The Municipal Gallery In der Badstube in Wangen im Allgäu opens the exhibition on 7 November 2026 The Drug Dealer. 100 Years of Chemist-Shop Stories. According to the city, the exhibition runs until 14 February 2027. On display are historic advertising graphics, posters, packaging, tins and other everyday objects from chemists’ shops, dating from the 1920s to the present day.
At the centre is the evolution of the profession of chemist and of the chemist’s shop as a place of retail and advice. Around a hundred original posters, along with boxes and tins from eastern Germany and western Germany illustrate changes in product design, consumer habits, healthcare and advertising styles. The exhibits show, for example, the shift from ranges closely associated with pharmacies to cosmetic and household products, as well as the influence of branding and graphic design.
According to the City of Wangen, the curators highlight the historical significance of the exhibition’s title: for a long time in German, the term “Drogenhändler” referred to a chemist and to the trade in drugs in the sense of dried raw materials for medicinal and household use. The exhibition therefore explains historical terminology and distinguishes it from the term’s modern, crime-related connotations. The accompanying texts and guided tours also explore the legal framework, public health debates and turning points of the past hundred years.
The presentation is part of a touring exhibition and follows earlier venues, including Bad Mergentheim in summer 2026. In Wangen im Allgäu, it is seen as a contribution to regional economic and everyday history: the shop objects and advertising materials on display offer insights into production and distribution networks, shop cultures that shaped the townscape, and the role of small retailers in supplying everyday essentials.
The city provides visitor information, opening hours and admission prices for the exhibition at the Municipal Gallery In der Badstube. According to the city, educational activities and partnerships with local schools and cultural organisations are planned. The aim is to link the historical changes in product ranges, advice and design in chemists’ shops to local contexts.
The dates and details given are based on announcements from the City of Wangen im Allgäu and regional event listings. The exhibition is scheduled to run in Wangen from 7 November 2026 to 14 February 2027.
Editor: Mira Cadena (Article created with AI assistance).