Going to the Mall of America

[gousooners18]

I will be going to the Mall of America in the Twin Cities of Minnesota and was wondering if any of the local Gents have any recommendations of stores to check out to pick up some shaving kit. I am kind of looking for anything and everything so any pointers would be great. Thanks in advance for the help.

[5savages]

MOA has the following stores with shaving supplies:

Crabtree and Evelyn - Sandalwood, Sienna and Nomad soaps. Pucks are $9
The Body Shop (ask for samples) - Maca Root Shaving Cream, Razor Root ASB, Kistna ASB, White Musk ASB, and Arber ASB. Also a synthetic brush. SC is $10 or $14
Bath and Body Works - C.O. Bigelow - $10 for 5.2oz tube
Sephora (ask for samples) - lots of stuff
Perfumania
L'Occitane (limited samples available) $12 for their Cade pucks. Also have ASB, cologne, and great soaps.
Kiehl's (ask for samples) - Shaving cream is brushless, but they have other face products and the staff is great.
Art of Shaving - beautiful shop, lots of hardware available, no samples. You can get a straight razor shave but you'll be on display to the rest of the mall.

If you're into fountain pens, they also have Paradise Pen.

If you happen to be in Edina, The Galleria has a store called Ampersand which carries many shaving products, including Poraso, Lucky Tiger, Jack Black, and several others.

In St. Paul, on Grand Avenue, there's place called The Garden of Eden at 867 Grand Ave in St. Paul (Victoria & Grand).

From another thread here:

They carry natural body care and bath products, including the following shave products:

Colonel Conk Soap
Colonel Conk Styptic Pencil
Pre de Provence Shave Soap
Pre de Provence Shave Cream
Pre de Provence After Shave Balm
Lightfoot Pine Shave Soap
Kiss My Face Shaving Cream
Alba Shaving Cream
Kiehl's Men's Products
Lucky Tiger Products
Wooden covered soap dishes
Crabtree & Evelyn Nomad
Garden of Eden Aloe Shave Gel
Garden of Eden Vitamin E After Shave Lotion

Also check out this thread.

[Songwind]

If possible, go during the day on a weekday.

OTOH, after work on a weekday, or on the weekend we might be able to set up some kind of B&B Twin Cities member meet-and-greet, if you are interested in that kind of thing.

[brooks_bro]

+1 on Ampersand - that's probably your best bet in town. I haven't been ot AOS but would imagine they mostly sell AOS products (big woop - those are avaialble at Macy's).

I would try to make a trip to http://www.martinpatrick3.com/ (212 Third Avenue North Suite 106 Minneapolis, MN). Great men's shop with a decent selection of shaving essentials.

I've been into Nordstrom and they were generous in providign samples of Jack Black products if you're into that sort of thing.

[5savages]

AOS just sells AOS, but the store is well laid out and it's nice to see and smell all their stuff. L'Occitane, The Body Shop, Sephora, Crabtree & Evelyn and AOS are all on the west side so there's really no reason not to stop.

[gousooners18]

awesome news. thanks for all the replies. Where would be my Best chance to pick up a quality shaving brush. i'm in the market for a new badger and i'm sure AOS probably has some but are there any other places that would cary some other reputable brands?

[Go West Young Man]

Can you guys make sure the wiki is updated with all this information if any is missing?

[5savages]

The only place at the MOA where I saw nice brushes was at AOS. The Body Shop has a cheap $10 synthetic brush, and L'Occitane has a travel brush (I don't recall the price or type...their website shows a $30 synthetic). I've heard C&E has sold brushes before, but I didn't see any when I was there.

If you plan on going to L'Occitane or C&E, make sure you go to their websites and sign up for their newsletters. At L'Occitane I received an coupon for a "Best of L'Occitane" gift set free with any $25 or more purchase. It contained $32 worth of stuff that I gave to my wife...shower oil, soap, shampoo and a cleansing foam(?). She love it. At C&E I think they send you a coupon good for 20% off your first purchase, plus some other benefits.

