Carrefour Market — Local services in Marrakesh Prefecture

Store closes at 11pm, but the Cave (located at the back of the bottom level) containing the alcohol closes at 8pm. We didn't know, so we missed out on that. It was a decent selection otherwise. We got bread, cheese, butter, selection of deli meats/cured sausage, European snacks/cookies. We avoided the fruits and veggies (they were bruised, rotten, etc) and considered the personal pizzas and paninis that they heat up for carry out (looked ok enough). Noticed that the store was inundated by hordes of partying Europeans every 5 minutes (who were also looking for alcohol). Major props to the store staff for answering the same 2 questions over and over: when will the alcohol be available and at what time is it cut off? (9am, 8pm, respectively)

Store sits immediately at the street, has good interior lighting, wide aisles, escalator ramp between floors, check out (no self check-out) with bags and reusable bags for purchase. No carts, but they do have deep baskets with wheels. Also available were basic household items (napkins, soap, detergent, deodorant, shaving cream, toothpaste, shampoo, plastic cups and pitchers) but no eye contact solution. Also had pantry staples like pasta, flour, sugar, rice, etc, and the usual meat case, dairy items, etc....

In Morrocco almost all liquor stores are closed on Friday. I found that Carrefour liquor cave is not open until 23.00. The store is open. I had forgotten it was Friday and the liquor cave inside was open after 2.0pm however when I returned at 9.00pm for ice and beer only the non liquor part was open. Is this because all liquor stores close at 9pm or because it was Friday. It is a typical Carrefour shop and tonight I must get there at 8.00pm just in case. With 40+ degrees in the shade and long summer days how many beers ( half pint cans) do you think I need. I stay at a hostel that will sell me anytime a cold Fkag Special 5.2 for 30 diram but I"m no 2 week tourist and I but my beer for about 11 dirams a can here. There are two types of foreigners here in Morocco : one time tourists and world or region travellers. In July the former are the multitude. So I don't mind if my Hostal sells water to the tourists as long as they know the difference. I earned my pension and beer is my one medal I will not sell. God bless King Mouhammed vi.His late father for being a great and good King...

Overall the staff were pleasant and an excellent selection of food you might expect to find in a European supermarket.

Unfortunately however, this store has a serious problem with corrupt employees, in particular the man who appeared to be in charge of the alcohol section.

We arrived 5 minutes before closing, they let me in to see the alcohol before insisting that I pay money as the shop was closing. He followed me around the shop demanding "money, pay me now". Unwilling to pay a bribe, I left and saw that he continued to hustle other customers.

When we got to the main checkout upstairs, the man was clearly still taking bribes from other westerners in exchange for access to alchohol after the 8pm deadline. I can't believe this would happen in a Carrefour in plain view of all the staff and nobody did anything.

This type of corruption has to be stopped, or else this supermarket is not...