What Does the Lelecha Zhengzhou Closure Mean for Coffee Culture?

Lelecha's only remaining store in Zhengzhou is set to cease operations on January 3, 2026, at Greenland Xintian 360 Plaza, ending the brand's presence in the city it entered in late 2022. The chain has also withdrawn from Zhangzhou, Handan, Weihai and other markets, moving from rapid expansion toward contraction and drifting further from its stated goal of a thousand stores.

The pullback follows consumer criticism of the brand's Apple Candy series, which was removed from shelves and later revised after a public apology. For observers of coffee and tea culture, the case shows how quickly a beverage brand's footprint can shrink when product missteps and store economics compound, even after a high-profile regional debut drew crowds three years earlier.

Lelecha, which previously sparked heated discussion with its "Apple Candy" series of new products, has once again become the focus of attention recently. Some consumers have noticed that the only remaining Lelecha store in Zhengzhou will cease operations on January 3, 2026, which means the brand may completely bid farewell to the Zhengzhou market. From its high-profile entry into Henan at the end of 2022 to the successive closure of stores now, Lelecha has undergone a transformation from expansion to contraction in just three short years. Meanwhile, stores in Zhangzhou, Handan, Weihai and many other cities have also quietly withdrawn. Although the brand once set a goal of a thousand stores, actual data shows a different trajectory, prompting concern about its future fate.

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Previously, the chain tea beverage brand Lelecha was criticized by consumers for its new "Apple Candy" series being "sticky to the teeth." The brand quickly removed the products from shelves and made rectifications, while also apologizing to the public. This incident sparked widespread discussion online. Some users who had originally not noticed the new product launch information also turned their attention back to the brand due to the trending topic, and developed a certain curiosity about the revised "Apple Candy" series.

However, recently, a consumer in Zhengzhou who wanted to try the new products visited a Lelecha offline store and noticed that the "Apple Candy" series was not on the shelves, and some popular drinks had also disappeared from the menu. After communicating with the staff, the consumer learned that this store was planned to close on January 3, 2026, and therefore would no longer participate in the brand's new product promotion activities.

This news surprised the person involved. According to their description, the Lelecha store located at Zhengzhou Greenland Xintian 360 Plaza is currently the only one left in the entire city. Once it permanently closes, it will mean that Lelecha may completely withdraw from the Zhengzhou market.

It is understood that Lelecha entered the Henan tea beverage market at the end of 2022, opening its first Henan store at Zhengzhou Zhenghong City, which at the time attracted a large number of fans to visit and check in. Afterward, the brand gradually expanded its layout, also opening stores in Nanyang, Xinxiang and other cities. But in just three short years, the Henan first store at Zhenghong City, the Zhengzhou Yonghe Shiguangli store and others were closed one after another. According to information from the mini-program, currently only the Zhengzhou Greenland Xintian 360 Plaza store is still operating in Zhengzhou.

Therefore, when news spread that Lelecha might withdraw from Zhengzhou, local residents expressed regret and reluctance, saying the closure came too suddenly. "I'll never be able to drink Vienna again," "Oh my, I only drank it once and now it's gone," "The day before yesterday I even ordered two cups in Zhengzhou, and today I saw it's closing" — similar comments emerged endlessly.

Beyond their lamentations, netizens from other regions also pointed out that Zhengzhou is not the only city Lelecha has withdrawn from in recent years. Judging from feedback on social media, stores in Zhangzhou, Handan, Weihai and other places have all quietly closed this year, exiting local markets. In addition, the mini-program shows that Fuzhou, Quanzhou, Qingdao and many other cities currently also have only one store still in operation.

(Notice of contract termination for Lelecha Weihai Weigao Plaza store)

It is understood that after receiving over 500 million yuan in investment from Nayuki in 2022, Lelecha opened stores in many cities across the country and formally opened its franchise business, with the number of stores growing rapidly. In 2024, Lelecha disclosed that its number of stores was close to 500, planned to add 600-800 new stores, and set the goal of "surpassing 1,000 stores by the end of 2024."

However, data from Zhaimen Canyan shows that Lelecha has 392 stores in operation. Although there may be some discrepancy between the data and the actual number of stores, what is certain is that the brand is getting further and further from its previously set goal of a thousand stores. This has also made many users who love the brand worried about its future development, afraid that one day when passing by the only Lelecha in the city, they will suddenly find that the signboard has been removed.

Image source: Internet

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The above content is compiled by CoffeeHunters, a coffee news website.