Missing Your Favorite Big Box Department Store?

If you're missing a store where you can buy everything from toys and clothes to dishes and grocery, look no further. There are two stand-outs in our area that will meet these needs. Ipercoop and Emisfero are both like what we'd call a "Super" Big Box Store...department store with housewares, toys, clothes, etc on one side of the store, then a grocery department on the other side. Both are situated in mall-type settings though, so you also get the benefit of having other types of stores close by when you check out.

{I'm going to go ahead and apologize for a lack of pics in this post. My intent was to take pics of some of the items so you'd have an idea of what was available. Buuuttt...I got fussed at by a security guard who pointed to a large sign that said no picture allowed. He actually wagged his finger at me. Oops! Who would have thought! After that incident, I began looking for the signs at other stores and apparently it's the norm to deny photography inside stores. Allora!}

Back to the stores....

Ipercoop is in Pordenone. You will see it from SS-13. It's quite large. You really can't miss it. Check out the site for the address and the hours. It is open most Sundays, which is rare. The rest of the "mall" area by Ipercoop is limited. A few clothing and other stores, not too much. If I'm going to Ipercoop, it's for Ipercoop, not the mall.

Emisfero is in Zoppola. You will also see it from SS-13. Emisfero's mall area is much better than Ipercoop's mall area. There are several stores, including H & M, Casa {love this home store}, Euronics {electronics store}, and many others. There are also a few restaurants. You can get a lot of shoppinng done here. It is open one Sunday a month, usually the first Sunday. It is frequented by Americans and most of the store workers speak at least a little bit of English.

I don't think I could say which is a better store between Ipercoop and Emisfero. They are very similar to me. Because I like to swing by H & M and Casa too, I tend go to Emisfero more often than Ipercoop even though we have a Coop card {store card to get discounts just like most of our grocery stores in the U.S.}.

If Ipercoop and Emisfero are "Super" Big Box Stores, SME is a regular Big Box Department Store...no groceries. SME only opened about a month ago. It is a chain throughout Italy, as are the other two. In addition to regular homegoods, toys, and electronics, the upperfloor has furniture and kitchen and bathroom fixures. Tucked away behind the kitchens upstairs, is a clearance section as well. Some pretty good discounts on furniture items. SME is beside Ipercoop, just off SS-13. They are closed on Sundays. In the same building as SME, you will find a small cafe for a coffee and a quick bite to eat and a mighty big shoe store. {Yea for shoe stores!}

If you're needing basic home goods that you can't find on base or at a store in your town, you are likely to find it at one of these 3 places. They really have a good variety of housewares, storage containers, rugs, curtains, pet supplies, dishes, toys, cleaning supplies, and just about anything else you need to supply a home.

Enjoy!

Missing Michael's or Hobby Lobby?

Well, I'm not going to lie. I really REALLY miss my favorite craft stores from the U.S.! A LOT! But there are supplies to be had if you know where to look. This is, by no means, a complete list of places, but it's a good start. There's probably a fabric or art supply store in your town. And you know, if you're really crafty, you're likely to find items that you'd like to craft at any variety of places!

First, on base, we do have the Arts and Crafts Center. It is small, but offers a pretty wide-range of supplies. Scrapbooking, knitting, jewerly making, and stamping supplies, and more are available at the craft store. They also offer a handful of classes, like photography, jewelry making, and card making. There are occassional children's classes that my kids LOVE!

It has to be said that the craft store is on the pricey side. I love and frequent it, but I know that I am paying for the convenience of having supplies readily available.

I will say though, for the products I buy {mostly paper products and stickers}, they carry high quality brands. So I'm sure that drives the prices upward a bit too.

Also, if there are particular items that you are looking for, they are very open to suggestions and custom ordering.

Like them on Facebook to get up-to-date information on their classes and new stock!



The next stop is the BX. Its craft supplies are, meh. Limited. There is one aisle with primarily Martha Stewart craft supplies and small amount of crafting paper. Again, what they have is good quality, but there really is very little.

Leaving base, two stops not too far from the gate are CenterCasa and Bricofer. Both are on SS-13 and both have promising crafty goodness!

CenterCasa is a home supply store...dishes, pillows, frames, decorations, etc. It has a lot to offer that I will cover later in a post dedicated soley to it, but for now let's focus on the "craft" aisle. They offer a lot of artificial flowers and flower arranging supplies.

 

      Lots of artificial
          flowers!

They also have a decent selection of ribbon {not really what you'd use for hairbows, more for decorations and other crafts}.

Paints and Brushes

The last stop for today is Bricofer. Bricofer is a chain of hardware stores. The two I've visited both have well-stocked craft aisles. These pictures are from the Bricofer on SS-13 in Pordenone, which is the nearest to base, but you may live closer to a different Bricofer so look around your area. I tend to shop at the one in Spilimbergo which is smaller but closer to my house in Maniago.

Bricofer carries craft paints and painting supplies, stencils, beads, glitters, and decoupage supplies. They also have a pretty good selection of picture frames. A lot of what they carry isn't to my taste, but when I'm searching for craft supplies I keep my mind and eyes open!

Stencils and Paints

Decoupage Papers

Other places that I've found a variety of crafting supplies, while I'm here far far away from my true love, are garden stores and local department stores. Of course you can always order online if you are needing specific items, but if you're short on time it's good to know there are a few local options.

Happy Crafting!