Brocki Nassacker (Schlieren)

My brocki binge of late continues, and I've had the opportunity to visit (and review) Brocki Nassacker in Schlieren for the first time.

An unassuming, small-looking brocki from the outside, displaying racks of simply terrible clothing which partially obscured windows jamb-packed with all sorts of antique treasures. There are two separate shop fronts (no connecting passageway), but both are the Brocki Nassacker. The till (kasse) is located in the left hand shop (what I would call the 'main' shop).

The neighbourhood itself is nice - small, quiet and friendly. But most friendly of all is the soft-spoken, smiling Catalina who (presumably) runs the place full-time. A lovely lady with a long, grey and white ponytail, she lovingly packages purchases in a bag (and then an second outer bag, if you so wish), and knows her wares inside and out.

Which is quite the feat. This place is absolutely PACKED, which is not represented at all in their websites' photos!  If you're a wide person, you might have trouble not bumping things over in here (I wouldn't take a large bag in with me!). If you're claustrophobic, then I recommend any other brocki (HIOB would be a good choice, as would Brocki Limmattal). If you're drunk, or dizzy, or clumsy - I wouldn't go in here, either! It would be easy to feel like a bull in a china shop.

For me, the best part was the sewing section. The boxes and boxes of spools and needles and fasteners and bands and tools.... the unopened sewing kits stacked on the shelves that I could rifle through; the button box; the complete set of shiny, silken threads in every colour of the rainbow; the high-quality, old-fashioned spun wool... the boxes and boxes of pastel-coloured knitting needles, some as sets...! There was an entire box of perforated seam-markers (the pointy wheels that look like horse spurs on a stick). It was almost too much. I can't believe I only bought the seam marker from there! There was banding from the 1970s, still in the package, labelled as 'jeans trim' and a photo of it applied to the hem of bell-bottoms. Digging through the boxes prompted the usual blood-letting (thanks to a rogue pin), but also quite a good deal of satisfaction.

Sewing treasures await at Brocki Nassacker! (Seashells and crystals on the top shelf)

There's a constant, pleasing tick-tock of many clocks, wound and set. At noon, at least one sounded the bells (on time). One gets the sense that Catalina has lovingly adopted each and every item in the store, and has spent a great deal of time thinking as to how best display it. Each box contains carefully (and thoughtfully) grouped items; for example, a little sack full of toy horse saddles for the horses on display. A tray of rose-quartz crystals. A box of ribbon for gift wrapping (separate from the velvet ribbon in the sewing section). 

Unfortunately, she's run out of space. A long time ago, too. It's not possible to see everything. In fact, there's a lot you can't see, buried. An awful lot. It seems, sadly, as if the proprietors themselves suffer from a hoarding disease. On top of the carefully sorted boxes and baskets are often other boxes of unsorted stuff, just plunked on top.... and listing something dreadful. These last-minute, haphazard piles made it difficult and unpleasant to peruse the shop.

It's actually a pretty clean, not-as-dusty-as-you'd-fear shop, all things considered. But they really need to hold a '50% off sale' and/or a parking lot 'BOGO' (by one, get one) sale and clear out half (or more!) of their stock. And soon.

This is the 'left' side of the shop - it's the least crowded side!

Why come here?

• You want to buy Swiss souvenirs (antiques or new) - she has everything from framed and pressed edelweiss, to Trachtenmode (no dirndls, however), to wooden nutcrackers, painted call-horns, Swiss figurines, carved Swiss... I don't know... wooden tchotchkes, little Alpine houses, painted cowbells, gentian-painted wall plates, wooden cheese boards....! If you want to send home an antique Swiss souvenir, make sure you come to Brocki Nassacker!
• You need a chandelier, an old wall-mounted clock, a full vintage tea set, or art for your walls (of which there is a good and varied selection of everything, some of which I even liked!)
• You want to browse in an antique shop, but you can't afford the prices. This lies somewhere between a Brockenhaus and a legit antiques shop

Overall, a pretty, interesting shopping experience. The lady was just so sweet and helpful, but also laid-back enough to let you dig to your heart's content. A really lovely little neighbourhood Brocki - worth checking out if you're in the Limmattal for any reason!

