Brick and Mortar Stores Worldwide

Contributor: Red Red
Hey All

I just got back from a trip to Germany, and being the pervert I am sex shops and SM clubs were high on my "too check out" list. Sadly, I was actually there in legit business so the SM club exploration (SOB!) did not work out but I did have a chance to check out a sex shop in a small Eastern Germany town. Holy hell was I ever impressed! It had anything and everything on display and for sale, was totally couples friendly, was run by women, and featured a jack-off booth.

I am in the Vancouver, Canada metropolis and our local sex shops are many and diversified. What I mean is, you get you kinky stuff at a kinkier store, you get your sexy costumes and pretty sex toys at the fluffy couples friendly stores. You get your strapon harnesses and quality silicone dildos at the local woman run and fairly described as lesbian sex shop (don't hate me for applying a label, it makes describing easier!), men get their mesh shirts and latex chaps at the gay sex shops, you get your skeezy porn from skeezy porn shops (standard porn from any store)....etc etc. The shop I was in in Germany had all those things available in one location.

Anywho, my question is this - what's been your sex shop experience in various locations around the world? I haven't been to many outside of the US and Canada, so I am curious about what its like in other locations in Europe, Asia....etc.
02/20/2009
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Contributor: Cinnamon Chambers Cinnamon Chambers
I live on the U.S. Mexico border. If I was not so scared of getting kidnapped or shot in Juarez I would love to go try to scout one out over there.
02/20/2009
Contributor: Ciao. Ciao.
I travelled to Germany in high school as part of a school trip and remember how prominent most of the SM clubs and places were in big cities. It just didn't seem like a big deal (which was cool!) plus there were ads for condom use everywhere. Sex positive? Definitely more so than the US.

There use to be a women run sex store not to far from where I live (in the middle of Iowa) but unfortunately it closed down. Now the only places are kind of sketchy and have limited selections. Too bad.
02/20/2009
Contributor: Miss Cinnamon Miss Cinnamon
Have yet to find a sex store in China... then again I'm probably looking in the wrong places since I usually travel with my family. I did find a penis-shaped lamp at a novelty store, though... not that I would use that for any sort of "massaging".
02/20/2009
Contributor: Mamastoys Mamastoys
I've been to Mexico, Bahamas, and Belize recently but didn't see anything there. Of course, we were in the "tourists" areas so maybe why we didn't see anything. We didn't have time to go hunting around too much due to time limits.
03/20/2009
Contributor: Sammi Sammi
I've never actually been in a brick-and-mortar sex store.
03/20/2009
Contributor: Sharp Kiss Sharp Kiss
Quote:
Originally posted by Red
Hey All

I just got back from a trip to Germany, and being the pervert I am sex shops and SM clubs were high on my "too check out" list. Sadly, I was actually there in legit business so the SM club exploration (SOB!) did not work out ... more
I live near Atlanta, Georgia, US, and I would think being a fairly populated and up to date city, there would be some nicer stores around, but the only ones I have access to are a bit creepy and very limited. We used to have a very nice, tasteful boutique-type store.It had all kinds of toys lubes and lingerie, and was very couples friendly, but unfortunately the closed minded government mandates shut them down recently. We need more places like that!
04/05/2009
Contributor: Avery Dragon Avery Dragon
Quote:
Originally posted by Sharp Kiss
I live near Atlanta, Georgia, US, and I would think being a fairly populated and up to date city, there would be some nicer stores around, but the only ones I have access to are a bit creepy and very limited. We used to have a very nice, tasteful ... more
Have you tried the Liberator Store in Atlanta? (Link)

I really want to go there sometime
04/05/2009
Contributor: Sammi Sammi
Quote:
Originally posted by Avery Dragon
Have you tried the Liberator Store in Atlanta? (Link)

I really want to go there sometime
That would be awesome to go to!
04/05/2009
Contributor: Magician Magician
We have a small shop in Tennessee called "Intimate Treasures," which is basically a lingerie shop in the front and a sex shop in back. Ironically, its directly across the street from a middle school. Someone wasn't planning well for that one.
04/11/2009
Contributor: fishkiller fishkiller
If you ever get to go to a Mega Castle store, go. This is the largest store if this type I've ever been in.....
12/23/2009
Contributor: ArmyWife Kira ArmyWife Kira
We have no decent sex toy shops in Oklahoma. Christie's Toy Box is the extent of our sex toy shops and they kinda suck. Nothing high quality....of course I haven't been in one in YEARS so it may have changed, doubt it though. I would love to have a shop near me where I could go get higher end toys.

