What happens to Lhasa's coffee scene if %Arabica closes?
A third-party platform lists the %Arabica store opposite the Potala Palace in Lhasa as possibly closing on October 28, prompting talk of a shutdown. The branch opened in March 2023 and is described as the brand's highest-altitude location. Local residents say the store still seemed to be operating normally in recent days.
Prices at the store run 2 to 3 yuan higher because of transport costs, and business held up even in the off season, so area re-planning and demolition are the likelier reasons. Lhasa's market no longer belongs to one name: Luckin and independent cafes serving highland barley wine drinks have entered, giving consumers more choices. %Arabica remains one of the better-known arabica coffee brands, and where is arabica coffee from is largely Latin America and East Africa.
Recently, some netizens noticed that the %Arabica Lhasa store, located opposite the Potala Palace, showed on a third-party platform that "the merchant may close on October 28," sparking speculation about closure. This store, which opened in March 2023 and is called the world's highest-altitude %Arabica, once became a popular check-in spot due to its excellent view. Although drinks are slightly more expensive by 2 to 3 yuan due to transportation costs, local residents say business is not slow during the off-season, and the closure may be due to re-planning and demolition in the area. It is worth noting that Lhasa's coffee market is no longer dominated solely by %Arabica. Chain brands such as Luckin and independent cafes featuring highland barley wine have entered the market, giving consumers more diverse choices. Front Street Coffee will also continue to follow up on subsequent developments.
▲\n\nClick to follow | Daily specialty coffee culture magazine Coffee Workshop\n\nRecently, a netizen planning to travel to Lhasa, while looking for local cafes, unexpectedly discovered that %Arabica, located directly opposite the Potala Palace, had posted a notice that it was about to end operations.\n\nOn the store details page of a third-party platform, a line of text reading "the merchant may close on October 28" was clearly visible, and it was based on this that the netizen who posted inferred that the %Arabica Lhasa store might officially close.\nBut in the comment section at the bottom of the post, some local netizens said they had just visited the store the day before to buy drinks, and there were no signs on site that it was about to close; everything was operating as usual.\n\n
\n\nIt is reported that this %Arabica store is located opposite the Potala Palace in Tibet and officially opened in March 2023. It is currently the brand's highest-altitude branch in the world. At the beginning of its opening, with the spectacular view of the Potala Palace outside its floor-to-ceiling glass windows, it quickly attracted a large number of tourists to take photos and check in. Even now, many commemorative images left by netizens can still be found on social platforms.\n\n
\n\nHowever, although this %Arabica is recommended by many as an internet-famous check-in spot and can indeed produce photos that flood social media, due to the store's special geographical location and relatively high material transportation costs, the prices of drinks in the store are slightly higher than in other regions, with an increase of between 2 and 3 yuan.\n\nSome netizens pointed out that %Arabica's pricing itself is already higher than that of other brands, and with this additional increase of a few yuan, an ordinary Americano costs 34 yuan, so the value for money is indeed not ideal. Many people think that this store is essentially an internet-famous shop that relies on its geographical advantage to attract out-of-town tourists for photos, and local customers who need caffeine in their daily lives probably would not patronize it. Over time, business would become slow, and when it could no longer hold on, the brand would cut it.\n\n
\n\nHowever, local residents have a different view. It is true that during peak tourist season, this %Arabica is a resting spot for travelers, and the floor-to-ceiling glass with an excellent view is always crowded with people holding cameras to take photos. But in the off-season, the store does not become deserted just because there are fewer tourists. Therefore, poor performance is not the reason for the closure of this cafe that has been open for less than two years.\n\nFrom snippets in the comment section, it can be inferred that the area where the store is located may be re-planned and about to face demolition, forcing the %Arabica, which has good business, to close and withdraw. As for whether the brand will later find another location in Lhasa to reopen, local netizens do not know, and the brand has not given any clear information.\n\n
\n\nBefore %Arabica entered Lhasa last year, no other well-known chain brand had dared to open a store here, so when this snow-white store opened, it truly grabbed a lot of attention, attracting many coffee lovers to come by reputation, and thus becoming a must-visit scenic spot for many tourists in front of the Potala Palace to check in and take photos.\n\n
\n\nUnexpectedly, the sudden closure of this once sensational store did not make local coffee lovers feel sad or regretful. They said that Lhasa now has multiple chain brands such as Luckin, as well as independent cafes that incorporate local characteristics. Consumers can choose low-priced coffee, or go to a cafe with a pleasant environment to drink a special blend with highland barley wine.\n\nTherefore, although they felt somewhat reluctant when learning of the store's sudden closure, local residents believe that perhaps before long, a new cafe will appear in front of the majestic Potala Palace, continuing to provide tourists with an excellent photo spot. Friends who like to explore different coffee flavors can also follow Front Street Coffee for more coffee information.\n\nImage source: Xiaohongshu\n\nDisclaimer: Some images in this article are from the internet. For some content on the website, such as images, we will respect the original author's 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 understand. If the original author has any disputes, they can contact the website for handling. Once verified, we will immediately correct it. Compiled and edited by "Coffee Workshop." Please indicate the source when reprinting. If there is infringement, please inform us for deletion. Thank you~!\n\n
The above content is compiled by CoffeeHunters, a coffee news website.
