The scene is set in a supermarket on the Reeperbahn in Hamburg, Germany, which is open on Sundays. The store attracts a diverse range of customers, including families with children and people who come to buy alcohol. The narrator observes the customers and notes that some of them are drinking heavily, including a man named Thorsten who is caught stealing and banned from the store.
Thorsten is a 45-year-old unemployed man who lives in Hamburg and has no family. He is a heavy drinker and is often seen drinking Sanria, a cheap liquor. He is caught by the police and banned from the store, but a friend buys him more liquor and he continues to drink.
The narrator also observes other customers, including a man named Gerald who is a heavy drinker and is plagued by worries. The security guard calls the police to check Gerald's personal details, but he is unable to identify himself.
The scene is set against the backdrop of the Reeperbahn, a notorious red-light district in Hamburg. The narrator notes that the area is home to peep shows, strip clubs, and prostitution, but also has a supermarket that is open every day of the year.
Overall, the scene is a snapshot of life on the Reeperbahn, with its mix of families, heavy drinkers, and people living on the margins of society.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. Around 200 guests arrived in the first half hour of the discounter's opening.
2. The discounter has been open for 14 months.
3. No other branch of the food chain in Germany has had more sales since the discounter's opening.
4. Sunday customers alone buy almost 40,000 items a day, including 3,000 rolls.
5. The discounter is open on Sundays, and it's the only one in the area that is.
6. Thorsten Broß was caught shoplifting at the discounter.
7. Thorsten is a 45-year-old man who has lived in Hamburg for 15 years.
8. He is currently unemployed and without an apartment.
9. Thorsten has neither a wife nor children.
10. His favorite drink is Sanria, which costs one euro for a 1.5-liter tetra pack.
11. Thorsten was banned from the market after being caught shoplifting.
12. He was released from police custody after sobering up.
13. A friend bought schnapps for Thorsten after his release.
14. The discounter is located on the Reeperbahn in Hamburg.
15. The Reeperbahn is known for its nightlife, including peep shows, strip shops, and businesses.
16. The discounter is open every day of the year until 11 p.m.