Visitor Information
Shopping
Vladimir may not yet be able to match the shopping experience in England, the U.S. or Japan, but that is a part of the City's charm—and challenge. While there is no Wal-Mart or IKEA in Vladimir, not yet anyway, there is a new Golbus "superstore" on the outskirts of the city and many new smaller retail outlets.
Gone are the days when there was just one univermag ("universal" or "department store") and smaller shops—all run by the government—whose shelves were either bare or held goods that, for the most part, neither locals or visitors wanted to buy.
Today the old "department store" is now privately owned—and is officially called Valentina—but most people still refer to it as the univermag. Vendors lease space ranging from a few square meters to several hundred square meters. (1 square meter = 10.8 square feet)
A newer department store called "Grand" is within easy walking distance of "Valentina." It occupies space that was originally meant to be a multistory parking garage.
In the center of historic Vladimir, "The Northern Trade Rows," had its grand opening the end of 2006. It includes a super market, a food court, a play area for children, and a good selection of stores. It is located just off of Bolshaya Moskovskaya near Assumption Cathedral.
Opened in 2008, the German-based Globus "superstore," located on the road to Suzdal, is impressive by any standards.
Sometimes it can still take some searching to find exactly what you are looking for, including gifts and souvenirs, in part because all the stores carrying these items aren't necessarily easy to find. But major consumer-oriented progress is being made. And, of particular value to tourists, prices are quite reasonable.
When you get to Vladimir, check with the Vladimir Tourist Development Center or the Oblast Tourist Information Center for the most up-to-date information on the availability of goods and services.
