The idea is charming: In a village that no longer has its own shop, a supermarket operator opens an automated mini shop that is also open around the clock, 365 days a year. Because the non-stop opening does not mean that employees who stand in their stomachs at the checkout suffer, the concept of the so-called walk-in store is a win for everyone: for the customers who still have one, even at the most unchristian time can get a pack of milk or a deodorant for the spontaneous rendezvous; for the mayor, whose community is finally connected to the local supply again and does not have to fear moving away because of it; for the operator, who can earn money around the clock without employing staff. And for digitization, because their earnings finally stay with local retailers instead of flowing into the pockets of international corporations like Gorillas or Amazon. Who could object to that?
This time it’s not the Bavarian state government’s shop closing law, which has been the subject of debate for many years, that is turning the planned 24/7 supermarket in Pettstadt into a 24/6 market – the shop is not allowed on Sundays and public holidays, contrary to what those involved initially assumed to open. This time it’s the Bavarian public holiday law that already prohibits disco and clubgoers from dancing at night on so-called silent public holidays. Sundays and public holidays are serious business in Bavaria.
But with what goal? Because of the restrictive rules, no more people go to the service on these days, which is under special protection by law. Church withdrawals are also rushing from one record to the next in Bavaria. The government, especially the CSU-governed part, is holding on to hollow provisions.
Bavaria’s handling of opening hours in retail has fallen out of time. On the one hand, the government praises the Free State as the number one location for innovation, on the other hand, they prevent innovative projects like the shopping box in Pettstadt from getting off to a flying start with rules that are difficult to understand.
Everyone should be able to decide for themselves whether it is really necessary to buy another pack of chips in the self-service shop at 10:40 p.m. on a Sunday. The state also does not forbid smokers to visit a cigarette machine whenever they want – although this is significantly more hazardous to their health. The store in Pettstadt doesn’t even sell alcohol.
It’s time the government ditched its unfashionable stance on closing hours and made generous exceptions for retail projects that really don’t bother anyone, even on Sundays or public holidays. Especially not the progress that Prime Minister Markus Söder likes to invoke.