Delivery Service and Self-Service - Gurtnellen Builds the Village Store 2.0

Gurtnellen in the canton of Uri unexpectedly lost its village store. Then the residents stepped in to save it.

, and Administrator

2025 December 21 . 10:06 PM

1 min read

In this picture i can see there is a woman standing here and there are two stores, they have caps,... — In this picture i can see there is a woman standing here and there are two stores, they have caps, shirts, ornaments, keychains and scarves.

Delivery Service and Self-Service - Gurtnellen Builds the Village Store 2.0

Gurtnellen, a quiet mountain village in Uri, faced an unexpected blow when its long-standing shop closed abruptly. The sudden departure of the operator due to health issues left residents without a local store. But instead of accepting the loss, the community rallied—led by Petra Sicher—to bring back a vital service.

The village’s traditional shop shut its doors without warning after its operator could no longer run it. For many in Gurtnellen, this meant losing easy access to daily essentials. Within months, Petra Sicher, a local resident, took charge by forming a cooperative to revive the store.

The group quickly secured a location and set a budget of around 500,000 Swiss francs for renovations. Volunteer tradespeople and residents pitched in, cutting costs by 200,000 francs through donated labour and early contributions. Shelves and refrigerated units are now being installed, transforming the space into a modern self-service outlet named the *Gürkli*. Despite the progress, funding remains tight. The cooperative still needs over 200,000 francs to complete the project. Foundations, sponsors, and the canton have been approached, though details on specific backers remain unclear. Yet Petra Sicher stays optimistic, believing the remaining funds will come together in time. The new shop will operate 24/7, with a delivery service for elderly residents. Its opening is scheduled for January 2, regardless of whether full funding is secured by then. Hours will even outlast those of kiosks on Zurich’s bustling Langstrasse.

The Gürkli will reopen as a self-service store, ensuring Gurtnellen keeps its local shop. With extended hours and home deliveries, it aims to serve the entire community. The cooperative’s efforts show how a village can unite to preserve a key part of daily life.