More than 10,000 people came each day, mainly by car. Per week only 1,500 arrived by bus. (Heinz Baumanns / ETH-Bibliothek Zürich)
Heinz Baumanns / ETH-Bibliothek Zürich
This was Switzerland's first such indoor fountain. (Jules Vogt / ETH-Bibliothek Zürich)
Jules Vogt / ETH-Bibliothek Zürich
On the busiest days there were up to 60,000 visitors, which resulted in traffic jams. (Hans Krebs / ETH-Bibliothek Zürich)
Hans Krebs / ETH-Bibliothek Zürich
There were more than 50 shops to browse in. (Hans Krebs / ETH-Bibliothek Zürich)
Hans Krebs / ETH-Bibliothek Zürich
There were 700 employees in total, including these coat-checkers photographed during the grand opening. (ETH-Bibliothek Zürich)
ETH-Bibliothek Zürich
The opening hours, as late as 8pm in winter and 9pm in summer, were revolutionary. (Jules Vogt / ETH-Bibliothek Zürich)
Jules Vogt / ETH-Bibliothek Zürich
Decorations and art exhibitions were part of the concept. (Hans Krebs / ETH-Bibliothek Zürich)
Hans Krebs / ETH-Bibliothek Zürich
Children could enjoy the playroom while their parents shopped. (Hans Krebs / ETH-Bibliothek Zürich)
Hans Krebs / ETH-Bibliothek Zürich
There was even a pool offering swim lessons. (ETH-Bibliothek Zürich)
ETH-Bibliothek Zürich
Self-service cafeterias were another new form of entertainment. (ETH-Bibliothek Zürich)
ETH-Bibliothek Zürich
Already in its first year, the mall's turnover of CHF110 million well exceeded the expected CHF85 million. (Hans Krebs / ETH-Bibliothek Zürich)
Hans Krebs / ETH-Bibliothek Zürich
The “Shoppi” in a Zurich-area suburb changed the Swiss shopping style.
David Eugster (text) and Ester Unterfinger (photo editor)
Prosperity in Switzerland rose massively after the Second World War, and people began seeing shopping as fun rather than necessary.
In 1948, the Migros consumer cooperative introduced the American principle of self-service. Cars made cities less attractive and the suburbs more accessible. In the early 1960s, developers began designing new places to live and shop.
Switzerland’s first mall opened on March 12, 1970. The “Shoppi” in Spreitenbach, canton Aargau, was initiated by the discounter Denner.
There were 1,500 parking spaces, something the mall touted in its advertising. Both ends were anchored by large department stores that attracted customers and ensured that they’d walk past the smaller shops.
The fully air-conditioned mall offered all kinds of other amenities: restaurants, an indoor swimming pool and, last but not least, a “children’s paradise” where parents could leave their kids with babysitters – and be free to shop unencumbered.
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Online shopping breaches CHF10 billion mark
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Electronics and fashion goods dominated orders. Food accounted for just 2.8% of the total goods consumed (up from 1.8% in 2018), but the report’s authors expect orders to increase this year with people reluctant to go to supermarkets in view of the coronavirus outbreak. Online shoppers predominantly favoured Swiss products, spending CHF8.3 billion in domestic…
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