SHOP TILL U DROP...

The importance of the retail sector.
In 2008 the total trade turnover for the retail sector in Oslo was 41.5 billion NOK.
42% of its total trade was going through the city's 47 shopping centers.
The area of Gamle Oslo, Grønland, had a total trade turnover wich was 1664 million NOK. Grønland seperates itself from the rest of the city with the fact that here, most shops and grocery stores are not chain retail, its mostly small scale, family owned businesses and although they dont contribute to the city´s economy in the same way as the shopping malls or chain stores they most certainly add flavour and distinction to the street life and how people live theire lifes. Fresh goods are displayed on the streets outside the shops, creating an everchanging scenery wich reflects the seasons, the marketprices and other ephemeral factors.
The display of the goods also reflects the national heritage, taste and preferances.
The only shopping mall in the area is the Olav Thon owned “Grønland Bazar” a ridiculously looking building which in a horrible way mimics the western idea of how a middle east bazaar looks like. The center wich holds 18 shops had a toatl turnover of 125 million NOK, 8% of the neighbourhoods total retail turnover. Vinmonopolet is situated inside the center and its viable to think they stands for a great percentage of the total turnover, the question to ask is then, WHY is the state controlled Vinmonopolet supporting the gentrification of the area, WHY did they choose to establish inside of this center and NOT on the street? What kind of mechanisms comes into play when the government work side by side with the biggest property developer in Oslo, this smells GENTRIFICATION subsideded by the GOVERNMENT.