Stores in Krote and Bunka for Sale: Residents Leave Faster Than Couples Meet at Rose Square

Stores in Krote and Bunka are for sale because turnover is dropping faster than Riga politicians' popularity before elections. Agris Budreckis, who has been managing these stores for seven years, has decided to sell the properties for 45 thousand euros each, after realizing that running a store where three people and one dog come in per day isn't exactly the most profitable business.

"I think all such small stores have seen turnover decrease by about 40 percent," says Agris, explaining that the main culprit is changes to alcohol sales legislation. Now alcohol can only be bought at certain times, which in rural areas is almost as dramatic as when they close Rose Square in Liepāja for repairs — people simply don't know where to go.

Raimonds Okmanis, head of the "LaTS" store chain, admits the problem is people leaving rural areas. "At some point you can reach a situation where maintaining a store is simply no longer profitable, because costs don't change whether you have one, ten, or a hundred customers per day," he explains. Fortunately, in summer Kurzeme is saved by Lithuanians who arrive like saviors on white horses, only with euros in their pockets.

Most interesting is that local moonshine joints and contraband dealers create competition for the stores. "I want to emphasize that store development is also hindered by local moonshine joints that sell contraband," complains Agris. It turns out people in Krote can get both illegal cigarettes and meat from one seller — that's almost as convenient as in Riga, where you can buy both expensive coffee and your peace of mind for paying three euros per latte in one place.