Klek . store

Known as Klek, these shops selling a variety of knee-high items are hidden in former bomb shelters and can only be found in Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria. Today, with an increasing number of tourists to Sofia, these Klek shops are emerging as some of the city's most creative underground spaces.

Before World War II and during the Cold War, the Bulgarians and Soviets designed bomb shelters in the basements of apartment buildings across Sofia, with separate spaces for each family. Rooms along the perimeter often have a small window directly above the street level.

When communism collapsed in the late 1980s, the government encouraged business to return and businesses sprang up everywhere. However, the city at that time did not have enough space for all businesses, which led to the formation of Klek stores. Until the 1990s, most streets in Sofia were filled with underground squatting shops.

Today, as more retail chains and supermarkets open up as a necessity of growth, more than half of the city's Klek has disappeared and in 2012 only 27 Klek stores remained in operation.

Most of the kleks are converted into studios or cafes while the remaining kleks are converted into convenience goods such as cigarettes, lottery tickets, beer, food, etc. While walking Around the capital Sofia, visitors can still easily see the image of a passerby bending or squatting to buy something from Klek or the shelves selling all kinds of items along the way. This is a unique culture, however, over time, they may gradually be replaced by more modern things, so if you have the opportunity, try to stop by and buy something from Klek. to experience the feeling of squatting while shopping.