Sorry - low light and shaky exposure. Still - lots of crystal stemware, eh?

What memorable things did I see there on my visit?

• Seashells and crystals and pretty rocks
• Glass marbles
• Iron horseshoes and old clothing irons
• Hummel figurines and lots of cut-crystal vases in glass display cases
• Bierkrugs and hand-pained steins (quite a few!)
• Miniature steel replicas of bierkrugs and pitchers
• Antique furniture (buried), including an elaborately carved, dark-wood chest
• Naughty nudie drinking glasses
• Some lovely light fixtures from all eras
• Globes
• Crystal stem ware
• Duck figurines. Lots of those.
• Costume jewelry, though close to the till and hard to see (from either side)
• Tea sets, tea pots (not my favourite one, yet! I'll find it someday!)
• Copper watering cans and pots
• An enormous haberdashery section
• Swiss-stuff. Loads of Swiss souvenirs!
• Wooden handmade pull-toys for children (rather sweet)
• Vintage irons and sewing machines
• Two matching (bridemaids'?) polka dot 80s dresses at 20.- apiece

There was so much to see. I really wish she'd clear it out a little - the backroom where the clothing and linens are was dark and piled with laundry baskets and cases and garbage bags still full of clothing. That's more digging than I want to do, if even I'm welcome to do it, which it didn't feel as if I was.

I peeked in the no-access 'back room', and it looked almost exactly identical. I don't know how she walks back there. I inquired as to whether or not she had a hobnail glass vase in pink or yellow glass (for a friend), hoping she'd produce one from out of the back room, but she only seemed to know about what was already on display. Shame. Was hoping for some un-shelved goodies. There's a lot back there!
  
And the summary of Brocki Nassacker:

Pros:

• Sweet and friendly lady running it
• HUGE selection despite very small space
• A rummager's delight, provided you're small, agile, and not clumsy!
• A nice balance between a mad Brocki with all sorts of interesting junk and an antique store (with reasonable prices: 2 spools of decorator's ribbon (one quite generous) and a sewing implement (the rotary seam-marker) cost in total 5 Fr., which is probably the same or just slightly more than what I'd get at Brockiland downtown).

Cons:

• It's in Schlieren, and totally out of the way of everything else!
• You CANNOT swing a cat in there!
• It's a claustrophobe's and klutz's worst nightmare.
• Totally overwhelmed with stock - they could really sell a lot more if they had a lot less, paradoxically!
• No shopping baskets (I didn't think?), no through-door to the otherside (have to go in and out of the main entrances), and no changeroom, but I doubt you'd find clothing you'd want to try anyway!

Tips:

• Be prepared to spend a lot of time looking up, down, under, underneath (i.e. sometimes the furniture is buried under smaller things displayed on top), inside, around, and over. It was very cramped, but there is a lot to see.
• Ask for something in particular - she seems to know where everything is, and is very charming and helpful.
• Make sure you check out the window displays from the outside looking in - you can hardly reach through to the window from the inside, there's so much stuff.

All in all, a lovely little shop. I would put it on your hit list if you're looking for light fixtures, wall art, vases or figurines, and definitely if you're into vintage buttons and sewing gear.

And I think I've probably exhausted my enthusiasm for thrifting this month (we'll see!)!

COMING UP: 5 September, Geroldstrasse Heils-Armee - the WINTER KLEIDER SALE! Don't miss it! :)

TiZ

Brocki-West: is it back from the dead?

According to Google Maps, Brocki-West is back, this time located at Militärstrasse 84 downtown.

Last year sometime I had emailed this brocki; their website remained, but the parking garage where it was formerly located (Altstetten area) had been taken over by other businesses. 

I had noted, at the time, that there was no address given for the brocki on their website, as it is now. So I emailed them. They responded by saying at present they did not have a retail space. Hmmm. I thought the show was over.

