Where does coffee come from at this landmark, and what closes with it

Starbucks announced that its seventh store opened after entering Shanghai in 2000, a standalone Shikumen building at the Xintiandi commercial area entrance, will close permanently on December 16. The landmark shop served residents for 24 years, was renovated several times, and became a Reserve store in 2021. The closure has sparked widespread regret and speculation about lease and rent negotiations.

The two-story store housed a Reserve bar where guests could taste coffee from different regions and a Mixato bar serving craft cocktails, a reminder to customers of where does coffee come from. Several other long-operating Starbucks stores in Shanghai have also closed, prompting sighs that an era is quietly ending for regulars who gathered there for dates, study sessions, and daily coffee runs.

Starbucks officially announced recently that its 7th store opened after entering Shanghai in 2000—a standalone Shikumen-style building located at the main entrance of the Xintiandi commercial area—will permanently close on December 16. This landmark coffee shop, which accompanied Shanghai residents for 24 years, was renovated multiple times and upgraded to a Reserve store in 2021, carrying countless memories of dates, study sessions, and daily coffee runs. The closure announcement has sparked widespread regret, with netizens speculating it may be due to failed rent negotiations after the lease expired. Meanwhile, several long-operating Starbucks stores in Shanghai have also closed one after another, prompting sighs that an era is quietly coming to an end.

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Recently, Starbucks' official account posted a closure announcement: the 7th store the brand opened after entering the Shanghai market in 2000 is set to officially cease operations on December 16.

It is understood that this store is located at the main entrance of the Xintiandi commercial area in downtown Shanghai, in a two-story standalone Shikumen-style building. With its prime location and distinctive storefront design, it has been one of the landmarks of the area since it appeared on the corner of Xintiandi, and is regarded by many as a must-visit Starbucks check-in spot in urban Shanghai, welcoming guests year-round.

To continuously optimize the customer experience, the store underwent several renovations. In early 2021, this formerly regular store was fully upgraded to a Reserve store. The first floor features a Reserve coffee main bar where guests can taste coffee from different regions; on the other side, the Mixato bar serves craft cocktails. Ascending to the second floor, customers can take in the views of Xintiandi North Block through the dormer windows set among whitewashed walls and dark tiles.

It can be said that this Starbucks, which has walked alongside local residents for 24 years, has long been woven into the urban fabric with the passage of time, becoming a landmark store and a meeting point for many on dates. Precisely because of this, when the news of the upcoming closure spread through official channels, many consumers exclaimed that it came too suddenly and were shocked.

"Where will I set the location when hailing a ride now, how will I say let's meet at Xintiandi...", "My first memory of Xintiandi is this Starbucks", "What a pity, a store full of memories", "Is the most iconic Starbucks coffee shop in my memory of Shanghai also going to disappear?"

In the impression of nearby residents, this standalone store has attracted tourists from all over to take photos since it opened due to its architectural features. The store has always had a steady stream of customers, and during peak hours it is packed with no empty seats—many customers report that they simply cannot find a seat after entering.

They say that for many people, the Xintiandi store was their first stop for coffee, a study room during their school years, and a refueling station when passing by on the way to work. Whenever this Starbucks is mentioned, many beautiful and warm memories surface, and feelings of reluctance and regret naturally well up.

As for why Starbucks suddenly decided to give up this well-located landmark store, some netizens revealed in the comments that the closure may be because after the store's lease expired, the two parties could not agree on the rent. However, this claim has not been confirmed by definitive sources, and the official announcement did not mention the specific reason for the closure.

As of press time, the Starbucks app already shows that this store has ceased operations. Perhaps the next time it refreshes, information about this old store will no longer appear on the official platform.

It is worth mentioning that according to local netizens, in addition to the closure of this 24-year-old store, several other Starbucks stores in urban Shanghai have quietly ceased operations recently. "So many Starbucks have closed, all memories of stores that had been open for N years—Renmin Fang, and the Meichen store outside Bachun...", "The store on Huaihai Road at Printemps also closed."

Watching uniquely designed old stores close one after another, longtime Starbucks fans "feel like an era is coming to an end," and cannot help but lament that the places carrying memories are disappearing bit by bit with the passage of time, never to exist again.

Image source: Internet

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