I'd love to go to the Liberator store!!

I'm taking a trip to Japan next year and I am wondering if I can find any sex shops there.
12/23/2009
Contributor: deceased deceased
Quote:
Originally posted by Cinnamon Chambers
I live on the U.S. Mexico border. If I was not so scared of getting kidnapped or shot in Juarez I would love to go try to scout one out over there.
According to my Army friends, Juarez is off limits too them too for the very same reasons. The possibility is very large and very real.
12/24/2009
Contributor: deceased deceased
Quote:
Originally posted by ArmyWife Kira
We have no decent sex toy shops in Oklahoma. Christie's Toy Box is the extent of our sex toy shops and they kinda suck. Nothing high quality....of course I haven't been in one in YEARS so it may have changed, doubt it though. I would love to ... more
Japan is full of sex shops. Pricey ones too. The people who come to Honolulu from Japan are surprised we only have one dingy sex shop for the whole state. (That's all we need, the economy here being so bad and thousands of females in hostess bars, streetwalking, or so addicted to drugs they will do anything without a condom for ten dollars.)
12/24/2009
Contributor: EffinSara EffinSara
Chicago has a handful of shops that I really like (Tulip, Pleasure Chest, Early to Bed), a handful of shops I feel lukewarm about (G Boutique), and then a good deal of the usual shops that cater more to those looking for novelties.

Then there are shops like Egor's Dungeon and Taboo Tabu down on Belmont that are just plain fun to visit. I wouldn't go shopping for toys there, but I like to go in and look at the ridiculous stuff they have.

Chicago also got its very own Agent Provocateur boutique last year. It's not something I can afford unless there's a sale, but I love to go drool over their stuff.

Sadly, I'm not located in Chicago anymore, and my city doesn't have ANY non-sketchy sex shops.
12/24/2009
Contributor: EffinSara EffinSara
I visited two sex shops while living in Berlin. The first was somewhere around the Zoo s-bahn stop a block or two off KuFuDamm that focused mainly on fetish wear and had a small selection of restraints, floggers, paddles, harnesses, etc. in the basement along with a single glass case of dildos and vibes.

Another one was called La Luna, located out in Prenzlauer Berg somewhere north of Danziger Str. and west of Prenzlauer Allee. It's the kind of woman-owned, sex-positive boutique that I like. I bought a couple of things there and everyone was very friendly.


I don't think I even need to say anything about Amsterdam. Go to the Red Light District. If you see something that you like, shop around. Prices vary from shop to shop, and they all seem to have the same stuff. Fun Factory products are widely available
12/24/2009
Contributor: ArmyWife Kira ArmyWife Kira
Quote:
Originally posted by deceased
Japan is full of sex shops. Pricey ones too. The people who come to Honolulu from Japan are surprised we only have one dingy sex shop for the whole state. (That's all we need, the economy here being so bad and thousands of females in hostess ... more
I am excited to visit some sex shops then! YAY!
I also really wanna stay in a love hotel while there.
12/24/2009
Contributor: Jen&Clint Jen&Clint
The shops in my part of NC suck we have only 2 that are a 30 min drive from me and the rest are over an hour drive in parts of Charlotte I would not like to be in even during the day. The only one I visit is ok and they have nice prices the second one just sucks and way too high for my taste. I wish we had some better shops close by cause somethings I see online that I like I can not get a good enough look to see how big they really are so I just visit a store to get a better look.