So, is it back? There's a review on Google for it (just the one) from 2 months ago. It's auf Deutsch, but from what I understood, they sent two letters to a grieving family about removal of items from the deceased's home based on an obituary they had read in the newspaper. The family was outraged - the funeral hadn't yet taken place, and they had received the same unwelcome 'sales letter' twice from Brocki-West.

The reviewer asks people to boycott this business and to go somewhere more deserving (they suggest the Heils-Armee. Here here!).

So now I'm conflicted. Do I head down there to sniff it out? Or do I simply avoid it altogether? I had made quite the expedition into unknown territory and bus routes to find it the first time (I think I was going by information from that lovely but now utterly useless and obsolete website NichtNeu at the time).

I'm already against the place for two reasons: firstly, it lead me astray once (though one might argue that it wasn't Brocki-West's fault); and secondly, it does seem poor form to hassle a grieving family (though I wonder if Brockiland does the same? Obviously not in this family's case!).

If I happen past it today or in the near future, I'll take a look at what these cowboys are up to (and offering). But hassling grieving families does seem so awfully....selfish and greedy.... and it's not a charity shop... I'm afraid I'm predisposed to not like it. Also - I'm not a huge fan of that neighbourhood, and can already imagine it being a rather dirty shopping experience.

Post a comment if you've been there and have an opinion! If not here, then somewhere helpful (like Google Reviews)!

TiZ

Review: EMMAUS in Dübendorf

(Not the most beautiful exterior, but it's very nice inside!)

I'll just start by saying this:

Probably worth the trip!

VERY much worth your trip if you're looking for furniture!

I finally got out to Emmaus last week. It was listed as one of the better Brocki's in the greater Zürich area in that Blick article I wrote about, and so I thought I ought to review it.

Wow... what an enormous, attractive, clean Brocki! This was right up there with the Bülach brocki, at first glance (though I prefer the latter because there were more 'little' and 'cheap' things to sort through and discover - digging through stuff is where some of the enjoyment comes from, methinks!).

I didn't buy anything. No, really - I was with others, and we were on our way to an event, so it was a quick whip-around. 

The thing is, I didn't see anything to buy, which is weird on the face of it. I tried to find something, really! It was a lovely, interesting, gorgeous brocki. You could definitely redecorate your entire home here. But I'm not in the market for that, and so, practically speaking, there wasn't much there for me.

Still, I have to give praise where praise is due!

Pros:

• Beautiful, big brocki - clean, interesting, nicely laid-out
• Three floors to explore (2 are just furniture, though)
• Very friendly, welcoming staff (young, attractive and sweet; old, jovial and helpful - everyone was first-rate!)
• It's a charity shop!
• It has great parking... sadly, I didn't come by car...
• Wonderful furniture selection
• Great looking displays
• Has sales - shoes were on for a special price (I think 5 Fr., but maybe it was 50% and I've forgotten; whatever it was, it was a good deal that sadly I didn't have time to take advantage of during my quick visit)
• Website up to date - mentioned that it would not close for summer vacation (unlike a certain other brocki down the road! Grrr!)

Cons:

• Another middle-of-nowhere location
• Hard to find the entrance (you have to walk around the back of the building - there are signs, though)
• Mostly furniture... nice furniture, but if you don't need any....!

Tips:

• Come here to redecorate/refurbish your home. Did I mention they had a lot of furniture?

The basement (UG)

Not much more to say really, except that I see why it made the Blick article as one of the nicest brocki's. Definitely swing in if you're in the area, and certainly come here if you need furniture or decor of any kind - this is right near the top of the list for furnishings (the others would be the Bülach brocki, Brockiland Fahrweid, and Arche Brockenhaus, off the top of my head anyway).


'Til next time!

TiZ

(and a reminder - ALWAYS CHECK THE DATE on my posts; brocki's have a bad habit of changing location and going out of business incredibly quickly and without warning. Always give them a call or at least check out their website (hopefully reliable!) before making a dedicated trip)

Whoops. But maybe it's still a source of information to you? :)

(Did you know you can snoop through Emmaus's photos of this Brocki online? They're much clearer!)

