Knopfkönig – the perfect place for button lovers!

The Knopfkönig is the perfect spot for all button lovers out there!

There are still quite a few Viennese shops that have a long tradition. One of those is the Knopfkönig. You will find it in Vienna’s 4th district, just a few minutes away from our State Opera.

The shop

The original shop was once located in the Freisingergasse 1. It was founded in 1844 by Ferdinand Zambach. Later, the shop was taken over by Alois Frimmel in 1878, who managed to make a name for himself in no time. Most Viennese people visited his shop, no matter their social rank. Even the literate Richard Engländer alias Peter Altenberg supposedly visited the shop almost daily. In 1911 the emperor appointed Alois Frimmel to be a “k.u.k. Hoflieferant”, meaning that he provided the emperor with his buttons. 

In 1931 Alois’ son Ferdinand and his wife Erika took over the shop. They opened more shops (Neuer Markt 16, Wiedner Hauptstraße 34 and Reinprechtsdorfer Straße 58) and Erika kept the shop in business till 2004. Interestingly, the shop in the Wiedner Hauptstraße is still running today under the great management of Martina Schrutka. 

The next time you need new buttons and sewing supplies, make sure to come by the shop and tell Martina that you’ve read about the shop on our Secret Vienna’s blog – you will get 10% off your purchase. 

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