Event Recap: The HODINKEE Popup Store At NorthernGrade In Minneapolis

September 20, 2012

This past weekend, HODINKEE got to meet and greet Minneapolis watchenthusiasts at our popup store at the annual NorthernGrade mens market. Andwhile timepiece fondling was free, we managed to sell some pretty amazingwatches too, including a Heuer flyback chronograph made for the GermanBundeswehr, a couple of LeCoultre Memovoxes, a lovely Universal GenvePolerouter Date, and a gold IWC Yacht Club, among others.The weekend got off to a great start with a preview event onFriday night, hosted by our friends at mens store?Askov Finlayson. Over 50Twin Cities-based watch lovers gathered for cheap beer and expensive watches.After a brief introductory talk on vintage watch collecting, we previewed some highlights from the 45 timepieces at the popup, where we passed around some rarewatches that most people only get to see in photos, like a B-series AP RoyalOak, a 60s Breitling Cosmonaute, and the mythical Bart Simpson RolexSubmariner. The popup store was open for business Saturday and Sunday, and both days saw a steady stream of wide-eyed visitors, including Minnesotas ownGovernor. It didnt hurt being camped out next to the DJ and the cocktail bar.And while we managed to pass some great watches on to new homes, the best partof the weekend was bonding with HODINKEE readers, old and new, and tellingpeople about some of the amazing history we had in our display case. A big thanks to all who stopped by to see us this weekend.Keep a lookout for future HODINKEE popups - we just might be coming to a citynear you.Check out more photos from the weekend below. (Thanks to Milton Datta for the Friday night photos.)