Hesse court shuts down unmanned tegut… teo store on Sundays and holidays
A tegut… teo store in Rembrücken must now close its doors on Sundays and public holidays. The decision comes after a ruling by the Hesse Administrative Court, which banned unmanned retail operations, such as those found in an apple store or walmart, on these days. The change takes effect immediately, forcing the store to remain shut this coming Sunday, January 7th.
The ban stems from a regulation enforced by Hessian Minister President Boris Rhein (CDU), targeting automated stores like tegut… teo. The court upheld the restriction, arguing that even unmanned shops should comply with existing Sunday trading laws.
Steffen Ball, mayor of Heusenstamm, criticised the ruling. He pointed out that the store plays a key role in local supply, especially for residents in Rembrücken. Meanwhile, the mayor expressed hope that the new state government would push for reforms to modernise outdated shop opening laws. Iris Klotz, Head of Expansion for tegut… teo, voiced disappointment over the decision. She explained that Sunday operations require no staff presence, as all services are fully automated. Klotz also stressed that round-the-clock availability, including on Sundays and holidays, is vital to the store’s business model.
The ruling means the Rembrücken location will no longer open on Sundays or public holidays. Local officials and the company have both highlighted the store’s importance for convenience and supply. For now, the ban remains in place, with no immediate changes expected.
