Why Is This Old Street Coffee Landmark in Guangzhou Closing?

Starbucks' first store in Guangzhou is set to close, drawing attention from longtime customers. The shop was once known as the city's first 24-hour Starbucks and served late-night guests before the pandemic. Its operating hours were later shortened, and news of the closure has prompted residents to share memories tied to the location.

The closure fits a broader pattern in which Starbucks keeps opening stores while also shutting others. Data cited from Zhaimen Canyan puts the chain at 7,891 stores, with old locations in Shenyang and Hong Kong also ending operations. Years of subway construction near the Guangzhou store may have reduced foot traffic, and nearby shops closed or relocated.

Recently, news that Starbucks' first store in Guangzhou is about to close has drawn widespread attention from consumers. This coffee shop, once known for being open 24 hours, carries the memories and emotions of countless people. From adjusting its operating hours during the pandemic to now facing closure, its departure is not only the end of a single store but also reflects the balancing challenge Starbucks faces between expansion and optimizing its layout. At the same time, long-established stores in Shenyang, Hong Kong, and other places have also successively announced the end of their operations, with longtime customers expressing their reluctance to let them go. This article will take you through the story of this first Guangzhou store, as well as the market logic behind Starbucks' recent store closure developments.

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It is understood that before the pandemic, this store was the first 24-hour Starbucks in Guangzhou, and it also served many customers late at night. Later, due to the impact of the pandemic and business adjustments, its operating hours were shortened and it no longer stayed open overnight.

After the news of the impending closure spread, netizens who had left fond memories here rushed to comment: "A treasured spot for reviewing for university final exams..." "More than ten years ago, my husband and I had our first date here." "I really loved that seat by the window." "In the past, it was still lively here at 3 a.m."

Residents in the surrounding area were even more emotional. The first cup of coffee in their lives, the aroma of coffee wafting by on the way to and from school, the lollipop given to a child as a reward... This store quietly became part of many people's daily lives, becoming a coffee shop of special significance in ordinary people's stories.

Some speculated that years of subway construction at the store's entrance may have affected foot traffic, and many shops along the street also ceased business or relocated due to problems caused by the project, such as noise and dust. Therefore, many people believe this Starbucks closure may also be related to this.

However, while Starbucks continued to open stores and expand its footprint this year, it also closed quite a few stores. According to data from Zhaimen Canyan, Starbucks currently has 7,891 stores, with 198 newly opened and 59 closed from January to April, including quite a few long-established stores that had been operating for more than ten years.

In mid-May, the Starbucks store at Shenyang MixC, which had operated for 13 years, announced its closure, and the news shocked many local people. Before the closure, many longtime customers who had fond memories associated with the store spontaneously went to check in and commemorate this veteran store that had existed since the mall opened, using their cameras to record its final appearance.

The Starbucks store at the Ritz-Carlton in Central, Hong Kong, also recently announced that it will end operations on the 9th of this month. The store has a quiet surroundings and ample seating, and customers are often seen studying, reading, or handling documents there. Once it closes, some people will lose a public space suitable for studying and working.

For the brand, a store that has operated for many years will accumulate a rich customer base, some of which may also have special significance for the local area. But when factors such as lease expiration, rent increases, and an unsuitable surrounding environment arise, appropriately giving up some old stores may help Starbucks adjust its market layout and obtain better store returns.

For longtime customers, some old stores have long been closely connected with their memories. They can remember what the store looked like when it first opened, and they can count how many times it underwent renovation and reorganization. So when a story-filled old store is about to close, the reluctance and nostalgia in their hearts come surging out.

However, the first Guangzhou store may not be the first Starbucks store to close after more than 20 years of operation, but it may also not be the last.

Image source: Xiaohongshu

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