IICS New Teachers' Handbook 2011-12 - Istanbul International ...

IICS New Teachers’ Handbook 2011-12 Page 32 of 72
5. SHOPPING
5.1. SHOPPING IN B-TOWN
While the town of Bahçeșehir is a 45-60 minute drive to downtown, there are many benefits of living
there for a newcomer who is unacquainted with the language or customs. Bahçeșehir provides an
easy transition and instant convenience so that newly arrived teachers can ‘get around’ and ‘get by’
more easily. And since you’ve now arrived, let’s go shopping!
5.1.1. B-TOWN SUPERMARKETS
Just past the BP service station on the left, you will find the Bahçeșehir Migros store. Migros is a
large supermarket with just about everything you want to purchase. It isn’t a ‘cheap’ place to shop,
but if you ask for (or have someone else ask for) a Migros Money Card application, you can use the
card to get small discounts on your purchases. Migros is like many large grocery stores, with sections
offering bakery goods, deli selections, produce, frozen food, hardware, clothing, and more. There is
even a fresh flower stall, camera department, mobile phone outlet, gift shop, dry cleaner, and a
Burger King right at the entrance of the store. Onur grocery store is located in the Prestige Mall and
on Selale street. Happy Centre is a cheaper alternative for basic supplies and is located in 3. Cadde.
5.1.2. B-TOWN MALLS
There are three mini-malls in Bahçeșehir, with a fourth one under construction. The Ticaret
Merkezi mall (The Commerce Center), which is almost across from Migros. It contains a pharmacy
(‘eczane’). Inside the mall, there is a bookstore with stationery supplies, a gift shop, appliance stores,
etc. In the Galleria Mall (across the street, facing the medical center) there is and a flower shop
and restaurants. The third mall is the Atrium Mall (more commonly referred to as Mavi Çarșı),
located to the side of the Galleria. Inside Atrium there are stores and shops similar to the other two
malls. Prestige Mall, located down by the lake, has Gloria Jean’s coffee shops, a cinema, and
clothing and toy stores. 3.Cadde has five small shopping malls with Starbucks and may fastfood chains,
toy stores, mobile phone stores, clothing and footwear.
5.1.3. B-TOWN MEGA-STORES
Carrefour, Bauhaus, Real, 5M Migros (Beylikdüzü) and Koçtaș are in Beylikdüzü and are well
worth a visit for furniture and appliances (Beylikdüzü is approximately 20 minutes from B-Town).
The 5M Migros complex also contains Boyner (a department store with a good selection of quality
clothing), a food court, shoe stores, perfumeries, etc. There is a free hourly bus service from
Bahçeșehir to Carrefour that runs 11:15am to 4:15pm. There is also another 5M Migros in
Harimdere (15 minutes from B-town) with cinemas ad dry ski slope.
5.1.4. B-TOWN SPECIFIC NEEDS
Most of your personal needs can be met in Bahçeșehir. There are English-speaking doctors, dentists,
and the German Hospital has a polyclinic across from the Galleria Mall. Ask your colleagues for
recommendations for doctors. You will find a variety of services, all of which are close and
convenient to where most of the new faculty will be living. In the Atrium Mall/Mavi Çarșı, a DVD
rental shop, several hair styling salons, as well as a few other outlets. In the Ticaret Merkezi Mall,
there are two men’s hairdressers (‘erkek kuaforu’), a gift shop, a bookstore/stationery shop, small
appliances stores, a bedding store, a tailor, an electrical supply store, a shoe repair shop and a
computer supplies store. You will find a photography shop (good for passport photos) in the
shopping center behind the German Hospital.
IICS New Teachers’ Handbook 2011-12 Page 32 of 72