Looking to expand its collection of reads, Press Stop is continuing its efforts in remaining to be the last of its kind in serving recondite literary goods
Götgatan: Exploring Art, Architecture, and Fashion in Stockholm, Sweden
Existing in the Southern Isle of Stockholm in Sweden is one of the longest streets in central Stockholm – Götgatan. First established in the 12th century, Götgatan has held its name since the 1640s, a name that was derived from a part of a highway it once used to be on – the Göta highway. In its area, Götgatan hosts the Stockholm City Museum and has an adjoined road towards the Södermalm Square in Slussen.
Also known as the Stadsmuseet, the Stockholm City Museum is an area of artwork, first established in 1658. As Sweden’s largest municipal museum, the space boasts 300,000 historical items, 20,000 artworks, and a collection of three million photographs. Showcasing two permanent collections – ‘The Stockholm Exhibition’ and About Houses – Architecture & building preservation in Stockholm, the museum additionally hosts smaller exhibitions – namely photography exhibitions – year-round.
The Cultural Scene in Stockholm
On a larger scale, however, Stockholm has been known to be a pinnacle of contemporary minimalist design and architecture. Including the likes of fashion designers as well into this mix, one can truly visualize how art is upheld in Sweden. Designers like Gunnar Asplund and Ivar Tengbom were the individuals responsible for contributing to the style, known today as Swedish Grace. Fashion has also found its way in Sweden, with brands like Acne Studios, Toteme, and the ever-staple, elevated luxury brand COS in the mix of brands founded in the country.
Abundant in art, fashion, and culture, Stockholm is additionally home to a number of independent books and magazine stores. Functioning either in a franchise or by themselves, these bookstores have implemented themselves into the scene of the area. Serving niche and recondite reads and literary goods alongside generic items, the rise in the need for books and literary matters has been met with the establishment of bookstores around the country.
Papercut and Press Stop: Exploring Stockholm’s Independent Literary Scene
An example of this would be Papercut. Located on Stockholm’s most renowned shopping street, Krukmakargatan, the magazine store was founded by printing aficionado Alexander Dahlberg and his partner, Andreas Frykund in 2008. Focused on offering a curated selection of goods for creative individuals by offering items revolving around fashion, art, design, music, and film, Papercut is one of many establishments that has produced a need and want for such niche literary offerings. Carrying and selling works from AnOther Magazine, i-D, Monocle, and 032c, where magazines one could affirm and concisely form a conclusion that spaces as such widely sought after by the creatives that surround them.
This is where Press Stop comes in. Located in Götgatan, Press Stop initially began as one thing, and over time, has morphed into its own being in the environs of Stockholm’s longest street.
The Story of Press Stop in Stockholm’s Södermalm Island
As Martina, the owner of the store explains, Press Stop began and has remained, as a franchise store with a singular owner for the span of fifteen years. Found all over Sweden, Press Stop’s locations had a change in business model and began changing their internal store concepts to convenience stores. The location in Götgatan however, as the owner puts it, has remained the same as its predecessor, where the focus has been kept on selling literary goods.
Being the one, and only Press Stop location to exist today, the magazine store is located in the «trendy and lively» area on Södermalm Island. Borrowing influences from the original store’s business plan, Press Stop now caters to its customers through offerings of books, posters, and postcards. Having begun her career in fashion photography, the owner, Martina, collated her works and began selling them to magazines. Upon hearing the news that one of her works was bought and published by a print publication, she headed to the closest bookstore and magazine store she could find – evidently, it was Press Stop. It just so happened that during this time, Martina came to find out that the bookstore was hiring floor staff.
Press Stop: Stockholm’s Magazine Store for Niche Literary Goods
Applying for the role on a whim, the now owner was hired, and she rose up the ranks to eventually take over the store as its manager. Immediately assimilating into her role, Martina has been disseminating magazines and books on the topics of fashion, design, photography, and contemporary art to name a few genres. Ordering books and magazines that the members of the staff enjoy reading, Press Stop also occasionally receives recommendations from its customers.
Encased in a relatively sized store, Press Stop’s glass windows offer an entire world view of the store. Stacked on wooden shelves, center tables, and some arranged on metal shelving, magazines like V Mag, Self Service, Fantastic Man, and Apartamento litter the store alongside coffee table books like Acne Paper and Kinfolk Guidebooks. Looking to expand its collection of reads, Press Stop is continuing its efforts in remaining to be the last of its kind in serving recondite literary goods.
Press Stop
Götgatan 31, 116 21 Stockholm, Sweden. Press Stop is continuing its efforts in remaining to the last of its kind in serving recondite literary goods.