Dübious Brockenhaus Dübendorf: a non-review

Ah, the Brockenhaus Dübendorf: conveniently located near to the great Emmaus Brocki, conveniently has its own website, and is conveniently next door to the Dübendorf Denner.

It was, rather unconveniently, CLOSED for summer vacations. For more than a month. MORE THAN A MONTH!

This is the sort of information one should post on one's website. This is pretty much the only reason for a brocki to have a website in the first place - to let people know when the brocki is operational. (True, WHERE is also an important consideration, but GoogleMaps takes care of that. Google even posts the set opening hours. So really, the ONLY REASON for a BROCKI to HAVE a WEBSITE is to warn potential customers of aberrant closures!).

Major fail, guys.

It appeared to be a cramped, dusty little shop overflowing with the sort of junk that I would have really had a kick out of rummaging through. But now we'll never know. Because I probably won't be heading out to Emmaus any time soon (seeing as I don't need any furniture - see my upcoming review!), and I'm sure as sugar not heading all the way to Dübendorf to look at glass objet d'art when I have two Brockilands within easy striking distance (let alone Hiob, Arche, Heils-Armee, Caritas K&K, Remar...)!

So all I can tell you is that as of August 2015, it exists. It's not OPEN, but there's a chance it will be in September. If that's any use to you (not much to me, sadly). ;)

Oh drat. I just saw that there was a Blaues Kreuz brocki even closer to Emmaus. Can't believe I missed that! Hmm. Well, maybe next month I'll have to do the Dübendorf tour again...! 

Stay thrifty!

TiZ

Review: Brocki Limmattal

Right across the street from the Esprit, Schild and Dosenbach outlet shops in Dietikon-Silbern is the "Brocki Limmattal" at Riedstrasse 8.

Otto's is the landmark directly across the street from the Brocki Limmattal

One could be forgiven to having been to Silbern and not having seen the brocki - it's on the 2te Etage (3rd floor to N. Americans) of a non-descript office tower across the street from Otto's.

Not the most welcoming of entrances, eh? (Right side). Perhaps there's a sign in the window, when it's not under wraps?

How did I know it was there? You may recall an earlier post on "Atelier 23" in Dietikon - a notice on the door said that it had moved to Riedstrasse 8, and I luckily stumbled across the nearer Lucky Store while wondering what to do with myself that day. It was awhile ago, but then I don't often get out to Dietikon.

Today, I wanted to see if the former Atelier 23 (now, presumably replaced at that same address by Brocki Limmattal of the Dock Gruppe) still existed.

That's the thing with Brocki's - they're occasionally hard to catch. Take the brocki in Dübendorf, for example; went all the way out there only to discover that while Emmaus was open (as stated on their website), the Dübendorf Brocki was closed for vacation for a month and a half. And no mention of such a lengthy closure anywhere on its website! Argh!

I didn't want the same thing to happen to me today, so I hedged my bets and figured the trip out to the industrial quarter of Dietikon would still be worthwhile so long as the Silbern COOP was selling the Bio Tortilla Chips that my local COOP has been out of for weeks (probably due to my twice-weekly consumption of nachos for dinner).

The Brocki was open. Success!

Overall, not a bad little brockenhaus. Bright, airy, full of interesting things (oh my goodness, the BOTTLES! Apothecary iodine-coloured, spice rack sized clear ones, glass-lidded "Bülach"-stamped green glass swing-top bottles... there were more of them, matching, than one person could ever find a use for!).

I bought a jean skirt for 4 Fr. They even had a change-room (it looks like a yellow Sultan's tent, near the entrance), and while I was tempted by the copper cauldrons and inscrutible forged-iron chains with various hooks, I managed to make it out with just the one purchase.

