Why Coffee Mold and Upkeep Matter to Store Experience
Customers at Manner's Xuhui Riverside store found the second-floor outdoor sofa cushions heavily covered in coffee mold, chair cushions stained, four doors damaged, and the entrance sign rusted. The store had drawn crowds for its river views and design, but the condition of the outdoor area now raises doubts about daily maintenance and brand management.
The problems surfaced roughly three months after a co-branded gingerbread man theme with Jo Malone. Visitors say the lack of routine upkeep affects both comfort and coffee quality perception, and they are asking the shop to restore basic cleanliness and keep facilities in working order. Damp outdoor seating is a common source of mold in humid cities.
The Manner Xuhui Riverside store was once a trendy photo spot thanks to its pleasant riverside views and exquisite decor, but recently customers have discovered that the sofa cushions in its second-floor outdoor area are severely moldy, the chair cushions are covered in stains, several doors are damaged, and the signage is rusted. From the gingerbread man-themed store co-branded with Jo Malone last November to the now dilapidated facilities, in just three months, the store's environment has raised consumer doubts about Manner's operational management capabilities. Netizens believe that the outdoor facilities lack daily maintenance, affecting the consumer experience and brand image, and call on the store to maintain basic cleanliness and keep facilities in proper working order.
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Nowadays, for a coffee shop to attract passersby to come in, besides the quality of the products themselves, the store design also requires considerable thought. Whether independent shops or chain brands, they all strive to stand out in their decor styles—some take a retro and grand approach, while others lean toward minimalist refinement—all aiming to increase their appeal through an environment that matches the brand's tone and to draw in passing pedestrians.
Precisely because of this, some coffee shops, with their carefully chosen locations and unique decor, have become popular spots for young people to take photos. For example, the Manner Xuhui Riverside store, relying on its pleasant riverside scenery and exquisite store design, joined the ranks of netizens' favorite photo-check-in stores after opening.
However, recently when a customer visited the Manner Xuhui Riverside store, they had originally planned to sit for a while on the sofa in the second-floor outdoor open area, enjoying the river view while drinking a cup of coffee. But after going up to the second floor, before even sitting down, they discovered that the sofa cushions placed outdoors had already gone moldy—almost ready to grow mushrooms!
After looking around, this customer found that the problems at this Manner store were not limited to the sofa—the chair cushions had stains of varying shades, four doors on the second floor were damaged, and the Manner sign standing at the entrance was also covered in rust. After a full walk around, the customer's good mood for coffee was completely worn away by the terrible store environment.
Last November, when Manner collaborated with Jo Malone perfume, the Manner Xuhui Riverside store was transformed into a gingerbread man-themed store. The exquisite decor paired with cute gingerbread man decorations once attracted many netizens to visit and participate in the event. During the collaboration period, long lines formed at the entrance, and many exquisite photos shared by netizens could be seen on social platforms.
But just three months later, the store's facilities have exposed various damage problems, and the store environment is shocking. For netizens who visit to check in and consume, such an environment not only affects their current mood but also raises questions about the operational management capabilities of Manner, which has already surpassed 1,200 stores, making consumers feel worried and uneasy about the store's hygiene conditions.
After seeing the customer's photos, netizens joined the discussion one after another, believing that Manner's outdoor facilities lack daily maintenance, and that problems were not repaired or replaced in time, bringing consumers a very bad experience and also harming the store's image and brand promotion.
Although consumers choose Manner more for the coffee quality, feeling that Manner's coffee tastes good and offers high value for money, a door that won't open and a moldy sofa can all consume consumers' expectations and goodwill toward the brand, and may even discourage new customers who want to visit and try it.
Consumers do not demand that a store operating for more than two years should always remain as new and beautiful as when it opened, but they believe that Manner's stores should at least maintain basic cleanliness and hygiene and keep store facilities in normal working order, rather than walking around wanting to rest in the outdoor area but being unable to find a sofa they dare sit on with peace of mind.
Image Source: Internet
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The above content is compiled by CoffeeHunters, a coffee news website.
