Huge store for home improvement projects, with everything from tiles, tools and toilet seats to…read moreplanks, shelf systems and wallpapers. They even have a "zoo" section with aquariums and pet fences. Like all other Hornbach stores, there's a straightforward isle layout (you can still get lost) and plenty of staff to ask for help and directions. The staff knows their stuff. It's pretty much like a Bauhaus store but somehow I like the atmosphere in Hornbach more. Unless you live nearby, this is not an easy location to get to (you'd better have a car) - but if you're shopping for home improvement projects then what the hell are you doing on public transport anyway!? I'll come back.

Hornbach looks exactly like The Home Depot. OR does The Home Depot look exactly like Hornbach?…read more Fortunately, the two have a similar layout, similar colors and even similar handwriting on signage. It was so easy to navigate. Plus the white vans (favored by construction folks everywhere) made it feel like home. MY PEOPLE! My American friend had asked me to get some additional weedwacker string for their weedwacker. I went in, described the colors of the weedwacker to the helpful staff and walked out with some universal string. Huzzah! Thank you to the garden department folks who assisted me even though my Swedish was non-existent.

Interesting store. BIG indoor mall. I think this is where we got our oven silicone mats before…read morethey became popular in the US. Today, we wandered. Lots of interesting stuff. We ended buying a package of cleaning rags for kitchen, bathroom, dusting and glass for $3.

Clas Ohlson at Gallerian might not be the largest store in the Swedish hardware store chain and…read morethere are certainly nearby stores of the chain which are better but being within the shopping mall, it can be a useful backup location when it is busy which is the reasoning for the extra star. The store is accessed through an escalator - there is also a mobility style lift which isn't too user-friendly as it involves opening and closing the door yourself and then holding down a button and hoping it works - sometimes there's even a delay for it to work to the point the lift can go down and stop, even though it should be continuing - scary. (Why isn't there a help button to call a staff member in case it doesn't work?) The product range is okay but again it doesn't compare with nearby locations of Clas Ohlson as well as the overall feel of the store in terms of features, layout and service being a slight decline. 2*