Recently, a Cotti Coffee outlet inside the cafeteria at Jilin University of Finance and Economics was suddenly vandalized by a male student. The bar area was left in complete disarray, with tables, chairs, takeaway cups, and cash register equipment scattered everywhere. According to students who witnessed the incident, the student involved appeared to have lost emotional control, possibly after being rejected in a confession of love. He first stomped his feet and slapped the tables, then flipped them over and rushed to smash the coffee shop's machines. The whole ordeal lasted over ten minutes, forcing the store staff to hide by the entrance. After the incident, campus security personnel quickly arrived and escorted the student away, and the university confirmed that no one was injured. The store involved has currently suspended operations, and the first floor of the cafeteria has returned to normal operation, but the exact amount of damage has not yet been disclosed. In this episode of coffee news, Front Street Coffee joins you in following the developments of the incident. [more…]

Molly Tea's first Canadian store opened in Toronto at the end of last month, drawing an unprecedented queue on its opening day. However, just half a month into operation, the store was apparently vandalized, with a large hole smashed in its glass door and shattered glass strewn across the floor, while customers were told by staff that opening would be delayed. The incident sparked concern among fans, with speculation running rampant in the comments section that "Chahuanong did it," to which Chahuanong's official Canadian account responded with "???" Some netizens also suggested it could have been the work of a drunk person or a homeless individual, and some even floated theories based on the ambiguity of the English name "Molly." Two hours later, Molly Tea's official Canadian account stated that the store had resumed operations, but offered no explanation for the incident. This article walks you through what happened and how all parties responded, along with Front Street Coffee recommendations and product information. [more…]

Recently, a rumor circulated online about a fierce conflict between a Mixue Bingcheng employee and the company's HR, involving multiple allegations such as being refused a late clock-in makeup, insulting HR staff, smashing up a store, canceling the cashier system, and even misappropriating public funds, which quickly sparked heated discussion among netizens. However, after verification by media outlets such as Red Star News and Southern Metropolis Daily, the rumor was confirmed to be false; the original blogger has deleted the related content, and the so-called involved store cannot be found on maps. This article sorts out the course of the incident and the responses from all parties, reconstructing the ins and outs of this online false alarm. [more…]

In the public perception, chain coffee stores usually require a certain amount of space for tables, chairs, and storage, so their scale is not too small. However, Cotti recently announced the launch of a convenient store format called "COTTI Express," using a store-in-store model to compress the minimum opening area to one square meter, greatly reducing both investment and the break-even point. In fact, brands such as Manner with Lianjia and Tims with Sinopec Easy Joy had already tried similar partnerships. Although this model enables low-cost rapid expansion, it has also raised concerns among franchisees about internal competition, pressure from convenience stores' own coffee brands, and quality control and food safety. Whether the store-in-store model can ultimately help brands capture a larger market still needs time to be tested. [more…]

Starbucks China plans to implement a new operating model starting in January 2025, with some stores shifting from "going it alone" to "team-based operations," introducing for the first time a "multi-store community" model in which one store manager oversees two stores simultaneously. At the same time, Starbucks will also establish a new "SM-2 Senior Store Manager" position, adjusting its role setup and training system to cope with its increasingly large store network and fierce competition. This change has sparked heated discussion among netizens, with some noting that brands such as McDonald's and KFC have long had similar precedents, while others worry whether service quality will be affected. [more…]

Since early November, news of Hee Tea closing stores in multiple cities has emerged one after another, sparking widespread attention. Some netizens reported that stores they frequented suddenly ceased operations—not for renovation and upgrades, but for permanent closure. According to statistics, stores closed in November include the Ganzhou Market store in Zhangye, Gansu; the Lanzhou Guofang Department Store store; and the Zhejiang University Zijingang Campus store, among other locations. Among them were both established stores that had operated for a decade and new stores that had been open for less than six months. This phenomenon is believed to be related to an internal letter Hee Tea released in September, which stated that the company would no longer pursue short-term store-opening speed and would instead focus on store quality and operational excellence. At the same time, a blogger claiming to be a city partner revealed that Hee Tea's franchise policy is being adjusted, with applications becoming more difficult, store-building costs increasing, and even a trend of "restricting new store openings and encouraging closures." [more…]

Recently, the Heytea store in Dalian Roosevelt Plaza was reported to have ceased operations, and the site was quickly taken over by another brand's hoarding. This store, which opened in May 2020 and once sparked queuing frenzies, was Dalian's first directly operated store, and its sudden withdrawal surprised many consumers. According to GeoHey brand monitoring data, although Heytea opened new stores in the past 90 days, it also closed 161 stores, with the total number in operation dropping from 4,410 to 4,265, equivalent to about 2 stores disappearing every day. The closures were not limited to franchise stores; some directly operated stores that had been in business for years also exited due to factors such as rent and contracts. The impact of this round of adjustment on the brand's future remains to be seen. [more…]

