:: Thursday Afternoon
Thursday afternoon is Bologna's official half-day. In the past, it was practically impossible to buy anything on a Thursday afternoon, but this is changing. Store closing is not mandatory, and some clothing shops, large shopping centers, and department stores remain open. But most of the smaller shops, including those that offer services such as dry cleaners, bike repair shops, and copy-shops will close at lunchtime on Thursday and won't open again until Friday morning. The hairdressers and barbershops stay open, though. Their closing day is Monday.
The general trend for store hours is:
Morning: 9.00 - 13.00
Afternoon: 15.30 - 19.30

Don't panic on a Thursday afternoon, you have some options. Supermarket and Ipermarket stay open Thursday afternoons and close Monday mornings instead. There are also a handful of stands in the market area behind Piazza Maggiore and in Piazza Aldrovandi that stay open. If you look around, you will probably find some little grocery store in your neighborhood that also stays open on Thursday afternoons.

:: Sundays
In Italy, Sunday is still considered a day of rest. Things are beginning to change, however. Some of the major supermarkets now have occasional Sunday hours, and you can get fruit, vegetables, and other basics from a few of the stands and shops near Piazza Aldrovandi.

:: Holidays
On mid-week holidays, everything closes. For the big Italian eat-fests, such as Christmas and Easter, shops will extend their opening hours. The markets will remain open late on Saturday afternoons and the big supermarkets will open on Sundays during these busy periods.