Where and what to buy and get done in Nowa Huta

Just as the wolf is drawn to the forest, I am drawn to Nowa Huta. I’ll return to this favorite topic of mine more than once.

The title may seem a bit mysterious, but the goal is simple and very practical: after eight years of living at Plac Centralny, I wanted to share some useful information about where you can buy good things and get things repaired. I’ve already written about where to eat in Krakow.

Maybe you live in Kraków or even in Nowa Huta itself and these tips will be useful. Or maybe you’ll visit Kraków for a few days and this will give you another reason to stop by the Huta.

We live in times of – let’s be honest – cheap junk. Mass produced, short lived products, often made for next to nothing, that aren’t worth repairing later. There is less and less room for quality and craftsmanship. Below are places where good, solid products and services still exist.

Watchmaker in the Szkolne 1

My grandfather, who died before I was born, received a Glashütte watch for his 25th work anniversary in the energy sector – the first East German automatic watch powered by wrist movement. When I took it for repair to os. Szkolne, I noticed a diploma on the wall showing that the watchmaker had completed a course in Glashütte itself. The watchmaker, Mr. Janusz Szybowski, has been working in the same small workshop in the gate of the Szkolne estate since the mid 20th century. Highly recommended – not only for straps or batteries, but also for repairing old clocks and watches.

Cobbler in the Centrum D 2

The workshop is located on Aleja Andersa (formerly Aleja Rewolucji Październikowej), about a hundred meters from Plac Centralny. An old workshop with an old shoemaking machine and, until recently, an old cobbler covered in glue up to his ears. Now the second generation is taking over. Reasonable prices, solid work. 25 zł per job. You can also have holes punched in belts.

Bookbinder and… luthier in Centrum B (No. 7 & 9)

I admit I haven’t been to the luthier yet – I visit all the other places regularly – but the very fact that such a craftsman exists here, in my own neighborhood, shows how good we have it. You can even repair violins or cellos here.

I visited the bookbinder a few days ago to have our old family edition of Parandowski’s Mythology rebound. I chose a cloth cover – several colors were available. The place has an amazing atmosphere. Photos attached.

Cold cuts at Paluch – Centrum A 2

“Is this Mr. Paluch? We’re looking for Mr. Paluch!” – this line appeared in Bareja’s cult film Miś, when the film crew was searching for the double of the club president. I found my Paluch in Nowa Huta – a butcher, or more precisely a small meat and cold cuts shop on Aleja Solidarności, just a stone’s throw from Plac Centralny. As banal as it sounds: when you enter a meat shop, there is one rule – it must smell like good cured meat. And that’s exactly how it is in this small artisanal butcher shop, just a doughnut throw away from my place.

Household goods store Społem – Centrum C 5

When I was looking for a tiny nutmeg grater, it turned out they had two different ones. Large jars for tinctures? Plenty. A 15 liter pot for broth? Of course. You can truly buy everything here. Interestingly, the store is still owned by PSS Społem, which is doing very well in Nowa Huta and, besides four traditional milk bars, also runs several shops, including this household goods store.

Społem Delicatessen – Centrum C 4

If Społem, then also the Delicatessen right behind the “Stylowa” restaurant. Premium quality products and premium customer service. The ladies behind the counter wear aprons, are polite but without servility – as befits a store with tradition. You can get everything from potato vodka to “Jan” medicinal water to wash away the effects of the former. Excellent pickled cucumbers and sauerkraut from the barrel, goose lard, sheep cheese, and so on.

The store has several sections: meat, cold cuts, fish, groceries, alcohol with sweets, and dairy. Slightly more expensive than Lidl, but absolutely worth a visit.

I’ll think about other places in the Huta worth visiting – maybe I’ll expand the topic next week.

If you’d like to explore Nowa Huta in Kraków with me, let me know.