Gondola Racks

A gondola (usually pronounced /ɡɒnˈdoʊlə/ in this context) is a freestanding fixture used by retailers to display merchandise. Gondolas typically consist of a flat base and a vertical component featuring notches, pegboards, or slatwalls. The vertical piece can be fitted with shelves, hooks, or other displays. While it's unclear if gondola shelving borrows its name from the flat-bottomed boats that have populated the Venice canals as far back as the 11th century, it's a good bet, considering the similarities between the long, flat planes of the shelving and the bottom of these Venetian boats.