HAVE you been looking for a shop in Brasilia that sells beautiful, design-progressive decorative objects, leather goods, stationary and jewelry? Then look no further than the Mercado Cobogó located in the 704/705 quadra of the Asa Norte.
The store-cum-café will be one year old in January, and is run by the thirty something couple of Mariana Dap and Ph Caovilla.
“I’m an artist and always wanted to have a space like this,” Mariana told me on Saturday when I visited the store for the first time.
Installed in a large and airy space, with exposed concrete beams and high ceilings, the store has many fun and pretty objects to tempt one. Delicate, lace-like necklaces and bracelets made of thinly-cut silicone in gold, silver, green, black and purple hues would make elegant gifts for any woman. A glass stand showcases the avant-garde silver and gold jewelry of a Brasilia-based designer, with prices in the R$200-400 ($117-235) range.
I especially liked a colorful bed throw from India, which in the single-bed size was priced at R$195 ($114), and a pair of black and white ceramic salt and pepper shakers in the form of Miró-esque women with huge breasts and butts for R$35 ($20). I also liked a white woodcarving of Saint George slaying the dragon, which was priced at R$197 ($115).
I bought a Zoot rollerball pen in navy blue resin with canary-yellow accents for R$45 ($26), a cute, pocket-size Monjojo Cahier notebook with a illustration of Little Red Riding Hood on the cover, and a 3-D bookmark with a moose on it.
The store also features a Brazilian line of feather-light necklaces and bags made from recycled fishing nets in a surprising range of colors. I especially liked the small-leather goods of the São Paulo-based Dafna Edery, who had beautifully finished wallets in red, aqua blue, green and brown leathers. I bought a small wallet for R$78 ($45), and highly recommend her goods which rival anything you would find in Europe or the US.
Once you’ve tired of shopping you can sit down at one of Cobogó’s outside tables and order an espresso and a slice of homemade chocolate cake.
In the basement of the store, Mariana showed me the communal workspace that she shares with a web designer, consultants and various other small businesses.
“We decided to try and have a communal work space that we shared with other small businesses,” Mariana told me. “But it was difficult in the beginning because some people were suspicious that the rent for such a work space was so cheap.”
For around R$450 a month ($264), one can get a small workspace in which to put a desk, chair and laptop. The rent includes free Wi-Fi Internet access, electricity, water, a bathroom upstairs, security and a discount at the Cobogó café.
There are only a few spaces left, so if you’re interested contact Mariana on tel. 3039-6333.
“We don’t have any stock, so what you see on the shelves is what we’ve got, so things do move fast here,” explained Mariana. “But we get new things every week, so it’s always worth it to pop in regularly to see what ‘s new.”
— Mercado Cobogó is located at 704/705 Norte, bloco E, lojas 51 to 56, and is open from Monday to Saturday from 9am to 7pm. Driving on W3 Norte, turn into the 704/705 quadra at the intersection with the Carrefour supermarket. Head towards the 900 block and you’ll see one of the biggest trees in Brasilia. The store is to the left of it.
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