The settings are cached, if you change it directly in the database, you'll have to wait until they expire in the httpruntime cache.
EDIT: as mentionned by AndyMcKenna, if you're allowed some other interactions than sql commands in your scenario, there are ways to force the cache to be cleared.
The settings are cached, if you change it directly in the database, you'll have to wait until they expire in the httpruntime cache.
Couldn't you restart the application or IIS to force that?
Yes you're right, my answer was in respect to closing the store using a sql command. But if the person can take another action, the ones you suggested definitely work. Maybe if we know the whole scenario behind the original question we can provide a better answer :)