Peenemünder village shop: A meeting place for locals and holidaymakers!

Peenemünder village shop: A meeting place for locals and holidaymakers!

In the tranquil community of Peenemünde on Usedom, a small village shop creates a holiday atmosphere and a sense of community. The village shop, located in the old fire station, has developed into a central meeting point for the town's approximately 350 residents since it opened four years ago. Here people not only find fresh food and regional products, but also a small café where they can get together comfortably. Franziska, an employee of the store, brings a bit of lively atmosphere into the store with her laughter, while she smiles at the siren that blares from the old fire station every Saturday at 12 p.m. - a curious functional test that always causes a little moment of shock, but also attracts many observers.

Ursula Latus, the owner of the village shop, talks about the many holidaymakers who visit the shop during the summer months. Supported by 150,000 euros from the state funding program “Neue Dorfmitte MV”, she implemented the project and offers a wide range of goods with three employees. From well-prepared rolls and delicious coffee to fresh baked goods and fishing licenses for the nearby Cämmerer Lake - everyone gets their money's worth here. The range is complemented by a DHL parcel station, which attracts additional customers.

A village lives from its encounters

What makes the village shop special is not only the wide range of products on offer, but also its function as a social meeting place. The shop is particularly appreciated in the winter by locals, who come together there for a down-to-earth lunch or a shared barbecue. However, operating economically is a tightrope walk for Latus, especially in the off-season when sales are often low. To counteract this, she is planning future activities such as a village shop breakfast, which could kill several birds with one stone: It ensures more activity and intensifies social contacts in the community.

The village shop's opening times are also flexible to suit customers' needs: Monday to Friday from 8am to 10am and from 12pm to 5pm, as well as limited hours on Saturdays and Sundays. In terms of ratings, the store has 4.6 stars on Google, which reflects the high quality and hospitality of the employees.

Retail challenges

At a time when technological advances and online shopping have a major influence on shopping behavior, village shops like the one in Peenemünde face particular challenges. The convenience of the Internet often leads people to prefer large stores with a wider range of products. In addition, demographic change, with an aging population and a general decline in population numbers, is having an impact on the number of customers in stores. However, Latus and their village shop show how things can be done differently by adapting and looking for creative solutions for the future.

In a world that is constantly changing, the village shop in Peenemünde remains a place of encounter and solidarity - a real treasure in the rural idyll. It remains to be hoped that such places will not only be preserved, but also be able to flourish in the future.