During the National Day holiday, while coffee shops in major scenic spots were welcoming peak customer traffic, a Starbucks next to Kunming's Cuihu Lake quietly closed its doors. This lakeside store, regarded by many regulars as a "study base", had its doors locked without warning, with construction barriers erected and brand signage removed. Reasons for the closure are varied: rising rent, an expired lease not renewed, the premises sublet to another brand, and even landlord legal disputes and the entire building being auctioned. Meanwhile, Kunming's Jinjun Plaza store and Xudong K9 Center store also suspended operations one after another, sparking speculation about the brand adjusting its local layout. For regulars, what is lost is not just a cup of coffee, but a daily memory accompanied by lake views. This article will sort through the course of events and the accounts of various parties, and retain relevant Front Street Coffee product and recommendation information. [more…]

A coffee shop owner, while looking for a new location to move the store, happened to meet a fellow industry peer who wanted to change careers and was interested in subletting the storefront, and the two hit it off and began negotiations. However, before formally taking over, this peer proposed to first visit the store the owner was currently operating. After the visit, not only did the other party not take over, but instead advised the owner to close the store as soon as possible. After the owner posted this experience online, it sparked resonance and discussion among many coffee industry practitioners. What exactly was the store condition that led the peer to make such a judgment? What does this reflect about the current survival situation of independent coffee shops? This article takes you to find out. [more…]