The integration of coffee brands with the convenience store format is accelerating. Recently, NOWWA Coffee announced a strategic partnership with Jianfu, the largest convenience store brand in Fujian, and the two parties will jointly operate stores through a co-management model, with the first batch of 150 partner stores already launched. This move not only helps NOWWA expand rapidly by leveraging the convenience store’s mature supply chain and low-cost operating advantages, but also adds a new category to the convenience store’s diversified operations. Against the backdrop of intensifying competition among brands such as Luckin and Cotti, NOWWA is exploring lower-tier markets through offline channel cooperation and plans to launch 500 co-managed stores in 2024 and 2,000 in 2025, covering the four provinces of Fujian, Jiangxi, Sichuan, and Jiangsu. [more…]

Recently, the chain coffee brand %Arabica has quietly closed stores in several cities including Xiamen and Shenzhen, sparking widespread attention and discussion online. Among them, the Xiamen MixC store, the brand's first store in the city, ceased operations on May 15 after nearly five and a half years in business; in Shenzhen, the Bao'an Airport store and the Xinghe COCO Park store also closed one after another. The company has not explained the reasons for the closures, and netizens speculate they may be related to mall business adjustments, rising costs, and profitability. Notably, branded coffee trucks have appeared in some areas where stores closed, and the brand's first store in Fuzhou also adopted the coffee truck model. Longtime customers have mixed views: some see it as a flexible adjustment in response to the "buy and go" consumer habit, while others lament that the brand's design-forward store characteristics are being weakened. [more…]

The Starbucks store at Wangfujing Department Store in Changsha's Wuyi Square, the brand's first location in Hunan Province, has recently been reported to be permanently closing. Having operated for fourteen years, this store not only witnessed Starbucks' expansion in Changsha but also carried the coffee memories of countless residents. However, with intensifying competition among tea and coffee brands in the Wuyi commercial district, adjustments to commercial leasing policies, and changes in Starbucks' market strategy, this iconic store has ultimately reached its end. This article will review the store's glorious past, analyze the possible reasons for its closure, and present the regret expressed by local residents. [more…]

Tims China has always held a special place in consumers' minds—many people remember it not for its coffee, but for the bagel on its breakfast menu. However, this chain brand, known for its bagels, has recently been plagued by frequent store closure news. The first Tims store in Yinchuan, which was also the brand's 700th store in China, the Xinhua Department Store location, quietly closed after less than a year in operation, prompting regret among local consumers. Looking at the entire commercial district, this store was surrounded by 3 Luckin Coffee, 2 Starbucks, and 1 Cotti Coffee locations, highlighting the intense competitive pressure. More notably, Tims stores in Beijing, Shanghai, Nanjing, Dalian, and other cities have also successively announced closures. From the thousand-store target in its financial reports to the 885 stores counted by Narrow Door Dining Eye, Tims' expansion path seems to be facing severe challenges. This article will start with the closure of the first Yinchuan store to analyze Tims' current operating situation and market challenges. [more…]

After listing on Nasdaq, Tims China delivered its first quarterly report card, with total net revenue in the third quarter reaching 306 million yuan, up nearly 70% year on year and a record high for a single quarter. On the store front, by the end of September it had covered 27 cities nationwide, with 486 net stores, and in October it welcomed its 500th store. At the same time, Tims China continued to advance cooperation with partners such as EasyJoy Coffee and Hema, stepping up its push into the ready-to-drink coffee segment. This article sorts through the key financial data, store expansion pace, store format structure and management's outlook for the future, giving you a quick look at the latest moves of this coffee chain brand in the Chinese market. [more…]

Recently, a netizen from Zhejiang posted that Ningbo's last regular Costa store had quietly closed, sparking widespread discussion. Costa, which once had 8 stores in Ningbo, has now withdrawn all its regular stores, leaving only hospital stores and transportation hub stores. Meanwhile, news of Costa store closures has also emerged in Shanghai, Hangzhou, Tianjin, and many other places. Data shows that in the past 90 days, Costa opened 5 new stores but closed 23, with about 300 stores still in operation. This British brand, which once competed head-on with Starbucks, is gradually disappearing from city streets. Longtime customers miss its consistent quality and comfortable third space, and also lament this silent farewell. [more…]

