[Culturechat] Store hours in Europe

[Vance Roy]

This time of year the shoppers are out. A recent article in Der Spiegel 
( a Time magazine look alike in Germany )listed some countries and 
their laws about store hours. this is peculiar to most folks, unless 
they are old enough to remember when stores did not open on Sunday, etc.

The hours below are not cast in stone, but a store open outside them is 
likely to get into trouble.

Denmark__no set times between 0600 Monday to 1700 on Saturday

Germany__M to F 0600 to 2000. bakeries can open at 0530. 0600 to 1600 
on Saturdays and with rare exceptions (kiosks, etc) all are closed on 
Sunday.

France__Mon-Sat- open at any time. Sundays, groceries can open until 
1200. There are other exceptions too.

Britain__No rules except larger stores can be open from 1000 until 1800 
on Sundays

Italy__Mon to Sun. 0700-2200. Sundays, in principle closed but 
exceptions are made.

Holland__0600-2200 on Mon-Sat. Sundays closed but with exceptions.

USA__wide open at any time.

As always, it is wise to check the local customs about these. For 
instance, stores in CH get two Sundays when they MAY open, but do have 
to do this. Naturally, the last two Sundays before Christmas are the 
ones chosen.

Vance Roy
gigli.saw@dplanet.ch
http://homepage.mac.com/fredch