By Rodrigo Diaz
Inspired by a small town of the same name located in north-central France, Vendôme opened its doors in San Miguel de Allende in mid-March. It’s a unique concept in the city: a small store located on Calzada de la Aurora that gives off a peculiar aura —anachronistic, vintage, kitsch. This makes one think that one is visiting a place from the past—a past that never existed. And it is here, in Vendôme, where you find diverse relics in harmony with objects and contemporary art, along with an excellent coffee bar at the entrance. This is an invitation to take your time, calmly order a hot drink, and get lost in objects and decorative pieces.
From the façade, where an old blue bicycle shines, our curiosity is piqued by what we might find inside this interesting store. The attentive staff allow us to immerse ourselves in everything exhibited and to ask without reservation about the history of these fascinating objects. For example, the store’s «Hermes Baby» typewriter, manufactured in 1942 by E. Paillard & Co. in Switzerland, was an essential tool for novelists, celebrities, reporters, and journalists of the day. Its “Liberty 1755” sewing machine has a history that dates to the year which bears its name, and for which the German Charles Weisnthal patented a needle to be used in this machine—a precarious type of mechanized sewing. These items, along with some very old coal irons used in the 15th century, are just a few interesting examples of what can be found in this unusual store.
Jewelry is also an essential part of the concept of the store, including innovative designs with stones and crystals mounted on gold-plated surgical steel. You’ll also find candles with random shapes in irresistible colors, coffee grinders, bronze scales, and many other objects with which you can trigger your imagination about their origin. This indeed is a place where you can satisfy your curiosity.
Vendôme is located at Calzada de la Aurora 8C and is open Wednesday to Monday from 9am to 5pm. You can find them on Instagram as @vendomesma.
