Afflecks

Something Different
Have you been to Afflecks… is a note you’ll often have pushed on you if your not a local and you’d do very well to take that advice. This place is wild, crazy a real modern day Alice in Wonderland rabbit hole to get lost in.
Is it a mall? a market? a social scene? Afflecks seems vastly disinterested in the franchiseable consistency many demand from modern retail. A truly expressive arena that seems a hub of down to earth alternative business owners all working as puzzle pieces in this unique mosaic of creative capitalism.
When you buy something here you’ll often be doing so from the owner of the place from oldies to young entrepreneurs. Its a refreshing feeling to cut out and middle man and feel supportive of the real drivers of often local business. The products themselves often range from jovial to one of a kind and you’ll be sure to find something of interest the deeper you delve.
Though often claustrophobic in architecture I really hope this place survives the competition as its truly stands out of one of those rare unique places one can point to in their home town. Lastly I recommend you try and find the condom shop amongst the madness :)

I struggled with how many stars to give Afflecks because on one hand I liked some aspects of it and I like the idea behind it. On the other hand I kind of feel like it has fallen short of the idea behind it. And based on other reviews, it sounds like others may feel this way too… that Afflecks has passed its prime.
In looking up antique stores in Manchester, Afflecks appeared and with so many enthusiastic reviews, I bookmarked it and put it on my list of places to stop at while in the city. Walking in and figuring out what floor you are on and what floor the stores you want are on is a bit intimidating and it is probably just best that you wander. I started from the top and worked my way down.
There is a café on the top floor, so if you get lost inside the place, you can at least fuel up here. There was someone doing Tarot readings and some places selling crystals in the vicinity. If you keep walking there is a place selling retro video games. And they have quite a few for each gaming system. I headed down a floor and discovered a candy shop that also has a lot of American candy and cereals. I kind of wanted to buy everything! They have small boxes of American cereal including Captain Crunch (I grew up smelling it from the local Quaker Oats factory so it always reminds me of home) and… they have white chocolate Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups!
I browsed the dresses in a store with 50’s style dresses. They had petticoats, although they did not have the colour I wanted, but the lady gave me some suggestions of where I could get the colour I want. To be honest, after awhile I wasn’t completely sure of what floor I was on, I just kept wandering. Some of the antique/​vintage stalls do seem like they have a number of quality items… like a pair of Gucci Strappy Heels, but some of the other stalls seemed to have more of a charity shop vibe to them. In addition to this, there were a number of stalls selling goth items, there is a lingerie shop, records, a number of handmade jewelry stalls, a sequin-​covered prom dress, and tattoo/​piercing parlor. I also noticed a couple of shops that seemed a bit out of place… they seemed to have a High Street vibe about them although at one of them, I did find a strand of beautiful fresh water pearls.
I think my favourite find was the bead shop. Loads and loads of beads, jewelry making equipment, items to make hair clips/​pins, ribbons, etc. It also seemed to be quite popular as it was the busiest store on my stop. As you are browsing they have small baggies with pens so when you go to check out, the staff don’t have to go looking around for the prices. I will most likely be back as I have been dabbling in wire jewelry and crocheting with beads.
Overall, I think it offers quite a bit, and especially with the wide range of stores, it seems to offer a little bit for everyone. I certainly enjoyed exploring and am sure I will be back!

Afflecks Palace is just one of those places — a Manchester staple, I’ll always point visitors in its direction to make sure they take in the ‘quirkier’ side of the city. I know that, ultimately, many of the shops inside are becoming on the more mainstream side, with labels one could recognise from a number of other shops, but Afflecks still remains above the general standard.
The interior and exterior are equally important when considering the appeal of the building; the vast number of posters, flyers and adverts plastering every wall and staircase inside, and the murals and signage outside are all worth paying attention to.
We most recently visited for a trip to Ginger’s Comfort Emporium, a fairly new opening, but couldn’t help having a wander around beforehand — especially when the other half spotted the vintage Nintendo games and record players in one of the shops.
Whatever your interest in life, you’re likely to find something here. Tattoos, piercings, rave gear, fancy dress, vintage, beads, badges and buttons… the list could go on.
I hope Manchester keeps its love for Afflecks as it would really be a blow to the independent vendors inside for it to ever shut down. I’ll return with people in tow to keep showing off this highlight of the city!

The first time I went to Affleck’s, I thought I’d died and gone to heaven. It reminded me of what the Corn Exchange in Leeds used to be like in the 90s — goth shops, vintage shops, a bead shop, tattoo and piercing shops, fancy dress and even the ‘Three Minute Theatre’… amazing.
Kuhl Vintage is currently my favourite of all the shops in this ‘alternative’ emporium. I went there last weekend to try on some of their vintage 1940s and 50s wedding dresses and thoroughly enjoyed it (I am actually getting getting hitched, I’m not some weirdo that goes around trying on dresses in the hope that one day someone will marry my ugly ass).
The lady that runs the shop was incredibly helpful and didn’t push me into buying anything, which was refreshing. In fact, she encouraged me to look elsewhere and only come back for the dress I liked best if I don’t find The One elsewhere.
I recommend Affleck’s to anyone with a taste for the quirky things in life and if you haven’t been before, go there right now! That’s an order!

I love this place it is a treasure trove of the quirky and the unusual. Fab place if you are wanting something that the masses wouldn’t go for. I love it for their selection of vintage style dresses, bead, fancy dress (the guys that run Attic are really helpful) and bespoke corsets — it’s not all about the goths you know in here!
The bead shop that I think is on the 4^th floor does classes where you can make your own necklaces and bracelets they have a web page so check out dates on line.
I wouldn’t recommend going on a hot day as it is quite compact and gets very warm, there are a couple of cafes inside so you can relax and refresh. Also worth having cash on you as not all of the shops take card and be prepared to wonder round and get lost! I have a shop in here I like visiting and i don’t think I’ve found it the same way twice!

