Your whip will NOT harm them, (same as a Yeti) but will provoke them. This includes maidens, idols, and merchandise. A boulder from an Idol trap rolls into their shop, destroying any of the blocks considered to be part of the shop.

However, shooting a bomb arrow into a shop will not anger the shopkeeper, until he's dead. You light a bomb in their shop (or bring a lit bomb in).They will attempt to kill you if any of the following happen: Shopkeepers run fast, jump high, and will kill you instantly with their shotgun blasts. Harmless, elderly peddler of honest wares. Short-term consequences of raiding a shop 5 Stealing without raising your wanted level.2 Long-term consequences of raiding a shop.1 Short-term consequences of raiding a shop.Unarmed aggro Shopkeepers are also the main enemy in the Stars Room. Shopkeepers go by many different names, including: Akhmed, Ali, Andy, Bob, Brom, Dong, Duke, Earl, Elbert, Guert, Hamish, Herbie, Ivan, Jimbo, Kao, Lemmy, Lou, Ollie, Pancho, Rudy, Slash, Smithy, Spoony, Tarn, Terry, Tony, Tor, Wang, and Willy. If a man-eating plant eats a corpse, the shopkeeper will not be able to re-emerge due to being dead. They cannot be killed by a Man-Eating Plant. If disarmed, they can pick up a shotgun off the floor or right out of the Spelunker's hands. Every shopkeeper carries a shotgun, and will not hesitate to use it as soon as you put a foot wrong in their store. Shopkeepers are merciless enemies and have zero tolerance for provocation. If you're feeling brave, it is also possible to rob a shop by either murdering the shopkeeper or by simply snatching the items and running out of the front door, although a successful heist is difficult to pull off. The Spelunker can buy various items from them, provided they have enough money. Shopkeepers are extremely intolerant old men who own the various shops that can be found in the dungeon. Drops several gold nuggets when killed.

Spelunky 2 shopkeeper forgiveness