Two days before the closure: huge rush to shops | Regional

Hanover / Bremen – ZLong queues form in front of many shops two days before the retail trade closes.

So many people had not waited in front of the entrance in the past few days, said an employee of the Thalia bookstore from downtown Bremen. Since no more than 90 customers are allowed into the store, a long line has formed on the sidewalk.

She understands the rush and is good for business. Because the closure will be tough. “The whole Christmas business is going to blow us.”

And so shortly before the impending lockdown on Wednesday, it was also very crowded at IKEA in Brinkum near Bremen. A long queue formed in front of the entrance and in the parking lot you needed a lot of patience to find a free parking space for your car.

The Lower Saxony-Bremen trade association expects many people in the city centers until the shops close on Wednesday.

“The trade tries to do justice to this. Some companies have extended their opening hours, ”said General Manager Mark Alexander Krack. Accordingly, some stores want to open until late in the evening in order to equalize the flow of customers.

Prime Minister Stephan Weil (SPD) asked people on Sunday to refrain from last-minute Christmas shopping in the city centers.

As an alternative, he suggested vouchers or orders from local retailers.

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