Afflecks is a huge, alternative, shopping centre with a bit of something for everybody — especially if you like things a little different.
There is a huge array of clothing shops for all kinds — punk, goth, vintage… even old military clothes. Those listed doesn’t even begin to cover the full variety, however — you’d have to check it out yourself to take it all in. There’s lots of stores with hand-​made, original, clothing and accessories also.
It’s not just for getting new outfits though — there’s great cafes and even shops selling old video games and consoles, old toys, etc.
Quirky, different, alternative. A shopping centre how they SHOULD be!

Afflecks. Where I got my first piercing, bought my first pair of baggy jeans, dreamed about getting a tattoo, kissed, hugged, danced, slept.
I bought hundreds of tacky bracelets and neon fish nets. I bought band tees and slogan tees, retro landline phones, solid silver snake rings, spiky cuffs, belt buckles and ear expanders.
It’s because of Afflecks that I once died my face purple instead of my hair, because of Afflecks that I had a nose piercing that got ripped out once when I was drunk. It’s where I hung out, listened to music, made friends, made enemies.
When I was 14 it was a dreamworld of awesome stuff I’ve always wanted and a place to hang with my friends. Now, well over a decade later, I just shop there. It’s not the same, yet it kind of is. And I’m not quite the same either… thank goodness. (I kind of am)

Oh Afflecks…
A Manchester institution. Anybody who’s claims to be a Manc has been in here at least once in their lives. The place has even been given the cool status by Famous Mancs Oasis and The Happy Mondays. Back in the day it was the cool place to be and many musicians, artists and even couples have probably met in here. If you live in Manchester then you need to at least step in here once before you die. You just do.
The place is kinda like Marmite though. You either love it or you hate it. If you aren’t either arty, geeky, bohemian, alternative or creative enough then you most likely won’t get the appeal.
The place might be past it’s prime, but it is still going strong and has a decent enough reputation for quirky and geeky stuff. It has it’s regulars and fans still.
The problem with modern day Afflecks is that it does what people expect it to do. It doesn’t surprise and the whole thing isn’t as fresh. Is Afflecks not as dangerous and underground as it used to be? There seems to be these days a lot of ‘vintage’ and that is boring. Afflecks was never about ‘vintage’. It was meant to be an alternative to mainstream shopping.
Afflecks is what makes Manchester errm… Manchester. If Afflecks closed I would be upset. This place has so much history and has done so much for the city.

Afflecks is a Manchester institution, and it’s easy to see why. Where else can you find a shopping mall for the alternative crowd! You can buy a cupcake, take a tea break, get yer hair did, be a pagan, and of course shop for clothes.
The building has a wonky, almost non-​Euclidean layout and is great fun to wander through.
Having said that, I felt way too old for most of the clothing. It’s mainly casual, young stuff: tshirts, hoodies, big clunky shoes, vinyl bags, and miniskirts. (There was a very confusing section of tacky, shiny, 90’s style gowns in one shop) Also your standard rockabilly dresses and billions of black jackets with silver and lace accents for the beginner goth. There’s also plenty of thin, blousy, nouveau-​boho styles and 70’s/80’s influenced stuff.
All the older shop clerks were very friendly, but most of the younger ones didn’t smile back or acknowledge my presence, even when I was obviously really interested in buying their merchandise.
A final hilarious note: one very gothy clothing shop was blasting Top 40 hiphop all the while I shopped there. When irony crosses the line, it hurts us all.
If you’re a budget-​minded young person looking for basic rock, punk, or goth fare, Affleck’s will have anything you need or want. If you’re looking for unusual, high end alternative clothing, not so much. But hey, drop in anyway!

Great place, lots of shops to browse around.
My first time going a was a good experience.
Been looking for places to find Goth clothes and accessories .
Lots of different styles to choose from, Goth and Rock for me.
Will certainly be visiting again many times.

Dieses Shopping Centre ist wirklich zu empfehlen, wenn jemand mal in Manchester ist. Es hat gar nichts mit den herkömmlichen Shopping Malls zu tun. Es ist eine eigene Welt.
Es fäng damit an, dass es schwierig zu finden ist, weil man es nicht auf Anhieb als ein Shopping Centre identifizieren kann. Auch der Eingang ist sehr unscheinbar. Doch im Inneren befinden sich auf mehreren Etagen eine Vielzahl von interessanten Dingen.
Eine breite Palette an verschiedensten Geschäften bedient jede Art von Kunden. Es fängt an mit Kleidung für Subkulturen: Emos, Gothic, Rave, etc. Dazu kommen noch mehrere Second Hand Shops, Spielsachen für Erwachsene, Kostümshops, Manga-​Kleidung, normale Kleidung, und irgendwelche Kuriositäten.
Es liegt zwar im Zentrum von Manchester, aber durchschnittlich sind die Preise weit davon entfernt es geht dabei in Richtung Null.
In der oberen Etage befindet sich ein leckeres Café, das zum einen sehr günstig ist und zum anderen auch noch lecker. Zusätzlich kann man auch die Möbel auf denen man sitzt oder seine Getränke abstellt kaufen.
Auf jeden Fall ein Besuch wert, wenn man gelangweilt ist von den großen Shopping-​Malls, die eh überall auf der Welt gleich aussehen.

Lots of vintage… well, everything! Several floors of the stuff. Not my taste, but I’m sure if this is what you like, you’ll find what you’re looking for. Especially clothes — this place has tons of good stuff! Jackets, boots and T-​shorts galore!