Fran Smith

I'm joking of course, but where do the locals buy small items like toothpaste, soap, socks, or tee shirts? We will be staying in the 5th arr. during our visit and will probably find that we've forgotten some essential item when we arrive. <BR> <BR>Any advice would be appriciated! <BR>

Cheryl Z.

<BR>hi - your hotel clerk or concierge should be able to tell what is close by. You won't find many big variety stores like what we're used to. Usually each neighborhood (as in all of Europe it seems) will have lots of little specialty stores but often each will have a little bit of everything in it. You'll be able to find what you need.

tom

You're kidding! As a person who has lived in the South forever, and now live in New Jersy, I thought that it was a law to have a Walmart in every city. Thank goodness they don't have Home Depots or I'd just have my check sent direct deposit! Have been to Paris twice and you won't have any troubles as there are little grocery stores and such in all neighborhoods.

anne

Monoprix and Prisunic are the most "Wallmart type" places there, in that they have both food and clothing. There are several around the city. <BR>

anne

Forgot to include the fact that there's a great daily street market on Rue Mouffetard in the 5th that has daily necessities such as you mentioned. <BR>

Joe

I stayed in the 5th this summer near the Place de Contrescarpe, and visiting the supermarche there is worth the cost of the trip -- it's tiny and packed with an amazing variety of things. Another -- much larger -- place to buy the things you left behind is BHV. It's one of the big department stores but seems less expensive and less intimidating than some of the others.

Nancy

No Wal Mart in New Jersey!!! I knew that wasn't REALLY part of the United States. One more reason to stay south of the Mason Dixon Line. <BR>

ilisa

There most certainly are Wal-Marts and Home Depots in NJ. Otherwise, my parents would have moved from the state a long time ago. <BR>

Caryn

FYI: There are several Wal Marts & Target stores in NJ and too many Home Depots to count. <BR> <BR>It is a myth that there are no supermarkets in Europe. France has supermarkets just like any place in the US. While the supermarkets in the city of Paris may not rival your local suburban Shop Rite or Publix or where ever you shop, they have everything you would ever need. The supermarkets in the city of Paris are no different that the supermarkets in NYC. And no one ever accuses NYC of not having supermarkets. As a matter of fact, in Spain & France this summer, I found much of the supermarkets to be quite a bit better that the US. For example, the extensive selection of fish, salamis, meats, and cheeses cannot be compared with my supermarket. Also, I can't think of one regular supermarket in NJ where you can get rabbit or brains or pig's snout. Personally, I'm ok with that. But still, there is a much larger selection of many items in the European supermarkets that I saw this summer. <BR> <BR>The market on rue Mouffetard is great for fruit, vegetables, meat, fish, clothing, odds & ends, linens, everything! Be sure to go in the am. There is also a regular supermarket on rue Mouffetard. There is also a regular supermarket off of Blvd. St. Germain. Do not fret!!

Caryn

FYI: There are several Wal Marts & Target stores in NJ and too many Home Depots to count. <BR> <BR>It is a myth that there are no supermarkets in Europe. France has supermarkets just like any place in the US. While the supermarkets in the city of Paris may not rival your local suburban Shop Rite or Publix or where ever you shop, they have everything you would ever need. The supermarkets in the city of Paris are no different that the supermarkets in NYC. And no one ever accuses NYC of not having supermarkets. As a matter of fact, in Spain & France this summer, I found much of the supermarkets to be quite a bit better that the US. For example, the extensive selection of fish, salamis, meats, and cheeses cannot be compared with my supermarket. Also, I can't think of one regular supermarket in NJ where you can get rabbit or brains or pig's snout. Personally, I'm ok with that. But still, there is a much larger selection of many items in the European supermarkets that I saw this summer. <BR> <BR>The market on rue Mouffetard is great for fruit, vegetables, meat, fish, clothing, odds & ends, linens, everything! Be sure to go in the am. There is also a regular supermarket on rue Mouffetard. There is also a regular supermarket near rue Mouffetard off of Blvd. St. Germain. Do not fret!!

tom

Stop!...all y'all NJ folks. I meant to say there weren't any Walmarts or Home Depots in the Flemington area where I now live. On the one hand that's very bad, but I also don't have to spend all those $$$$ there like I used to. <BR>Tom

Aurora

Which proves, I guess, that Americans have not lost their sense of humor. In some places in France, we used to see big Carrefour stores -- on the outskirts of towns, much like Wal-Mart.

