Hildesheim Shopping Tips
Hi friends! I like to occasionally post about things I find here in Germany that catch my eye so today I want to tell you about a few that my local expat friends may want to know about, too.
First, Hildesheim. Do you know it? It's a small city located just south of Hannover, about 25 minutes by car. It definitely isn't a place I'd ever suggest for vacationing - but the old part of the city, though tiny, is beautiful and they have a great Christmas market there each year.
BUT.
For some completely unknown reason, Hildesheim has recently been getting all of the good shops.
Back in 2009, I wrote and tweeted that I wished HEMA, a wonderful Dutch shop, would open in Hannover. I wrote to the company and everything. I wrote again in 2010 and 2011. A few years later, last year, they opened in....
Hildesheim.
Same happened with Dunkin' Donuts. I love their iced coffee and okay, I do like their donut "holes" and really miss Boston Cremes now and then. But mostly Dunkin' Donuts tastes like Boston and "home" to me and when you're an expat the stuff you never expect to miss haunts you in your sleep. So I wrote to Dunkin' Donuts and tweeted about it and well, you get the picture, and BOOM! They just opened a few days ago their first shop in this entire state and it's where?
Hildesheim.
A third shop, Danish brand TIGER, is another great shop. I've never tweeted or emailed them or anything about opening here but when I found out they were coming to this part of Germany to open a store I immediately imagined Hannover! Yay! Nope. They opened up shop in...
Hildesheim.
Are you seeing a pattern? Yeah, me too.
So what's up Hannover? Why are these nice stores that would thrive in Hannover going to Hildesheim? For any lovely Hildesheimers reading this blog post, I'm sorry... But you must also wonder right, I mean you must get my point? We have so many young people and universities here where shops like Hema and Tiger would be soooo much appreciated by these students.
Well the good thing is this: Hildesheim is close enough for me to get there by car or train so I can go to Dunkin' Donuts, Tiger or Hema whenever I please. The last time I was at Hema though was last December because honestly, "out of sight out of mind". I do all of my shopping either in Hannover, London or on Amazon/online these days. But if Hema and Tiger were in Hannover I would go constantly. It's a convenience thing, right?
So there you have it, my friends - three shops to visit if you are local, don't mind driving and want to find really great stuff... And okay, some donuts to munch on too. Enjoy!
xo,
Holly
(photography: toa heftiba)
Comments
And also the Dutch fashion company "The Sting" has one of its few German shops in.... HILDESHEIM.
Once a friend explained me that the reason for opening those international shops often first in more medium sized towns like Hildesheim or Oldenburg (there is also a HEMA, a TIGER and The Sting) has marketing/statistic reasons. The rents are not that high and you have as well people from countryside as from bigger towns like Bremen or Hannover in the trading area.
And the fun (or shopping danger - haha) for me is, that living currently a long-distance relationship between Oldenburg and Hildesheim I have very good shopping opportunities ;-)
All the best, Eva
Here at home, shops are also running away, and I find difficult to find "different" objets or cloths. So yesterday we moved to San Sebastian and expend day shopping with mum....sometimes those kind of trips are great.
BTW, maybe you should have tried reverse psychology and tweeted that they should open in Hildesheim....
Hsve a nice weekend!
Thanks for your shopping tipps! All the best
Natalie
Now... I have to go check out Hildesheim. ;-) it sounds lovely.
But not living there for nearly thirty years! Maybe I should visit my hometown again in the next time?
When I was a child and a teenager we went for shopping to Hamburg or Hannover — times are changing...
Thanks for sharing!
I wish you a lovely shop discovery in this fall. All the best!!
Good luck, M.