Athens summer sales surge as shoppers crowd Ermos and Aiolou amid Sunday worker protests

Foot traffic on Athens' main shopping streets Ermos and Aiolou rose sharply during the summer discount period, with shoppers — both residents and tourists — taking advantage of extended store hours despite high temperatures. Retailers kept shops open on a voluntary basis, operating from roughly 11:00 to 20:00, and reported strong sales in the late afternoon when the heat eased.

At the same time, retail workers staged a large demonstration against the Sunday openings, gathering first on Aiolou and then marching through Athens to the Ermos pedestrian zone. Protesters demanded the preservation of the traditional Sunday holiday, better wages and more free time, warning that many younger employees struggle to afford housing and a decent standard of living. The strike highlighted tensions between commercial activity and employee rights during the busy sales season.