Store Preview: Esplanade (Hannover, Germany)
I spent a little time out and about yesterday, exploring the district I'm staying in, seeing if anything new came to town since I visited last year. I found a gorgeous store located in a cobblestone square, such a quaint setting, with wares spilling out from its doors onto the sidewalk... Behold, a summer clearance sale!
Esplanade Raum + Zeit, owned by business partners Bernadette Brinckmann and Uta Runde (I met Frau Runde, who is very friendly and speaks English very well), is a large space with three large rooms housing everything from Garden supplies to decorative accessories and furniture. The theme seems to be Danish and English country, one of the major lines carried is Rice from Denmark. I also spotted German products and glassware from Greece, too. And, of course, a little Asian decor mixed in. I didn't see anything from America - no Adler or Adams anywhere. Not the case in America, where nearly every store stocks at least one Adler ceramic or pillow. :)
Plates, candle holders, bread boards, plants, pillows, totes, cupboards stocked with blue glass, everything in this store is exquisite, reasonably priced (lovely glass candle holders in two sizes and over a dozen colors, just 2.99 and 3.99 Euros.)
Love this light fixture!
This is one store that I highly suggest visiting if you find yourself journeying through Hannover. It's two stops from the main station, hop off the u-bahn at Lister Meile and it's about a block from there at Wedekindplatz 3. I wasn't able to locate a website address for Esplanade, however you can contact them directly for store hours. Tel. (05 11) 62 79 95
Even the views from the store window are beautiful - I love the architecture in this district.
German bread boards - typical in households here. (you can create a sandwich on these and then use it as your plate).
(images from decor8, click on them for larger view)