Crazy Gunnar Is Not Discounted

Galne Gunnar, which translates to Crazy Gunnar in English, is ruining Sweden’s reputation as an expensive place to shop. It’s a variation on the American discount store.

Doors to the first Galne Gunnar (pronounced GAL-na GUN-nar) were opened about a year ago. The five-store chain is owned by Hennes & Mauritz, a trendy Swedish clothing firm. It sells Hennes & Mauritz fashions, usually from one season past, at a fraction of their original price. Stock changes daily.

Although the idea for Galne Gunnar came from the United States, the store has Swedish style. Wares are displayed on counter-like tables, open racks and sometimes even in cardboard boxes.

Although Galne Gunnar stores are not found on the tourist trail, they’re in well-populated suburbs and can be easily reached by taxi or public transportation.

In the Gothenburg area, on Sweden’s west coast, Galne Gunnar is in the suburb of Kallered, at the Ljud & Bildhuset shopping complex on Ekenleden. A taxi from the town center costs about $8 U.S. round trip between the hotel and the store.

Public buses are about $1, but the trip is a bit more complicated. Get directions at the Gothenburg Tourist Office, Kungsportplatsen 2.

The Gothenburg shop isn’t the largest in the chain, but is well stocked with major brands at mini-prices.

It has Adidas jogging suits for $24, Adidas terry-cloth robes for $41, Naf Naf velour shirts for $15, cozy down vests in colorful chartreuse and purple for $16, quilted down coats by Capri in sparkling snowman white for $94, and rain-resistant cotton coats with removable linings bearing the Hennes & Mauritz label for $31.

Cotton jerseys, $12, with modified turtlenecks, are offered in nine colors (including lavender, smoky purple and tarnished gold); pure wool sweaters with Scandinavian patterns cost $15 and hip-length sweaters with matching straight-line wool skirts in solid colors are $12 for the set. Baggy sweaters that cost $15 match slinky tube skirts that cost $7.

Men’s corduroy trousers sell for $15, leather jackets for $79, Adidas sweaters for $20 and down jackets $47.

There is also a selection of clothing for toddlers and teen-agers. Jeans cost $26, single-piece snowsuits in cheerful colors are $39, two-piece snowsuits with pastel-colored quilted down pants and jacket are $26, infant-size snowsuits cost $24, sets of lavender-and-aqua cotton T-shirts and trousers for babies are $4.50 and little popcorn knit sweaters in pink and white go for $8.

Purple cotton long-sleeve sweaters are sold with plaid wool overalls for $28 a set, and little denim or printed cotton dresses with smocking collars cost $8.

Toys include $15 Puffalumps, which cost $63 apiece in other Swedish stores, Matchbox trucks for $6 and cars for $3.50. There are brightly-colored and roomy backpack/bookbags that fit onto a little luggage trolley for $9, and matching kid-size director chairs for $5.

Sports enthusiasts will find a selection of top-label running and tennis shoes, plus Nordica and Weinmann ski boots for $79 and Atomic, Avantgarde and Fischer RC4 skis for $110.

Household goods include cans of cream of asparagus soup (31 cents), wicker bread baskets lined with colorful cotton ($2), pound packets of strong Swedish coffee ($7) and battery-operated electric toothbrushes ($3).

Galne Gunnar has additional shops in Stockholm’s suburbs of Huddinge (Tangentvagen 2) and Taby (Arninge Centrum on Saluvagen) and in Jonkoping (Osterungens Centrum, Birkagatan 8) and Vasteras (Friledningsgatan 8). The Stockholm stores are accessible by public transportation. Get directions from the Tourist Information Center, Sweden House, Kungstradsgarden.

Although all Galne Gunnar stores sell similar merchandise, there’s a money-savings incentive for stopping in Gothenburg. The city offers weekend hotel rates from $30 a night, including a buffet breakfast.

And Galne Gunnar offers Sweden’s tax-free benefits to tourists who spend at least 100 Swedish crowns (about $15 U.S.) and export purchases. At most other stores the minimum purchase is 200 Swedish crowns, and you get a 23% tax rebate.

Ask Galne Gunnar sales people for documentation to show, along with merchandise, at tax-rebate counters at the airport or border before leaving Sweden. Refunds are made on the spot in Swedish crowns, which can be exchanged for U.S. dollars.

Prices quoted in this article reflect currency exchange rates at the time of writing.