The summary, as I see it:

Pros:

• Clean, bright and airy, as the website boasts!
• Nicely arranged in a series of well-cared-for rooms (love the zwetschge coloured purple room - wouldn't have thought I'd like purple walls!)
• Prices are reasonable (jean skirt 4 Fr., weighty copper cauldron 30 Fr., plates on special for 1 Fr. each in any size, and whole dining sets for 10 Fr.)
• Nice knick-knacks; small things not under glass or inaccessible (I hate to say it, but they probably don't get many elderly people in there, so they probably also have less petty-theft issues!) 
• Has a change-room (though a paltry selection of clothing - I can't believe I found something in such a small rack! Apart from the jean skirt I just bought, there wasn't much else worth investigating)
• Friendly (enough) staff - the man was very nice, the older lady with the glasses drooping down her nose was a little.... gruff? But not mean. :)
• Social work charity! (Read about it here - for people who have been out of work for long periods of times; a subsidiary of der Sankt Galler Stiftung für Arbeit)

Cons:

• Middle of nowhere (unless you're at the outlet stores). 
• The 309 bus (Dietikon Bahnhof-Silbern) comes every 15 minutes, but it came 8 minutes earlier (or 7 minutes later?) than the posted timetable said. Not wholly reliable, was my sense.
• Hard to see (and then, hard to find - building currently wrapped in scaffolding, and entrance obscured)
• Safety issues...? A very sketchy man, who materialized out of thin air, followed me closely and suddenly into the lobby. It *seems* as if he changed his mind about cornering and assaulting me (I'm serious!) because rather than being a lonely lobby (which from the outside it appears to be), there are open offices operating on the ground floor (and other floors, too). Haven't had that sort of interaction yet in Switzerland, but it was unmistakably a mugging or a sexual assault foiled (sadly, I have prior experience...). Startled by the presence of others, buddy was forced to change his plan, and did a rather unconvincing show of... well, it was more of a rebellious dance and weird jerking (meth-induced?) walk back out of the front door, confirming in my mind that whatever plans he had were suddenly written off. (Can I just say to him, "F*** you, a**hole, for perpetuating negative stereotypes against your ethnic minority group!"? It bothers me that he was a man of colour. Way to make life harder for everyone else in your ethnic group, jerk!). Admittedly, nothing happened (and nothing I could report to the Police, sadly), because there were many other businesses and customers around. So maybe safety-wise, it's not so bad. But it is a slightly dodgy part of town, Dietikon already being noticeably more dodge than downtown Zürich to begin with.
• Small selection - nicely laid out, but you can see it all in a short time (not worth the time spent on the trip out there, really).
• I have a feeling Atelier 23 couldn't afford the rent, and I wonder if Brocki Limmattal will be able to sell enough to offset it, too. There was another customer in there at the same time (and she was a weird one - came over to push through the clothing rack while I was looking through it. Aggressive, and odd - when I came in, she was already searching through that rack! You can see her in the photos - looked 'normal', but wasn't). She bought something (clothing), but I would guess that between the two of us, the shop gained less than 10 Fr. There was no one else there when I left. (Synopsis: this is one of those brocki's that has a good chance of being here today, gone tomorrow. Be forewarned!).

Tips:

• Kids' things. BABY WORLD is in the same commercial area - if you're looking for little-people things, the Brocki Limmattal has an entire room dedicated to such. It's very nicely arranged. And you can take an elevator up to the Brocki, if you have a stroller (not sure about the front steps at the entrance to the building, however!)
• Watch your back as you enter the lobby, and perhaps opt for the stairs rather than the lifts (elevators) - I doubt that same guy will be lurking around there, but just in case... don't get into an elevator with him!!!
• If you collect vintage glass jars, you may be interested in trekking out this way! What a selection! I wonder how they got so many?!

Overall, not a Brocki I would go out of my way to, unless you were already visiting the outlet shops (they get an overall rating of 'meh' from me - bought nothing, despite combing every square inch of the Esprit shop!). 

I wish the Brocki Limmattal good business, but somehow I think they'll struggle to pay the rent, even in what has to be a pretty low-rent area to begin with.

Another review coming up! Fresh off the . . . brain?

TiZ