When Nolte was growing up in West Germany, "All grocery stores and shops were mandated to close by 6:30pm and on Saturdays by 1 or 2pm," he said. While that"s no longer the case – grocery stores are now usually open until at least 21:00, minus the usual Sunday closure – this is "part of the origins of the späti, and it still plays a role, because the next-door Rewe [supermarket] might be closed when you need something at 10:30 in the night, and the späti next door is still open and will serve you."