Most Florentine neighborhoods have little shops where residents can easily walk to do their daily shopping. Il Forno-the bakery, macelleria-butcher’s shop, ortolano-fruit and vegetable stand as well as the hardware store or ferramenta.
In, Sant Ambrogio , our hardware store is legendary. I Gemelli, nickname for this mesticheria casalinghi (means anything a housewife needs) owned by the twin Mazzanti brothers has existed in the same location for 40 years. This is so much more than a hardware store. It is Florence’s mini Home Depot and then some. Not only can one find tools, batteries, nuts and bolts but everything else.
The interior space is divided into 6 or so smallish rooms and then down some winding steps to the lower level to some more “cramped” space. Just outside the rear door are garden items as well as larger items. It is amazing to see just how much merchandise can be PACKED into this little shop. Pots, pans, plates, cups, detergent, soaps, paper goods, glasses etc. and GADGETS galore. It gets so busy that you take a number and wait in line to tell your server what it is you need or you may walk about and then wait line with all you can hold. If you don’t see it just ask, believe me they have it…
Just across the “via”, at Borgo La Croce 66/r, is another great little shop: Orologioielleria Poggi. It is a small jewelry shop specialized in watch repair as well as selling and repairing gold and silver items. A nice selection of picture frames and religious items for baptisms, communions and confirmation as well as earrings, necklaces and bracelets can be found here. Here I get backings for my earrings replaced, batteries for my clocks, rings adjusted and necklaces restrung. Finding skilled artisans right in your own back yard is a treasure. More about the need for Italy to encourage and cultivate young artisans to keep up these skills before they are extinct will be explored later.
Another neighborhood staple is the dry good store or “mercerie.” Here cotton goods such as socks, pajamas, and underwear can be found. My favorite “mercerie” is Delcor on Via della Spada 14-16r.
This shop is 52 years old and like most of the small specialty shops in Florence is a family run business. Daniele continues the work of his father and grandfather.
The collection of buttons is special. You will want to replace buttons on your jackets and coats just to view this collection of gems!
The collection of Gallo socks, Ragno tops and lace camisoles are my favorites. Just love these socks.
Everything in the shop is of top quality.
One of the great pleasures of Florence is to discover these small specialty shops and appreciate the quality of service and knowledge of the shop keepers as they take such pride in showing you their wares.
As follow-up to my last post on Florentine hats or i cappelli: https://fondlyfromflorence.wordpress.com/2014/04/03/i-cappelli-di-firenze-hats-hats-and-more-hats/
I was able to visit Grevi Moda and tour the facility with Giuseppe Grevi.
Giuseppe and his sister manage this near 100 year old company. Here I was able to observe just how much skilled craftsmanship goes into the execution of these hats that are sold all over the world. It was amazing to watch as strands of straw and hemp were sewn to form stunning hats.
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Each flower for the hats were hand sewn.
Watching as the hats were placed on hot forms to give them shape, one by one, made me appreciate just how much skill goes into the execution of Grevi fine hats.
I applaud the efforts of the hat consortium in Florence as its members continue to promote “made in Italy” and the keeping of the creation and manufacturing of goods local. As the country and it’s youth struggle to find solutions to the economic crisis, the answer may very well be in the legacy of the fine artisan goods. The selling of goods that reflect the history and culture of a population has an additional market: tourists. Tourism for Italy can be their number one resource.
Will the small shops become extinct? Are big malls the answer for Italy? (We are discovering that many of the malls in the United States are sitting empty; yes online shopping is a factor yet there is a movement to shop local as well).
It is time for the torch to be handed to the youth. Is it time to revisit the ideas of craft guilds where artisan, along with manufacturing skills can be taught?
Time to problem solve and insure that Italy continue to manufacture and showcase its small wonders for all to enjoy.
fondlyfromflorence&beyond 
Felt like I was shopping with you. Made me think you and I should shop in Seal Beach and poke through all of the little shops there.
Great idea Mary! Let’s do it.