One store that has everything that you are looking for would be a big plus. That way you don't have to drive all over in the hunt and sometimes hunt online just to find all the things you want. Sometimes you just need it right then!!
12/24/2009
Contributor: deceased deceased
link

This one is six stories tall. There are also very large red light districts in major Japanese cities. A lot of my Army friends have told me some strange adventures.
12/25/2009
Contributor: Sassybunny85 Sassybunny85
The sex store in my town(the one not inside the strip club) is a small building on the outskirts of town, and although I've never been inside it, I'm not sure if I'd want to from the outside appearance. My friend and I went looking for bachelorette party stuff when I was getting married, and we visited two of the sex stores in the city we then lived in. They were two totally different stores. One appeared to cater to women, while the other one seemed to have more of a male feel to it. They were both clean and the sales people were friendly. However, they were a little pricey in my opinion. I'll stick to Eden for their prices.
12/25/2009
Contributor: ArmyWife Kira ArmyWife Kira
Quote:
Originally posted by deceased
link

This one is six stories tall. There are also very large red light districts in major Japanese cities. A lot of my Army friends have told me some strange adventures.
We're going to Okinawa so I'm sure our options will be limited. I'm still excited to try and find some good shops.
12/25/2009
Contributor: Owl Identified Owl Identified
NYC baybee, The Pleasure Chest is a pretty great mix of a lot of things, although it is geared a bit more toward gay men. We're also home to Babeland!
12/26/2009
Contributor: Tabia Tabia
Quote:
Originally posted by Red
Hey All

I just got back from a trip to Germany, and being the pervert I am sex shops and SM clubs were high on my "too check out" list. Sadly, I was actually there in legit business so the SM club exploration (SOB!) did not work out ... more
So far in the towns I've lived in, there's 1 maybe 2 shops per town (and in the case of 2 shops, it was really 1 shop, 2 locations). They tend to be pretty vanilla and geared towards couples with small sections for light BDSW, porn, lingerie, anal toys, etc, but mostly party stuff. One store I loved in CA was run by women for women and had the BEST lingerie selection (style AND size!) and a nice variety of toys! Where I'm living now doesn't have ANY adult stores - not even a skeezy hole-in-the-wall porn shop, so I'll have to go into 'the city' to explore there. LOL!
01/05/2010
Contributor: Gary Gary
Quote:
Originally posted by deceased
link

This one is six stories tall. There are also very large red light districts in major Japanese cities. A lot of my Army friends have told me some strange adventures.
I would never go to Japan just to visit crazy sex shops... but I have a feeling that's all I would do when I got there.
01/05/2010
Contributor: Polyserena Polyserena
Quote:
Originally posted by Red
Hey All

I just got back from a trip to Germany, and being the pervert I am sex shops and SM clubs were high on my "too check out" list. Sadly, I was actually there in legit business so the SM club exploration (SOB!) did not work out ... more
I have only been to two really 'comfortable' sex shops in Australia. One was in Alice Springs and seemed to have a wide variety of things but had a large focus on gags for bachelorette partys etc. The other was in my home city and is also online, but is a considerably more expensive than here. It has costumes and high quality sex toys without pthalates. Very female friendly. But it doesn't stock nearly everything I might want.

Most other sex shops I have been to don't have this quality in mind and push really substandard stuff as being their premium product. It's like adult videos and mags are their specialty and they have all these big jelly dongs on the side. Maybe I'm a snob, I don't know, but I don't want to even try jelly or anything remotely ugly.

I haven't really looked for harnesses etc. But I have seen one shop that put these in their window, so I guess that was the shop I would look in if I wanted them, or other kinky leather gear etc.

Some pharmacies here stock vibrators. But there are only durex ones, and I paid through the nose for mine. I don't even like it!

I guess a small conservative population can't really support many big adult stores easily, and the stores that are here probably can't get the good prices from the manufacturer from bulk purchasing. Makes me sad.

With all these responses I'm thinking I might go travelling. Even a bigger australian city might be better than here. But anyways I'm happy with what I'm getting online.
03/23/2010