If you need screws you have to go to Brynja, that big red storefront on Laugavegur that has occupied that same spot since 1929. Not only does this place have everything you need and then some – have you ever heard of a ‘miracle cloth’? Because I bought one – the staff is knowledgeable and friendly and the place reeks of Reykjavík history and charm.
Of Brynja being the best place in town to buy screws, owner Brynjólfur H. Björnsson says, “good people have been working here, we have good reliable tools and good things to sell. We’ve been providing good service and people like that, especially if they can trust the goods we are selling.”
Brynja feels like the type of mom and pop store where you would expect to walk in the front door and be greeted warmly by your first name. Considering how long they have been in business – Brynja celebrates their 90th birthday this year – they very well may know their repeat customers by name. Then again, Brynja’s repeat customers are numerous and aren’t only located in Reykjavík. “People know our firm around the country,” says Brynjólfur. “We sell a lot to people outside of the city, out in different parts of the country because they can depend on us.”
Brynjólfur has been working at the shop for over 40 years, initially working under his father, who took over the shop in 1944. When his father passed away in 1993, Brynjólfur began running the shop himself, with a team of knowledgeable and friendly staff. When asked if his own children have worked in the shop or plan on taking it over for him when he is set to retire Brynjólfur exclaimed with a chuckle, “I have three daughters!” While one daughter has worked briefly at Brynja, the owner didn’t seem to be counting on his girls being interested in running a hardware shop.
Check this place out for screws, of course, but also if you need pretty much anything else for your DIY projects or bigger handy-man-esque jobs. There is a reason Brynja has outlasted the competition for 90-years, so go check it out!
- Where: Brynja, Laugavegur 29, 101 Reykjavík
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