In 2021, Starbucks celebrated its 50th anniversary and announced the expansion of its eco-friendly store framework, accelerating the global rollout of its "Greener Stores" initiative. This green store format made its debut outside North America, choosing Shanghai as its first location, and subsequently expanded to Suzhou, Shenzhen, and other cities. Recently, North China also welcomed its first green-certified store—Starbucks Beijing CITIC Prudential Store. When customers purchase handcrafted beverages in the store, they can get a reusable cup for an additional 15 yuan, or enjoy a 4 yuan discount if they bring their own cup. This certification system was co-initiated by Starbucks and WWF in 2018, covering eight major standards including energy conservation, water consumption, and waste treatment, with the goal of building or renovating 10,000 green stores globally by 2025. However, in the face of the rise of local coffee upstarts, whether Starbucks' green strategy can maintain its lead is worth watching. [more…]

Recently, a netizen posted on social media reporting a significant quality gap between the same drinks bought at HEYTEA franchise stores and directly operated stores. Using the "Thousand-Mesh Matcha Triple Thick Matcha" as an example, the customer ordered delivery from a directly operated store; although delivery took over 20 minutes, the drink arrived still hot, with a rich taste and generous toppings. In contrast, at a franchise store for self-pickup, the drink was picked up within three minutes but had a pale color, bland flavor, and scarce toppings. Later, at another franchise store for self-pickup, the volume was actually one-third less, and the chewy texture was poor. The post resonated widely, with netizens complaining about inconsistent quality at franchise stores, which led to a guide for identifying store types through business licenses. The incident reflects the challenges of quality control under HEYTEA's rapid expansion. [more…]

The Chayan Yuese amusement park store that once drew long queues on the 7th floor of Wuhan International Plaza has now been quietly replaced by construction hoarding for another food and beverage venue. This roughly 200-square-meter "Chayan grocery store," one of the first batch of stores to enter Wuhan in 2020, silently exited after four years of serving customers. More noteworthy is that such closures are not isolated cases—Chayan Yuese stores have been shutting down one after another in cities including Changsha and Wuhan. Data from Jihai Brand Monitoring shows that its operating stores dropped from 973 in early October to 903, with at least 70 stores disappearing within a few months. At the same time, the brand is still expanding into new cities such as Changzhou. Behind the store contraction, is it lease expiration, layout adjustment, or pressure on profitability? Consumers' complaints about the redemption mechanism have also been mentioned once again. [more…]

Cotti Coffee recently announced an ambitious expansion plan: adding 8,000 convenience stores in the second half of the year, reaching a scale of 50,000 stores within three years, and striving to achieve a layout where "Cotti is within a hundred meters." However, as of the end of July, its actual operating stores were fewer than 7,000, still some distance from the goal. Meanwhile, Luckin has launched a counterattack with a scale of over 20,000 stores, curbing Cotti's growth through dense store placements. The two sides have shifted from a 9.9 yuan price war to a battle for locations. How will this competition between two brands from the same roots evolve? This article sorts out the store rivalry, strategic adjustments, and industry impact of the two major brands. [more…]

Recently, the news that Starbucks' first store in Guangzhou is about to close has attracted widespread consumer attention. This coffee shop, once famous for being open 24 hours, holds countless memories and emotions for many people. From adjusting its business hours during the pandemic to now facing closure, its departure is not only the end of a store but also reflects the balancing challenge Starbucks faces between expansion and optimizing its layout. Meanwhile, 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. This article will take you through the story of this first Guangzhou store, as well as the market logic behind Starbucks' recent store closure trends. [more…]

Nayuki Tea opened its first PRO store in Beijing Changying Tianjie, marking that this new-style tea beverage brand has officially incorporated specialty coffee into its core product line. Unlike regular stores, the PRO store format has undergone a comprehensive upgrade in space design, product structure, and service scenarios, offering seven specialty coffees, over thirty bakery products, and more than twenty kinds of self-produced snacks. Coffee is priced at 15 to 24 yuan, positioned as everyday specialty coffee. Previously, the PRO store format had been successfully validated in Shenzhen. Nayuki plans to open about 200 PRO stores in 2021, and has already established more than ten in Nanjing, Chengdu, Xi'an, Guangzhou, Harbin, and Beijing. This move not only fills Nayuki's gap in the specialty coffee market but also demonstrates its strategic intent to deepen its presence in new retail and expand business consumption scenarios. [more…]

Recently, Heycha has seen store closures in many places across the country, drawing attention from consumers and the industry. Two stores in Baoji, Shaanxi, have suspended operations one after another, and stores in Shenzhen, Hangzhou, Qingdao and other places have also disappeared or reduced their scale. According to GeoHey brand monitoring data, in the past 90 days Heycha opened 12 new stores, but the number of closures reached 146, equivalent to nearly 2 stores disappearing from cities every day. After suspending franchise expansion, the brand intends to improve store product quality and selectively close stores with poor profitability, but the large number of closures is still surprising. As coffee enthusiasts, Front Street Coffee continues to follow the dynamic changes in the tea beverage and coffee markets, and this article sorts out cases from various places and industry interpretations of Heycha's current wave of store closures. [more…]