My local stories are about small or big places. Places hidden somewhere or branded with a fat sign.
This one is about a small but wonderful place. Art is the name and life is the game for it. for the ones who literally have no idea - this is an arts and crafts store where everyone can find something. You can buy it as well. Back in the days, there was only one of these and they managed to grow through the years. Their number and the space they take. You can find Slanchogled in Varna where I literally grew up, in Sofia where you will see me hanging and buying a thing or two every once in a while and in London where the rain and cold took me by an accident.
The staff sometimes changes however there are people you will always see in the store. Familiar faces who will advise you best on the techniques and materials you can use, misuse or pay attention to. They are super artistic and always ready to help.
Their windows are always full of ideas. You can be sure that it’s a completely normal arts and crafts store by the logo. There’s a whole artistic asylum behind it and behind the door of every one of the stores. There’s always something you didn’t see. There’s always something you didn’t try or something completed with something you have never expected. Results are always great tho’!
Their marketing is based on the seasonal trend. Christmas is rarely purple but between the tradition visitors could sometimes see such ideas.
Slanchogled is working very close with some of the best art brands in Europe and at the same time develop their own. For those who wonder, prices are fare! Quality is great. Currency - BGN for the Bulgarian shops, GBP for the shop in the UK. If we are to speak about the age groups - both grown ups and youngsters are part of their target. One they never miss!
There’s a signature design in their shops. At least one room has a wooden floor and they always have a second floor. It always feels as if you are in an atelier. It even smells like one.
Just hide in the corner and wait for the shop to close!
If you feel the urge to get there:
Slanchogled Sofia: 11-13 Ivan Vazov Street. By walk: It’s close to SU St. Kliment Ohridski subway station (the red line). It’s also close to the SU St. Kliment Ohridski stop for busses 9, 280 and 360. If you need trolleybus, the stop you should be using is Gen. Gurko Street, lines 1, 2, 5, 8 and 9. Right after that, you can use the map and walk.
The shop in Varna is situated at an extremely friendly place … if you make the appropriate amount of correct turns. The address is 14 Shipka Street. That’s basically over, the Shipka Street Tunnel in Varna. Whenever using the local transportation, just get to the city hall and then walk down he street. Remember - street, not the boulevard! You can get there by walk from the Cathedral as well.
The London shop is at 66 Chalk Farm Road. Basically, get to the Chalk Farm Station (Northern Line - red line again) and you will have to walk around 100 meters. Stops СВ for buses 31, N28 and N31. You can also use Stop CF - buses 31, N28, N31, 168, 393 and N5.
Shopping can also be done online at their website.
Comments, gifs, videos, etc shared by anyone who has already been there are more than welcome.
I guess that this is the moment to share - they didn’t pay me for the above. It’s subject to personal observation over the years.
P.S. Slanchogled in Bulgarian means ‘sunflower’.
It feels like, the London unit is like a hideout for Bulgarian artists in the big city. Which shop location did you see first in Varna, the old one or the space where they moved after 2004,