Russian Foods

This is one store I’ve never been to. Upon entering the premises, I proceeded inside while the cashier who also claimed to be the owner was too busy talking to her friend. While browsing my way through the store I saw a package that gave me a good chuckle and took a picture with my phone. The owner couldn’t have possibly seen it from around the corner, but her friend must have revealed me.
(Now, I get that occasionally you run into a store that has a «no photos» policy. In some stores (e.g. in Apple Store) you would get «excuse me you can’t take photos here. Sorry and thanks for understanding»).
This time I got something different. As I was leaving the aisle, things went awry. The store owner jumped out from around the corner and started yelling at me. Her face was visibly mad and excited at the same time, as if she had just caught me stealing her cash red-​handed. What followed was a full blown temper tantrum:
— Vot are you duing here? Du you knou zis iz not your stor? Zis iz MY stor! You need tu ask permishen!
(me, shocked) — sorry, what’s the problem?
— You kant meik pikchurz here! Vot do you need zem for? Vai did you meik a pikchur?
— Because I wanted to.
— Vai did you vont tu meik a pikchur?
— Because it was my desire. I didn’t know it was not allowed.
— You need tu ask permishen!
— No problem. I can ask your permission. Can I take a photo here?
— NO!
— Why not?
— Bekoz zis iz mai stor! Buy or leave the stor!
I was craving some snacks but after this hysteria I didn’t want to buy anything from her and she wouldn’t let me browse, so I left. My speedy retreat was totally unplanned. The store was quite nice and clean and I’m sure they had some good stuff that I didn’t get to see, but the owner just totally ruined it.

I have been here three or four times since October 2014, always weekdays during working hours. This is smaller than Yummy Russia, but much bigger than Matrioshka. It has a good selection of russian food, including the required biscuits, pickles, teas and lots of little candies (mmm roshen) though as far as I am aware, no pharmacy section like other russian stores in the city. So go there for sushki and halva but not for zelënka. I like that this one is located in the north of the city, much closer to my home. It is very clean inside and the lady who works there (owns the store?) was most helpful in picking out sweets that my russian babushka enjoyed very much. She is russian speaking and also seems to have good english.
Oh and the kulich that I bought there this week for Easter was quite tasty.
Overall, highly recommended.

Big selection of Russian food, drinks, dessert and smoked fish & meats. Friendly English Russian speaking staff.