Located inside a dignified wooden building on the corner of Austurstræti and Veltusund, Thorvaldsen’s Bazar is among the oldest shops in Reykjavík. Opening its doors in 1901, the Bazar has from day one specialised in selling souvenirs, handicrafts and wooden products, mostly hand-knitted by Icelandic women who needed a place to sell their products. Still run by the same organisation that opened the store in the beginning of the last century, the Thorvaldsen Society, a women’s charity organisation established on 19 November 1875, counts approximately 80 members today.
The women working in the store each day serve voluntarily, and all profits are donated to charity work, particularly supporting children in need. The Thorvaldsen Society has bought equipment and sponsored facilities at the children’s hospital, supported the psychiatric ward BUGL for adolescents, the organisation Save the Children Iceland and the movement Young and Sober for example. Recently, the society started a 10 million ISK fund for diabetic children.
In addition to the good selection of the traditional Icelandic woollen sweaters (lopapeysa), socks, gloves, hats and other hand-knitted warm clothing for the winter can be bought for a reasonable price.
Opening hours: Monday to Friday 9-18, Saturday and Sunday 10-14.
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