Does anyone remember this downtown business? (Cincinnati, Clifton: school, shop, move)

[jkgibb1]

In the sixties, there was a very small store on Vine Street between Sixth and Seventh Streets--maybe it was next to the Enquirer Building. I think it was called Scandinavian Imports, but I may be wrong. They sold jewelry, decor, cards...stuff like that. I always enjoyed going in there. Does anyone remember this business and, if so, do I have the correct name?

[mike1003]

Are you thinking of Saxony Imports?

[rrtechno]

I found this clip from a Cincinnati Magazine from December 1972. It speaks of a shop on Vine Street called The Village Viking in Hartwell. It says they had Scandanavian Imports. I am not real familiar with Cincinnati itself, so I don't know if this might be what you were thinking of.

[jkgibb1]

No, I remember Saxony Imports well and I am not confusing this little store with Saxony. This place was definitely downtown on Vine Street and not in Hartwell. I think a tobacconist might be there now and the building may be the old Enquirer building. This was a VERY tiny store--if there were more than four customers in there at a time, it would be crowded. I still have two pieces of jewelry I had purchased there--a little blue wooden horse charm and a carved pine cone charm.

Perhaps the next time I am at the library, I will look it up in an old directory. I would often go downtown on Saturdays as a teenager and it was fun to shop there. I think I just miss the small downtown businesses! (As well as the wonderful five and tens!)

Thanks for responding, Mike 1003 and rrtechno!

[mike1003]

I remember that store now that you mention it as very tiny!

I just do not remember name

[wilson1010]

Originally Posted by jkgibb1

No, I remember Saxony Imports well and I am not confusing this little store with Saxony. This place was definitely downtown on Vine Street and not in Hartwell. I think a tobacconist might be there now and the building may be the old Enquirer building. This was a VERY tiny store--if there were more than four customers in there at a time, it would be crowded. I still have two pieces of jewelry I had purchased there--a little blue wooden horse charm and a carved pine cone charm.

Perhaps the next time I am at the library, I will look it up in an old directory. I would often go downtown on Saturdays as a teenager and it was fun to shop there. I think I just miss the small downtown businesses! (As well as the wonderful five and tens!)

Thanks for responding, Mike 1003 and rrtechno!

The only place I can remember like that downtown was the Mahatma jewelry and gift place in the Carew Tower Arcade on Vine St. It only had room for about 4 people but the lady that ran it had tons of cool stuff in there.

PS, Saxony was on Walnut Street and I can tell you endless stories about Jimmy Schmalo and his brother.

[jkgibb1]

I remember Mahatma...they moved somewhere, but I don't remember where! They had a lot of jewelry from India and yes, that place had room for maybe two people at the most. They always ran an advertisement in The Downtowner, I think.

No, the place I am thinking of definitely dealt in items from Scandinavian countries. I remember those wooden horses from Sweden in all different sizes and colors. I think they had cards and ski sweaters as well as jewelry.

Also, I am not thinking of Hansa either, which I believe is still in business on Ludlow in Clifton. They used to be downtown on Seventh, I think, between Vine and Walnut...not sure.

I keep getting this fleeting memory of being in this Scandinavian Imports one day when it was snowing outside...maybe they were getting in Christmas items. It was just such a pleasant setting...like something out of an old movie.

I went to school with someone named Mitchell Schmalo years and years ago--this was at Bond Hill. Did Saxony ever move around the corner to Race Street?

[soozycue520]

Mahatma moved to the Gateway Quarter, which is Vine Street in Over-The0Rhine
The Little Mahatma Shop

And, Saxony Imports is on Sixth & Race.
Saxony Imports - Premiere Swarovski Dealer

Sorry, but I don't know anything about the Scandinavian store.