According to the company, Blue Jeans is the oldest jeans store in Zurich. It is in a prime location, right by Stadelhofen train station. Since the 1950s, it has been supplying the people of Zurich with “trendy jeans and slacks in all leg lengths”, according to the company’s website.
Recently, however, blue jeans has not made a name for itself because of its unusual trouser trends. But because of problematic Corona messages in the shop window. “Lockdown brings death and poverty,” is a prominent sign. A no to the Covid Act is advertised on a screen. Flyers are also available. It says, among other things, “The new sexy is free of certificates”. Customers react irritated to angry and report to the Blick editorial team.
Mask requirement is wasted
On the front door there is a purple sticker from the Corona skeptics group Mass-Voll. Next to it a flyer: “Welcome attestee!” The certificates are not checked, it is said. Means: The mask requirement is de facto waste in this business.
This is what customers report. Blick also made this experience with an inspection on Thursday, shortly after work. The shop is well attended. Around half of the customers do not wear a mask. Owner Hans Steinmann has none either, relying on a certificate.
“Idiotic Booby”
Steinmann runs the clothing business together with his wife Helene. The two of them have been selling their jeans behind the opera house for almost 30 years. Until before the pandemic, customers praised the large range and the helpful advice. Research shows that one-star ratings are piling up on Google. «Idiotic boom in the shop windows», writes one. “Deeply strange and disgusting!” another.
Blick confronted Hans Steinmann with the allegations. He refuses to comment. The Google ratings are more revealing. There the owners react personally to every negative review. Letter on the allegations regarding the mask requirement that “everyone is welcome” in the business. The Steinmanns do not accept that they sow hatred with their messages. «Everyone’s health is very important to us. We don’t want a split. “
The attitude of the store is also well received by some: On Google users write “courage” or praise that the store is “mask-free” – with three smileys too.
Police know about the shop windows
The Zurich City Police regularly check shops, restaurants and bars for compliance with the Corona measures. However, the police do not want to say whether she has already driven up to the jeans store in Seefeld. Just this much: “We systematically follow up on indications from the population that a company is not complying with the applicable regulations.” Also means: the police have the jeans seller in their sights.
One thing is also certain: the messages in the shop window are polarizing. According to the police, however, they are not criminally relevant. The Zurich authorities also say that the vast majority of companies adhere to the Corona regulations. Hardly any admonitions need to be issued.
Winterthur Skeptic Beck
The retail trade association, the Swiss Retail Federation, is also in the same direction. The Zurich jeans shop is not a member there. Therefore, association director Dagmar Jenni (53) does not want to comment on the case any further. But she lets it be known that she does not approve of the procedure at all. “It goes without saying that the members of our association comply with our protection concepts and the requirements of the federal government. That is in the interests of the association and the industry. “
Nevertheless: the jeans shop is not the only one in the Zurich area that is rebelling. In Winterthur ZH, baker Urs Gerber is also raising the mood against the corona measures in his two branches, Holzofebeck and Grabebeck. There are also tons of one-star ratings against him.