Look at the signage; POULTRY, SMOKE MEAT, SWEETS, PRESERVES, GOOD BECAUSE IT'S POLISH, HOUSEHOLD CHEMICALS, CHEESES. Staff and clientele are largely middle-aged or old (and this is the very centre of Warsaw). No tourists stray in here - a shame, as its an educational experience.This is a supermarket within a department store on three levels, although there are some contemporary tenants around, it still has that PRL flavour about it. There's a fresh-squeezed juice stand (a plastic cup of carrot juice 3 złotys, beetroot juice 2.80 złotys). Worth a visit, though you need to imagine only one-tenth of what's currently on display being available on the shelves, circa 1989. Some more old-school retailing in Warsaw here and here.
This time last year:
Easter Sunday - Lent's over
This time two years ago:
Węzeł Lotnisko - site cleared, ready to start construction
This time three years ago:
Classic Polish cars - the Polski Fiat 125P
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2 comments:
What astounds me about these old Spolem stores is the prices, they are generally FAR more expensive than the western retail chains.
An example spotted a few months ago at the huge Spolem store in the Warsaw suburb of Grochów: Nescafé Gold Blend 200g jar – 37pln, compared to 23–27pln in the western chains.
And yet these places are frequented by the poorest elements of society, people who have to live on a monthly state pension of about $350. Is that barmy or what?
Dropped ceiling and modern refridgerators would have to be removed in order to make this resemble PRL shops. And the "good because it's Polish" sign - a spurios slogan in these times.
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