What does the closing of Guilin's first Starbucks say about coffee culture?
Guilin's first Starbucks, the Dream Island store, closed without warning after ten years of operation. It opened in October 2014 near a busy traffic bridge, drew long lines in its early days, and became a local landmark for coffee drinkers who used its second-floor view for reading and conversation. The closure reflects how the city's commercial center and foot traffic have shifted away from the original downtown bridge area.
Starbucks has continued opening stores in commercial plazas and office buildings where people now gather, and a new location in Diecai Wanda is set to open. The Dream Island store's decline followed the same pattern: as foot traffic moved, the store that once drew crowds gradually emptied. For local coffee culture, the change shows how retail locations follow the movement of a city rather than holding a fixed place in it.
Recently, Guilin's first Starbucks store—the Dream Island store—suddenly closed without any warning, sparking widespread attention and nostalgia among local residents. Opened in October 2014, this store was once a check-in landmark for coffee lovers in Guilin and carried the youthful memories of many people. However, with the shift of the city's commercial center and changes in foot traffic distribution, this ten-year-old store ultimately came to an end. Meanwhile, Starbucks' new store in Diecai Wanda is about to open, reflecting the brand's adjustment in market layout. This article will review the rise and fall of this first store, explore the profound impact of urban development on commercial forms, and preserve Front Street brand's continued attention to coffee culture.
▲
Click to follow | Daily specialty coffee culture magazine Coffee Works
Recently, a Guilin netizen posted on social media revealing that the city's first Starbucks store suddenly ceased operations without any prior warning.
According to the poster, this Starbucks located in Dream Island opened in October 2014 and was the first Starbucks in Guilin. The store was near an important traffic bridge, and at the time the surrounding area was densely populated with a strong commercial atmosphere. In its early days, it attracted large crowds of fans lining up to make purchases, becoming a major event in the memories of local residents.
During its ten years of operation, this store became a favorite for many thanks to the beautiful scenery nearby and the comfortable in-store environment. Nearby residents would often go to the second floor with its excellent view, order a cup of coffee and sit for a while, chatting with friends about daily life; others would bring a few good books and study quietly in the store.
However, over the past decade Guilin developed rapidly, and the commercial center shifted along with the movement of foot traffic, no longer confined to the area around the original traffic bridge. In addition, Starbucks opened new stores in commercial plazas, office buildings, and other places in the city where people gathered. As a result, this first store, which once had long lines at its door, gradually became quiet as the surrounding foot traffic declined.
Some residents said that although the store's business had clearly declined, it was still liked by some customers, and many people still came here to drink coffee and enjoy the view. What surprised them, however, was that this first store, which held a certain meaning for locals, would suddenly close.
It is understood that yesterday many netizens, upon learning the store was about to close, rushed to check in and commemorate it. Some customers said that when they left the store, they saw staff beginning to move furniture and take down store decorations.
Those who had just learned the news through social media posts said the first store's ending was too sudden and sighed endlessly. Many people dug out old photos they had taken at this Starbucks and were startled by how quickly time had passed, realizing they had gone from carefree youths to working adults. "My youth is gone," "I thought the first store was unlikely to close, but it did," "The first time I drank Starbucks was at this store."
While reminiscing about the past, more locals could not help but reflect on a city's development and changes. Some believed that one reason this store, which once had fans lining up to check in, closed was the increase in the number of commercial plazas in the city, causing foot traffic to flow to stores in commercial centers rather than these old roadside stores.
On the other hand, some speculated that perhaps the store's lease had expired, but Starbucks, considering adjustments to its store layout, did not continue renting the space. From chat records in a Starbucks communication group shared by users, the new store located in Diecai Wanda would officially open the day after the first store closed.
Since the beginning of this year, Starbucks' first stores in many places have gradually declined due to the rapid development of their cities and the shift of commercial centers, forcing the brand to close some old stores that had operated for years but were now insufficiently profitable and to readjust its market layout. Although this is normal commercial behavior, for local residents, watching a store full of memories suddenly close inevitably brings regret, prompting sighs that it is "ultimately the tears of the era."
Image source: Xiaohongshu
Disclaimer: Some images in this article are from the internet. For some content on the website, such as images, we will respect the original copyright and indicate the source. However, due to the large quantity, there may be individual images or texts that have not yet been credited. Please forgive us. If the original author has any dispute, they may contact the website for handling. Once verified, we will correct it immediately. Compiled and edited by "Coffee Works." Please indicate the source when reposting. If there is infringement, please inform us for deletion. Thank you~!
The above content is compiled by CoffeeHunters, a coffee news website.
