"Crazy, dude.

What's going on here? ”The two young men who entered the“ My Zeil ”shopping center on Saturday afternoon obviously did not expect so many people.

You maneuver unerringly through the crowd, past glowing reindeer made of wire, to the long escalator that leads directly from the ground floor to the fourth floor to the “Saturn” electronics store.

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The two young men are not the only bargain hunters on this first weekend in Advent.

Many stores advertise discounts.

In the shop windows, instead of Christmas decorations, there are still posters with offers for “Black Friday”.

For several years now, the day has heralded the start of Christmas business in Germany as well.

But regardless of whether it is “Black Friday” or Advent: the retailers are happy about every customer who finds their way to them in Corona times - on the hunt for bargains or even their first gifts.

After all, depending on the industry, many retailers make up to 25 percent of their annual sales in November and December alone.

Don't be afraid of the new Omicron variant

Last year, the pandemic slowed down the Christmas business.

In the middle of December, stationary retail had to close its doors for almost four months due to the second corona lockdown.

This year it should get better.

But in the middle of the shopping hustle and bustle, the news bursts that the new Omikron variant has reached Hesse.

Few seem to worry about that in downtown Frankfurt.

Already in the early afternoon, people are queuing outside the Apple Store on Freßgass.

Customers also wait patiently in the cold in front of the branches of the luxury brands Moncler, Chanel and Louis Vuitton until they are finally allowed to go into the shops.

Passers-by stop in amazement.

"Is there something to give away?"

Some shopaholics are already dragging a number of bags through the city center, but most of the visitors apparently only came to stroll and drink mulled wine on Saturday.

At the Christmas market on the Roßmarkt, at least, there is already a lot of cups to be had.

A sweet smell wafts over from the Zeil, which alternates with the smell of roasted meat skewers.

You can't escape this even with a mask, because you must wear a mask outdoors between the Zeil and the banks of the Main.

Security personnel check compliance every now and then and in fact the vast majority of visitors adhere to it.

Kitsch sells

Inside, the masks are compulsory anyway. Actually, the recently reopened and completely renovated traditional department store “Galeria” on Hauptwache could also set up a small department for stylish mouth and nose covers next to the perfume corner on the ground floor. Most buyers are drawn to the fourth floor anyway. There you can find outdoor clothing, bags and toys. Many parents came with their children. The salespeople in the Lego department have a lot to do to answer their questions. The shelves are still full, and there are even rare collector's sets. The employees also rotate in the sports department. “Good for us,” a salesperson commented briefly before rushing to the next customer.

In the meantime, a crowd has formed in front of the “Galeria”. Two street musicians give a concert. One plays the guitar, the other sings the Leonard Cohen classic "Hallelujah" in his thick yellow winter jacket. It is mainly young women who stop and listen dreamily to the two of them. Usually they toured the cities in the summer, the singer explains, before he starts to the next tearful scrap.

More and more people flock to the Zeil by evening.

There is a dense crowd.

Keeping your distance has become completely impossible.

Contemplation?

Nothing.

Even the big city bells degenerate into background noise.

If you go after the shopping bags, the cheap fashion chains Primark and Zara in particular should have done a good deal on Saturday.

Anyone who still has shopping capacity but no longer wants to carry the loot can drop it off in the baggage bus in front of “My Zeil”.

Then your hands are free again to take pictures of the glowing wire reindeer with your mobile phone.

Kitsch sells well.

Incomparable to the time before Corona

But the decoration cannot distract from the delivery problems of some dealers. At "Saturn" the first Christmas wishes burst. "A Playstation? As a Christmas present? ”Asks the seller in disbelief. “Not until next year.” The warehouse has been empty for months, he says and prefers to recommend the Nintendo Switch. The household goods retailer "Lorey" is more dignified than at "Saturn". Shortly before the shop closes, people are happy with the day there. "It wasn't all hell going on," says one salesman. Under the given circumstances, however, more people came than expected. However, there was no comparison with the time before the pandemic: “Two years ago you couldn't even take a sip of water,” recalls the seller.

The first weekend in Advent was a good start for the Christmas business under Corona conditions for retailers in the city center.

They hope it stays that way.

However, the “Black Friday” discount campaigns have also attracted many people.

The spokesman for the Frankfurt retail trade, Joachim Stoll, has already announced that there will be no more discounts in December due to delivery problems in many industries.

The singer with the yellow jacket and his friend with the guitar have meanwhile moved on.

You are now standing in front of Primark.

Again there are quite a few people around her.

And again he sings his "Hallelujah".