Stores, Malls or Markets in Berlin

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Alexa's stores and restaurants are providing every thing possible. They are spread colorful and tempting over the malls' as many as 4 floors with more than 56 000 m2, and about 180 shops and about 20 dining outs. Parking lot offers 1600 spots. The area was the former HQ of police dept, destroyed during WWII. Malls' investors are from Portugal and France, for my understanding.

Opening hrs:
Mon - Sat
Shops: 10:00 - 21:00
Grocery/E-Reichelt: 08:00 - 22:00
Food Court: 10:00 - 21:00
Kindercity: 10:00 - 18:00

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Nice, huge, famous IKEA factory offers thousand of lovely things, very low in price, for furnishing, decorating, clothing, bathing, gardening and on and on and on. New to me was that their stuff is often Taiwan or Turkey made nowdays. Ikea-Berlin Tempelhof is located on Sachsendamm right at A100, exit Alboinstrasse. Easy to get there by public system as well: U6 to station Alt-Tempelhof or subway lines S2 and S25 to station Suedkreuz. Also with bus 204 or trolley M46 it's easy to get there. Question then would be how to get the purchased items packed. Their parking options are enormous, and very comfortable.

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In comparison to the many of Berlin's malls (whether it's Alexa at Potsdamer Platz or Europa Center at Kurfuerstendamm etc.) this mall, located in Berlin's Steglitz, is rather modest, cosy and very little crowded. To me personally that's basic when ever I need to shop for what ever. No crowds. Speaking of basic, every thing basic does SCC provid anyway. And beyond basic too. What would that be? Electronics? Jewelry? Toys and games? It's all there. Also SCC is greatly connected with different subways and buses. Since Berlin's Steglitz is a rather quiet and lovely district anyway, this mall fits there very nice.

To my knowledge Gruhn bakeries are located in southern Berlin-districts of Lichterfelde, Dahlem, and Zehlendorf. Not sure whether it's a family owned company but sure any thing baked by Gruhn - bread, cakes, cookies - either sweet or salty - are simply fantastic and home made like. Customers are treated really friendly. Coffee to go, or either have your cup there, tastes great too, not that over-strong as it's often with German bakeries. Another big plus: they do open their shop by already 06:30. That's perfectly my time to go with some yeast done goods, a big cup coffee, and a smile to greet the begin of a new day.

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Reformhaus Demski is a big health store with a huge selection of various products whether it's food or cosmetic, all on natural base. Sales ladies are very friendly and competent too. Also I always appreciate their magazines, since those includes many advices, hints and facts. Magazines are available at any Reformhaus for free, called Reformhaus-Kurier. Since you most likely won't find any parking spots there, you might like to take subway and exit at S-Station Zehlendorf, which is just a 3mns walk away.

Looking for something special? In their new shop for exclusive equestrian sports equipment you´ll find selected outdoor-fashion and a big range of products for both, horse and rider.

What to pay: High quality, high price.

The Alexa Shopping Centre opened its doors on the 12th September 2007. It contains 175 shops which mainly sell clothes, though it does have a huge electrical shop which is spread out over 4 floors and there is also a food court. The outside has been described as ugly though the inside looks light and airy.

The first second hand store we visited was closed at Sat 9.30 am (look at the pic). We thought first that they open at 10.00 am but they opened at 11.00 am so we came back there on the way back to our hotel in the afternoon.
Urszula said that she didn't find anything interesting there. The store was expensive. Clothes were not pretty and some looked over-used. Simply it was NOT her recommendation.
But if you are passing by you can stop there for a moment and check it personally. There are as many opinions as people, especially on clothes (add here politics :-).

OPENING HOURS
Mon - Fri: 11.00 am - 6.30 pm
Sat: 11.00 am - 4.00 pm.

What to buy: Old clothes designed by Armani, Jil Sander, Versace and other famous designers. Surely they were from their old collections and used by someone before.

What to pay: Over 100 €, even over 500 € for some very old clothes.