An institution of Berlin that I quickly came to appreciate is the Spätkauf, affectionately nicknamed "Späti" (shpAY-tee). Similar to the bodegas of New York, a späti is there for you when everything else is closed, with an astonishing array of anything you might need, from travel deodorant to birthday candles.
The name itself means "late shop", indicating the nearly 24 hour availability of most stores. Typically, European closing hours are fairly early compared to the United States, so finding a quick essential after 5:00 or 6:00 at night might be difficult. Spätkaufs first came into being in the GDR, as a solution for workers who worked late shifts and couldn't get their groceries during normal hours.
There is usually at least one Späti per city block, particularly in busy social areas. This introduces another function of the Späti: being essentially a "to-go" bar. Berlin has no open container bans on public alcohol consumption, so it is common to see someone headed home from work sipping a beer on the train, or a group of friends walking to a club sharing a bottle of champagne.
Spätis play a major part in this practice, particularly in neighborhoods where there is a lot of nightlife. Some will even put out chairs and tables on the sidewalk in front of the store so that their patrons might comfortably sit with their bottles and snacks.
Having grown up in the shopping culture in the United States which thrives on constant availability, it has been interesting to see and adjust to how Berlin has prioritized what supplies are essential to a late night or early morning. I think what I have grown to love about these stores is what it says about Berlin social culture. It indicates such an emphasis on being on-the-go, always moving and changing, and always headed to the next exciting thing
Comments