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To: Diamond Jim who wrote (86527)	8/3/1999 1:37:00 AM
From: Gerald Walls	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 186894

Since everyone's bad-mouthing Germany, I thought I'd contribute this little TheStreet.Com article. It seems that some stores are revolting and violating the law requiring them to close at 8pm during the week, 4pm on Saturday, and to stay closed on Sunday (with exceptions for "tourist items" in "tourist areas"). ================== And on the Seventh Day, Berlin Shopped By Marc Young German Correspondent 8/2/99 9:00 PM ET thestreet.com BERLIN -- Try getting a phone line installed or arranging a bank account in Germany. It's an exercise in frustration. That vexing sensation extends to the department store and local grocery. Need a grapefruit on Sunday? It'd be quicker to fly to Florida. Behind Germany's restrictive retailing customs is the Ladenschlussgesetz, a law as restrictive as it is difficult to spell. Stores, which would benefit from more consumer traffic, are normally allowed to stay open until 8 p.m. during the week and from noon till 4 p.m. on Saturday. Sunday retailing is verboten. <cut> World Famous Berlin Irish Cheddar Wishing to make a point, uppity retailers labeled everything with a green and white sticker featuring the Brandenburg Gate and labels identifying the goods as "Berlin Souvenirs." What constituted a tourist knickknack? Everything from Japanese-made VCRs to a wedge of Irish cheddar cheese purchased by this correspondent. <cut> The unions have long argued a further liberalization of store hours would irrevocably damage the country's mutter-und-vater shops in favor of big chain stores. "If it's allowed to be open on Sunday, what's next -- holidays?" asked HBV union member Axel Neumann, who protested outside of the Kaufhof over the weekend. <cut>