shopper

Wallmart SUCKS! They squeeze the life out of small businesses everywhere. <BR> Death to the founders of all MEGALOMARTS!!!!!!!!! <BR>

elvira

For a REAL view of Paris for the everyman, shop at TATI. Nothing like fighting French women for 10ff pantyhose. It's a cross between Railway Salvage and a swap meet.... <BR> <BR>The flea market at Vanves (it's in the 15th) has vendors who sell swap meet stuff (as well as the real vendors who sell flea market stuff; fun and cheaper than Clignancourt)like cheap socks, t-shirts. There are t-shirt stands outside the below-mentioned department stores were you can get 3 paris t-shirts for 100ff (comparison shop; some sell 4 for 120ff or 5 for 150ff). <BR> <BR>Galeries Lafayette & Printemps have departments that sell 'sundries', i.e. razors, toothbrushes, etc. <BR>

raeona

Even if you don't need anything, plan a stop in a Parisian "supermarket" just to look around...the veggies are fabulous looking, and it's a great way to see how folks really live. Tho I bought some yummy looking chocolate shortbread cookies there that I discover they carry at my local market. And the street markets are another "must" - the fabric vendor at the Mouffetarde market was a high point of our whole trip! Also, the Samaritaine department store (lower levels in particular) is unbelievable - make it a stop.

s.fowler

This is a *fun* thread. It brings back many memories of seeking out the little "corner store" where you can get bottled water, or a diet pepsi or a small package of "local" crackers if you are RAVENOUS. <BR>One thing to keep in mind, though, is that these small stores keep very different hours than the American ones. They tend to close at 5 or 6pm and are closed Sunday. <BR>But it's a *blast* to select your goodies, get in line with "les francais" and hopefully get a patient clerk as you count out your change! <BR> <BR>

JOAN DOYLE

Dear Fran: I live in a Southern town here in the US that has a HUGE Wal-Mart; but I've always felt more than right at home in the Prisunic nearest my hotel in Paris. Indeed, that store easily outclassed my local Wal-Mart for they even offered very good quality cashmere sweaters (for around $100--which is cheaper than Lands End). The food supermarket that each store included was first-rate also. I don't know where the Prisunic might be in the 5th but they're all over Paris. Enjoy. Joan

Polina

I'm not sure about socks and t-shirts, but french pharmacies are great for toothpaste and soap. The pharmacies have a large neon cross in front, and they are fantastic! My husband sprained his ankle and the pharmacist gave him some pain pills and an adhesive ace bandage. It saved our trip. You can find shampoos, soaps, toothpaste and other hygeinic items in pharmacies. I believe some of them even cary cosmetics.

Richard

We find that Samaritaine in the 1e and Au Printemps in the 9e are good for all around shopping, kind of like the Macys on Herald Square, good basic department stores. Check in your hotel room for les pages jaunes, the "yellow pages", lots of good info, maps, Metro routes etc. <BR>

Christina

<BR>Well, let me be the first to accuse <BR>Manhattan of not having supermarkets; <BR>lots of people complain about this, you <BR>try finding a supermarket in midtown <BR>Manhattan. In that regard, Paris is <BR>like most major urban cities -- there <BR>are not a lot of supermarkets right in <BR>the main midtown area. <BR> You don't say where you are staying <BR>in the 5th which makes a difference, but <BR>don't go to the large dept stores in <BR>the 9th arr. for toothpaste, etc., nor <BR>BHV (which is a large hardware, home <BR>type dept store near the Louvre). You <BR>will no doubt find a pharmacy close to <BR>your hotel, but prices will be higher-- <BR>the closest large low-price general <BR>dept store might be the Monoprix on <BR>bd Rennes in the 6th arr. (St-Germain) <BR>just a block or so south of bd St-Germain. There is also a large <BR>branch of Monoprix not too far from the <BR>Arc de Triomphe if you're in that area, <BR>but I forget the exact street. I don't <BR>think there are very many Prisunics <BR>left in Paris -- I think they <BR>may have gone out of business. If you <BR>look in the yellow pages at your hotel, <BR>look for either "Monoprix" or "Inno" <BR>(similar, think it's owned by them) for <BR>the closest to your hotel. I do know <BR>of one supermarket (hypermarche) in <BR>the St-Germain area which I think is <BR>in the first block just north of bd <BR>St-Germain on one of the streets that <BR>leads to Buci square.