The Resurrection of Laugavegur: A Testimony of Retail Tenacity
In the heart of Reykjavik, Laugavegur, the city's iconic shopping street, is undergoing a significant transformation. The pandemic has pushed the street in the direction of evolution, fostering a surge of creative and social initiatives aimed at revitalizing the area and encouraging community engagement.
One of the most notable additions to Laugavegur is the Munasafn RVK Tool Library, which has opened its new location on the street. This unique establishment allows individuals to borrow tools and camping gear, promoting sustainability and supporting local economy.
Anna of the Tool Library believes that while the pandemic may not have technically helped Laugavegur, it has brought about a positive change. She sees the emergence of these creative initiatives as a step in the right direction for the street's evolution.
Previously hidden away in an industrial basement in Grandi, the Tool Library's new location was vacated by a business that closed due to reduced foreign tourism.
Geoffrey Thor Huntingdon-Williams, the manager of cafe/bar Prikið Kaffihúsið, is running a project called Sköpum líf í lokun that supports innovative creative projects in Reykjavik. Sköpum líf í lokun is ushering in a new social project at Laugavegur 2, a previously occupied address by an Icelandic street-food business.
Other resident-focused businesses on Laugavegur, such as Aftur, Kron, and Kokka, have expanded their premises during the tourism hiatus. Hjarta Reykjavikur, a design and craft boutique, has started catering to Icelandic people with jigsaw puzzles and opened a gallery in their shop.
Community events like Talið í Tónum, an advent calendar event featuring local musicians performing free shows for the public, are also popping up on Laugavegur. Rósa Birgitta Ísfeld, a Reykjavik musician, is organizing this event from December 1st to 23rd.
Additionally, local art installations and pop-up galleries are attracting local visitors and artists to Laugavegur. Talið í Tónum will feature local musicians performing free shows for the public, in a vacated gift shop on Laugavegur.
The city authorities have conducted a survey that found some 14 percent of retail properties on Laugavegur are empty. However, this vacancy rate has led to the emergence of new social projects like the new swap shop for clothes, starting in January, at Laugavegur 2.
Businesses chiefly dependent on tourists have been hit heavily by their absence. Nevertheless, the resilient spirit of Reykjavik's community is evident in the various creative and social initiatives that are breathing new life into Laugavegur.
For the most updated and verified information on this topic, it is recommended to consult Reykjavik city cultural or business development publications, local news covering Reykjavik's urban projects, or recent reports from tourist and community organizations in Iceland.
- The Tool Library, a destination that lends tools and camping gear, has moved to Laugavegur, fostering sustainability and supporting the local economy.
- Anna, of the Tool Library, believes the pandemic-induced changes might not have helped Laugavegur directly, but they have brought about positive transformations.
- Prikið Kaffihúsið's manager, Geoffrey Thor Huntingdon-Williams, is supporting creative projects in Reykjavik with Sköpum líf í lokun, establishing a new social project at Laugavegur 2.
- Hjarta Reykjavikur, a design and craft boutique, is now catering to Icelandic people with jigsaw puzzles and a gallery in their shop, due to the tourism hiatus.
- Community events, like Talið í Tónum, featuring local musicians, pop-up galleries, and art installations, are attracting locals to Laugavegur, revitalizing the street.
