)

Annikki Karvinen at Poststr. 2-4, tel 36 71 66 73, because people are friendly, I can buy a very special style that stays up-to-date in fashion, mixes and matches for several years, is made of easy-to-care and travel material and, therefore, is good value for money. (Frauke R-H)

Valleverde at Mönckebergstr. 20, because people are friendly and professional. I can buy very smart shoes, Italian designed and make, from elegant to sporty style, soft leather that fits well and comfortably, and, the prices are lower than high fashion stores with better quality. (Frauke R-H)

ESCADA factory outlet in Metzingen. For over 20 years my favorite fashion line has been ESCADA. When I was working, I always traveled and had to be dressed just right for that big computer contract. So it was important to look up-to-date, be able to mix and match the colors which ESCADA kept over years, plus be able to wear the outfits for a long time. However, now that I am retired, my budget tells me to pass ESCADA’s window at Neuer Wall FAST. Instead, I check what’s up and reserve what I like in my mind for my next trip to southern Germany. About 40 km south of Stuttgart is Metzingen with several outlets, among which are ESCADA, JOOP, Bally, etc. ESCADA is always a season ahead and in the outlet store I pay a fraction of the retail store prices. All it requires is patience. (Frauke R-Hn)

For Food:

Eurospar at Bramfelder Chaussee 84-86, because it has a big parking lot and I never have time to do much shopping besides grocery shopping (plus they sell Ben & Jerry’s ice cream). The open air market on Saturday in Harzloh (near Barmbeker Hospital) is also OK, but no parking; here one must arrive by foot or bicycle. (Debbie O)

Aldi (Tangstedter Landstraße), Edeka (Krohnstieg-Center), and the semi-weekly market at Langenhorn-Markt, the first because it’s cheap and the assortment gets better every year, the second because it offers real American marshmallows (for my husband) and a huge selection of good cheeses and just about everything else and high prices but good special offers, and the last because I know just where my produce is coming from and the people are friendly and (more importantly) well-informed! (Sus E)

Viola’s in Eppendorf, on Eppendorfer Baum 43, because the selection of spices and exotic foodstuffs make great stocking stuffers. (Wendy B)

Isestraße Market because it is unlike any outdoor market I have previously experienced. (Patricia Haskell)

For Books:

Zardoz on Ottensener Hauptstraße near Altona station (across from Mercado) because I love bookshops and this is one of the coziest in Hamburg. They have three floors of CDs, records and books (used and new). Second-hand English books can be found on the upper level but, if you want to sell them some, go to the cashier on the second level. All the salespeople are ultra friendly and the café serves good drinks. In the summer you can take your coffee to an outdoor table and people watch. (Thelma F)

For Special Things:

Domino toy store, Eppendorfer Weg 227, corner Hoheluftchaussee, because they have everything and are very friendly. (Shelly S)

Gallery Nancy Tilitz at the Dammtor train station because the atmosphere is so different from other galleries. It is casual, easy to look around, very special in style, without the common landscape or people paintings – jazzy. And when I do not find the perfect picture, Nancy charmingly offers to draw one, of me, or of a photograph of my friends. What a perfect gift! And to top it all, on certain nights – like on Fridays – the gallery actually turns into a jam session with Jerry Tilitz and his jazz musicians playing the best cool or modern jazz this side of New York. It is an experience! (Frauke R-H)

Positiv is my favorite place to spend money. It’s a cute little gift shop in Bönningstedt, called POSITIV Leben mit Schönen Dingen (Live positively with beautiful things) at Alter Markt, tel 57 14 43 55. The owner really makes an effort to find unusual objects to set her shop apart from the rest. I can always find a little present for any female friend on my list. For manly gifts I go to amazon.de; for super gifts I go to POSITIV. (Tracy M)

www.anitag.com is my place for swimming suits and matching cover-ups for children, and for swimming suits with built-in diapers for babies, www.flaphappy.com. (Jennifer M)