Syntagma Shopping The Attika Mall

Many of Greece's smaller traditional clothing outlets are fast vanishing, due to globalization. I guess that really means they are being put out of business by globalization because they can not compete. Friends of mine have closed stores due to Zara opening in the neighborhood. (Zara is a Spanish chain store.)

Pan-coz-mee-o-pee-ee-cee  ('pan-world-pressure' or globalization) affects more than the food industry. The independent clothing industry and schmatta dealer is affected too and if you bear with me you I'll tell you how you can take advantage of that and make Athens a shopping destination.

Sales in August:
The Attika Mall (Largest Department Store in Greece)
& Kolonaki Sq. (Mall photo above left)

As I mention in the what not to pack section, August in Athens is sale time. But what's new is and only 1/2 a block out of Syntagma Sq is a huge designer mall with many European retail shops familiar to you and others you may have never heard of! Click to see larger->

Of course the big known designers are all there as this is an upscale mall, perhaps the most upscale mall in Athens although haute couture maybe also be found in nearby Kolonaki a ten minute walk away.

{In fact, for shoe stores, Kolonaki Sq, is heaven with many quality Greek and Italian copies and designer originals too. You can read more about shopping and particularly for more casual wear in the what not to pack for Greece section}

Click the graphic left for a complete list of stores in the mall. There are over 800 brand names represented there. Footwear, travel accessories, perfumes and cosmetics, accessories, men's, women's, and children's fashions and that's just for starters there are also baby products and toys. Its like Saks, Barney's, Macy's or Bloomingdale's or Filene's or Marshall Field' all combined into one building.

If you are in Syntagma Sq. in August or whenever, and if you like to shop, then this mall, you should check out! The Attika Mall, with its ultra-chic and expensive shops is in the old Tameion building. In that building, which is now totally renovated and huge; it takes up the whole block, bounded by Stadiou, Academias, Voukourestiou and Amerikis street and where were also housed both Wendy's hamburgers and Hagen-Daz ice cream which are now replaced by pricey, soulless chrome, trendy cafes.

Click the graphic left for service the mall offers patrons. What I really remember most about the old Tameion Building building besides its central courtyard (which is still there) is that it was rumored to house a branch of the CIA in the guise of the U.S.I.S. or Radio Free Europe. But that's not what impressed me!

What impressed me were the continuous loop elevators! A never ending band like from an In like Flynt movie or the twilight zone series which, as it passed by, only gave you a few seconds to make your move in or out! Now that was cool and unique in my limited experience.

What would happen if you never got off? Some awful fate? Whisked away to some magical environment maybe?

Crushed like a milopita? Now we will never know. A Milo-pita BTW is as American as apple pie only its a Greek hand held version commonly availed - follow your nose & try one. Its one of the few words in Greek pronounced like its spelled. Milo is an apple as in the Venus de Milo which was found on Milos but made from marble from nearby Paros (Parian marble) - for a quick overview of what you will be exposed to when hungry: Greek hand food - read this.

Services of the Attika Mall

The mall has some pretty cool services that will make your life easier if you are staying in the area or just passing through.

Hotel Delivery

•  Your purchases sent straight to your hotel

Tax Free Shopping

•  Non EU member residents only Attention everybody else!
•  Save the 19% VAT
•  120 eu minimum purchase necessary
•  Ask for your Global Refund Check

VIP Room

•  Plus a personal shopper to assist you

Cash refund without exchange

Largest Department Store in Greece

• Over 800 brand names

Lockers

• Basement level

ATM Machine

• Ground and sixth floor

Free Alterations

• Within 2 days

Special Needs Access

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