If you do make it to Ampersand in Edina, they have brushes and razors as well. Unfortunately I can't recall which brands. Ampersand is not that far from the MOA. Just get back on I-494 westbound, take the France Ave exit, go north to 70th ST. and there you are, on the NE corner of 70th & France.

Just south of Ampersand, on the east side at France & Gallagher, is a Container Store if you want to find containers for you soaps or whatever. I've never been there.

I almost forgot...next to the MOA is an Ikea store, where you can by these containers, 3 for $5. They come with a magnetic back if you happen to have something to stick them to.

[Mark_M]

If you have a car, and it's during the work-week, you should also go to Wm Marvy in St. Paul. Check out their web site. I live about 5 blocks from there. They are open every day, but only open in the morning on Saturdays. They are the guys that make the barber poles (still). There's tons out there about them, do a web search. All the old-school after shaves are there, plus some omega brushes and other stuff. It's barber/beauty shop supplies. Check it out, it's a one-of-a-kind adventure!

[5savages]

Also at the Galleria in Edina is a men's clothing store called Twill. They carry T&H products, but when I went there (weeknight) not only did the guy not know much about the products, they were not priced and he could not find a price. Strange. The T&H line is in the back right corner.

And as long as we've expanded your tour of MSP, we would be remiss in not mentioning Heimie's Haberdashery in St. Paul, where you can get a straight razor shave and buy shaving products (not sure what they carry), buy cigars, and buy fine menswear. I've never been in there but I think I'm going to treat myself to a shave there sometime.

Here is Marvy's website (mentioned above):
http://www.wmmarvyco.com/fr_products.htm
A new barber pole would look great in your den!

Make sure you post back in this thread about your trip, where you went, and what you bought!

[gousooners18]

Thanks for all the responses so far, lot of great leads. I am going with SWMBO so I'm not sure how far from the mall we will get but I am going to try my darndest to at least check out a couple of places outside the mall. I saw in a previous thread there was a place called GENT near Garden of Eden. Can anyone comment on the products that they cary or even it they are still open.

[5savages]

I saw in a previous thread there was a place called GENT near Garden of Eden. Can anyone comment on the products that they cary or even it they are still open.

I can't help you with that one. I've never heard of it.

[jaygar]

I remember seeing Jack Black and Colonel Conk for shaving creams and soap at Gent. I know they carry Merkur razors also. I can't remember what the brushes were there or if they had any other shaving cream brands. I know Garden of Eden had a Colonel Conk and an Omega brush for a while. Hope this helps. Garden of Eden carries a good variety of creams and such, and they are in the same mall as Gent.

[brooks_bro]

I'm sorry - probably late on this - but Marty Mathis clothiers in DT Mpls sells vulfix brushes

[brooks_bro]

Also at the Galleria in Edina is a men's clothing store called Twill. They carry T&H products, but when I went there (weeknight) not only did the guy not know much about the products, they were not priced and he could not find a price. Strange. The T&H line is in the back right corner.

And as long as we've expanded your tour of MSP, we would be remiss in not mentioning Heimie's Haberdashery in St. Paul, where you can get a straight razor shave and buy shaving products (not sure what they carry), buy cigars, and buy fine menswear. I've never been in there but I think I'm going to treat myself to a shave there sometime.

Here is Marvy's website (mentioned above):
http://www.wmmarvyco.com/fr_products.htm
A new barber pole would look great in your den!

Make sure you post back in this thread about your trip, where you went, and what you bought!

I get my haircut at Heimies. will be there this afternoon in fact. off the top of my head they carry royall, truefitt and hill, and some Marvy pucks. not much of a selection

[5savages]

I stopped by The Container Store in Edina today. There are a lot of great containers that the wet shaver might be interested. I went in looking for small round containers to use for my Mystic Water soap samples, and also bought some small, 1/4 oz and 1/2oz containers to use for shaving creams and balms when traveling. They also had containers that would work great for bringing a small amount of after shave on your travels.

[shavecraze]

WM Marvy is worth a trip, although they only carry average supplies. The aftershave line is fun to check out as they have the entire Clubman line. All in all, it's very cool to have a local "shave store."